NUM8ERS’ ACT Reading Section Overview: What’s Does it Include?

Welcome to your ultimate guide to the ACT Reading section! If you’re gearing up to ace this part of the ACT, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the ACT Reading section—from what it tests, to the types of passages you’ll encounter, and even the most effective strategies to help you conquer it. Let’s dive in! ⬇️

What is the ACT Reading Section?

The ACT Reading section is a critical component of the ACT exam, designed to assess your reading comprehension skills under time pressure. This section includes 40 questions that you need to answer within 35 minutes. It’s a fast-paced part of the exam where your ability to quickly and accurately interpret and analyze text is put to the test.

Structure of the ACT Reading Section

The ACT Reading section is divided into four parts, each containing either one long prose passage or two shorter paired passages. Each passage is followed by a series of multiple-choice questions that probe different aspects of your reading comprehension abilities. The paired passages require you to compare and contrast information across the two texts, answering questions that pertain to both.

The passages come from a variety of subject areas, including social studies, natural sciences, literary narratives or prose fiction, and the humanities. Understanding the structure of these passages and the types of questions associated with them is key to performing well.

Passage Types in the ACT Reading Section

One of the main challenges of the ACT Reading section is the diversity of passage types. These passages are sourced from different disciplines, each requiring a slightly different approach to reading and analysis. Let’s break down the four main passage types you’ll encounter:

1. Social Studies

The social studies passages draw from fields such as anthropology, archaeology, economics, education, history, political science, and sociology. These passages may include historical documents, essays on social issues, or discussions on economic policies. The questions will often ask you to interpret data, understand arguments, and analyze historical perspectives.

2. Natural Sciences

Natural sciences passages focus on topics like astronomy, biology, botany, chemistry, ecology, medicine, physics, and zoology. These passages might present scientific research, explain natural phenomena, or discuss advancements in technology. You’ll be asked to extract key details, understand cause-effect relationships, and draw logical conclusions based on the information provided.

3. Literary Narrative or Prose Fiction

Literary passages include excerpts from short stories, novels, memoirs, and personal essays. These passages are often more narrative-driven, with a focus on character development, themes, and literary techniques. The questions will typically revolve around identifying main ideas, interpreting characters’ motivations, and analyzing the author’s use of language.

4. Humanities

Humanities passages cover a broad range of topics, including art, architecture, dance, film, language, literary criticism, music, philosophy, and television. These passages may include critiques, essays, or discussions of cultural works and movements. Questions will often ask you to analyze rhetorical strategies, interpret authorial intent, and understand the broader context of the passage.

Types of Questions on the ACT Reading Section

The questions on the ACT Reading section fall into two primary categories: referring questions and reasoning questions. Both types of questions assess different aspects of your reading comprehension skills.

1. Referring Questions

Referring questions require you to directly refer to the information explicitly stated in the passage. These questions are typically more straightforward, as they ask about details that are clearly mentioned. Your task is to locate the relevant information in the text and understand it accurately.

2. Reasoning Questions

Reasoning questions, on the other hand, are more complex. These questions ask you to draw inferences, make predictions, or understand implied meanings based on the information in the passage. To answer these questions, you’ll need to read between the lines and connect the dots to uncover deeper meanings.

Key Skills Tested in the ACT Reading Section

To excel in the ACT Reading section, you’ll need to master several key reading comprehension skills. According to the Official ACT Guide, these skills include:

Determining Main Ideas

You need to be able to identify the central theme or thesis of a passage. This involves understanding what the passage is primarily about and summarizing it in your own words.

Locating and Interpreting Significant Details

The ability to find and interpret specific details in a passage is crucial. You’ll need to recognize which details are most important and understand their significance in the context of the passage.

Understanding Sequences of Events

In narrative passages, it’s essential to follow the sequence of events accurately. You’ll need to understand how the events unfold and how they relate to one another.

Making Comparisons

Many questions will ask you to compare and contrast different ideas, characters, or situations within the passage. You’ll need to identify similarities and differences and understand their implications.

Comprehending Cause-Effect Relationships

Understanding the cause-effect relationships in a passage is key to making logical inferences. You’ll need to recognize what causes certain events or ideas and what effects they produce.

Determining the Meaning of Context-Dependent Words and Phrases

The ACT often tests your ability to understand the meaning of words or phrases based on the context in which they appear. This requires careful reading and a strong vocabulary.

Drawing Generalizations

You’ll need to draw broad conclusions based on the information provided in the passage. This involves synthesizing details and making informed judgments.

