ACT Reading Passage Types

Why This Matters

The ACT Reading section isn't just testing whether you can read—it's testing whether you can shift your thinking across four fundamentally different types of texts in just 35 minutes. Each passage type demands a different reading lens: narrative analysis for fiction, argument evaluation for social science, thematic interpretation for humanities, and data comprehension for natural science. Understanding these distinctions is what separates students who feel rushed and confused from those who move through the section with confidence.

Here's the key insight: the ACT uses the same question patterns across all four passages, but the way you find answers changes based on passage type. A "main idea" question in Prose Fiction requires tracking character development, while the same question type in Natural Science requires identifying a scientific claim. Don't just memorize what each passage contains—know how to read each one and where to look for answers.

---

Narrative Passages: Reading for Story and Character

These passages ask you to think like a literary analyst. You're tracking how a story unfolds, why characters act as they do, and what the author wants you to feel. Speed-reading won't work here—you need to absorb tone and subtext.

Prose Fiction (Literary Narrative)

• Character motivation drives most questions—pay attention to what characters want, fear, or misunderstand, not just what they do
• Narrative techniques matter: look for shifts in point of view, tone, and symbolism that signal deeper meaning
• Conflict and resolution structure the passage—identify the central tension early, and you'll predict where questions will focus

---

Argument-Based Passages: Reading for Claims and Evidence

Social Science and Humanities passages present ideas, not stories. Your job shifts to identifying what the author argues, how they support it, and whether the reasoning holds up. These passages reward active annotation.

Social Science

• Research and data are central—expect questions about how studies were conducted and what conclusions the author draws from evidence
• Argument structure is testable: identify the main claim, supporting evidence, and any acknowledged counterarguments or limitations
• Watch for bias and assumption—questions often ask you to evaluate whether evidence actually supports the author's conclusion

Humanities

• Themes and values take center stage—these passages explore what it means to be human through art, philosophy, history, or memoir
• Multiple perspectives are common: be ready to compare viewpoints or trace how the author's thinking evolves across paragraphs
• Historical and cultural context matters—questions may ask how events or movements shaped the ideas being discussed

---

Data-Driven Passages: Reading for Process and Evidence

Natural Science passages describe how the world works. You're reading for scientific reasoning: What was tested? What was found? What does it mean? These passages often include visual data you must interpret.

Natural Science

• Scientific method frames the passage—identify the hypothesis, experimental design, results, and conclusions as you read
• Graphs, charts, and figures are fair game—questions may ask you to pull information directly from visuals or connect them to the text
• Real-world application questions are common—expect to explain why a finding matters or how it connects to broader scientific principles

---

Quick Reference Table

---

Self-Check Questions

1. Which two passage types both require you to evaluate arguments and evidence, and how do their evidence types differ?

2. If an ACT question asks about a character's "underlying motivation," which passage type are you working with, and where in the passage should you look for clues?

3. Compare and contrast how you would approach a "main idea" question in Prose Fiction versus Natural Science.

4. A passage describes a psychology study on decision-making and includes a data table. Which passage type is this, and what question types should you anticipate?

5. You encounter a passage about the cultural impact of jazz music in 1920s America. Which passage type is this, and what reading strategies should you prioritize?