ACT: Reading Section
PREPARATION FOR ACT AND PLAN
READING SECTION
Time Constraints
 ACT:
 40 Questions
 35 Minutes
 PLAN:
 25 Questions
 20 Minutes
 Hustle… less than 1 minute per question
 Wear a watch!
Strategies for Success
 The questions correlate with underlined portions of the
reading passage.

A phrase will be underlined with “1” written below it. Question #1
correlates with this underlined section.
 Read & answer the corresponding question when you get
to an underlined portion.

However, DO NOT just skip to underlined sections. You may need
information from a previous non-underlined section to answer a
question.
 Do NOT read the passage in its entirety and then answer
questions. You WILL run out of time!
Strategies for Success
 Although it may seem obvious, do not spend too
much time on any single question.
 If a question is difficult, take your best educated
guess and “star” it in your test booklet. If time
allows, come back to it.

Do not leave a question blank with the intention to return to it
later.
 Random Guess v. Educated Guess
 Eliminate 2 answers; then guess
Guessing…
 Think about this:
Let’s say you know the correct answer for half of
the questions and you make educated guesses on
the remaining half, narrowing the choices to two.
Your score will be roughly a 26, landing you in the
90th percentile of test takers.
Be Aware…
 Nearly all answers seem compelling.
 All answer choices will include accurate, textual-
based information but with an incorrect response.

So, don’t just assume since the first answer sounds good, that
it is correct.
Reading Target Scores
Target Score
# Correct
36
40
30
35
26
30-31
23
26-27
20
22
17
18
11
9-10
Reading Practice Exam
 Reading Practice Handout:
 Plan to spend less than 1 minute per question
 10 questions: 10 minutes
 http://www.actstudent.org/sampletest/reading/read
_01.html