Analyzing the Author’s or Narrator’s Voice and Method

Understanding the author’s tone, style, and approach is critical. You’ll need to analyze how the author’s voice influences the reader’s perception of the text.

Analyzing Claims and Evidence in Arguments

Many passages present arguments, and you’ll need to evaluate the claims made by the author and the evidence provided to support those claims.

Integrating Information from Multiple Texts

For paired passages, you’ll need to integrate information from both texts to answer questions that require a comparison or contrast between the two.

Content Breakdown by Weightage on the ACT Reading Section

The ACT Reading section tests several areas, but they are not all weighted equally. Understanding the distribution of these areas can help you focus your preparation more effectively. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

1. Key Ideas and Details (52-60%)

This section forms the bulk of the ACT Reading questions. It requires a thorough examination of the text to identify the main ideas, summarize information accurately, comprehend relationships between ideas, and make logical inferences. This domain tests your ability to understand sequential, comparative, and cause-effect relationships.

2. Craft and Structure (25-30%)

This section focuses on how well you can analyze the structure of the text and the author’s use of language. You’ll need to determine the meanings of words and phrases in context, understand the author’s purpose and perspective, and analyze how the text is organized. Additionally, you’ll be asked to interpret characters’ viewpoints and differentiate between various sources of information.

3. Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (13-23%)

In this section, you are expected to comprehend and evaluate authors’ arguments, distinguish between facts and opinions, and integrate information from different sources. Some questions will ask you to analyze how authors build their arguments, assess the reasoning behind them, and evaluate the evidence presented.

Visual and Quantitative Information in the ACT Reading Section

The ACT Reading section may include passages that are accompanied by visual aids, such as graphs, figures, or tables. These visuals often contain important information that complements the passage. Specific questions will ask you to identify or interpret data from these graphics. In some cases, you’ll need to integrate the information from both the passage and the visual aid to arrive at the correct answer.

Top Tips to Ace the ACT Reading Section

Success in the ACT Reading section doesn’t come automatically—it requires practice, strategy, and a solid understanding of the section’s demands. Here are some tips that can help you maximize your performance:

1. Practice Regularly

The more you practice, the better you’ll get. Make it a habit to regularly read a variety of texts and take practice tests. This will not only improve your reading comprehension but also familiarize you with the types of passages and questions you’ll face on the ACT.

2. Skim the Passage First

Before diving into the questions, take a quick skim through the passage. This will give you an overall understanding of the content and main ideas. Pay special attention to headings, subheadings, and the first and last sentences of each paragraph, as these often contain key information.

3. Annotate as You Read

As you read, underline or jot down key points, main ideas, and important details. This active reading strategy will help you stay engaged with the text and make it easier to refer back to specific parts of the passage when answering questions.

4. Manage Your Time Wisely

Time management is crucial on the ACT. You only have 35 minutes to answer 40 questions, so pace yourself carefully. Allocate roughly 8-9 minutes per passage to ensure you have enough time to tackle all the questions.

5. Focus on Keywords

When answering questions, look for keywords and phrases that can guide you to the relevant parts of the passage. These keywords can help you quickly locate the information you need and save valuable time.

6. Answer Referring Questions First

Start with the referring questions—those that ask about information explicitly stated in the passage. These questions are usually quicker to answer and can help you secure easy points early on.

7. Don’t Overthink It

Stick to the information presented in the passage. Avoid reading too much into the questions or overanalyzing the answers. Trust the text and base your answers solely on the information provided.

8. Practice with Visuals and Quantitative Data

If you come across passages with graphs, tables, or other visuals, make sure to practice interpreting the data they present. Pay close attention to axes, labels, and units, and be prepared to integrate this information with the passage content.

9. Stay Calm and Focused

Test anxiety can hinder your performance, so try to stay calm and focused throughout the exam. If you encounter a difficult passage, don’t dwell on it for too long—move on and come back to it later if time permits.

10. Use the Process of Elimination (POE)

One of the most effective strategies for tackling multiple-choice questions is the process of elimination. If you’re stuck between answer choices, focus on eliminating the options that you know are incorrect. Remember, even if one word or phrase in an answer choice is wrong, the entire choice is wrong. Stick to the facts and avoid letting your own opinions influence your answers.

Conclusion

You’re now equipped with all the knowledge you need to tackle the ACT Reading section with confidence. Remember, practice makes perfect, but the key is to practice smart. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to do too much at once. Instead, focus on a few passages each day and carefully review any mistakes you make. Understand why you got a question wrong, and learn from it—this will help you avoid making the same mistake in the future.

Good luck! With the right preparation and mindset, you’ll be well on your way to acing the ACT Reading section. You got this! 🍀