How to Improve Your ACT Reading Score: Strategies That Work

The ACT Reading section tests your ability to quickly comprehend, analyze, and synthesize information from passages covering literature, social studies, humanities, and natural sciences. Many students find this section challenging because of its time constraints and diverse passage types. However, with the right strategies and consistent practice, you can significantly improve your ACT Reading score.

Understanding the ACT Reading Section

The ACT Reading section consists of four passages, each followed by 10 questions, for a total of 40 questions to be completed in 35 minutes. This timing challenge—approximately 8 minutes and 45 seconds per passage—is one of the primary reasons students struggle with this section.

Passage Types:

• Literary Narrative: Fiction excerpts from novels or short stories
• Social Studies: History, economics, political science, or psychology
• Humanities: Art, music, philosophy, or theater
• Natural Sciences: Biology, chemistry, physics, or environmental science

Each passage is approximately 750-900 words, and questions test your ability to identify main ideas, understand details, make inferences, and analyze author's purpose and tone.

Strategy 1: Choose Your Passage Order

You don't have to tackle passages in the order they appear. Instead, start with the passage type you find easiest or most interesting. This approach offers several advantages:

Benefits:

• Builds confidence by starting with familiar material
• Helps you work faster on easier passages, saving time for challenging ones
• Reduces anxiety by beginning with success

How to Implement:

1. Quickly scan all four passages before starting
2. Identify which passage type you're most comfortable with
3. Complete that passage first, then move to your second-strongest area
4. Save your weakest passage type for last

Many students find that natural science passages contain more concrete, factual information, while literary narratives require more nuanced interpretation. Choose the order that works best for you.

Strategy 2: Read Strategically, Not Thoroughly

The ACT Reading section doesn't require you to memorize every detail. Instead, focus on understanding passage structure and main ideas:

First Pass (2-3 minutes):

• Read the first and last paragraphs completely (they often contain main ideas)
• Skim the body paragraphs, focusing on topic sentences
• Note the passage's main argument or theme
• Identify the author's purpose and tone

Question Approach:

• Answer questions about main ideas and general themes first (these don't require detailed re-reading)
• Save specific detail questions for last, when you can quickly locate the relevant section

This strategic reading approach saves time while ensuring you understand the passage's core meaning.

Strategy 3: Master Question Types

ACT Reading questions fall into several categories, each requiring different approaches:

Main Idea Questions:

• Look for the answer that captures the passage's overall purpose
• Eliminate answers that focus on minor details
• These questions often appear first and are easiest to answer after strategic reading

Detail Questions:

• Use line references or key words to locate the relevant section
• Read the surrounding context, not just the referenced line
• Answer choices often paraphrase the passage rather than quote it directly

Inference Questions:

• Require you to read between the lines
• Look for clues in the passage that support your answer
• Avoid answers that cannot be supported by the passage, even if they seem logical

Author's Purpose/Tone Questions:

• Pay attention to word choice and language style
• Note whether the author is neutral, supportive, critical, or enthusiastic
• Consider the passage's context and target audience

Vocabulary in Context Questions:

• The answer isn't necessarily the word's dictionary definition
• Consider how the word is used in the specific sentence and paragraph
• Look at surrounding context for clues

Strategy 4: Use the Process of Elimination

Eliminating wrong answers is often faster and more reliable than searching for the right answer:

Common Wrong Answer Types:

• Too Specific: Focuses on a minor detail rather than the main point
• Too Broad: Too general or vague to accurately represent the passage
• Not Supported: May seem logical but lacks evidence in the passage
• Opposite: Says the opposite of what the passage states
• Misleading: Uses words from the passage but in an incorrect context

By eliminating these types of wrong answers, you increase your chances of selecting the correct answer even when you're uncertain.

Strategy 5: Manage Your Time Effectively

Time management is crucial for ACT Reading success:

Time Allocation:

• Reading each passage: 2-3 minutes (strategic reading, not thorough)
• Answering questions: 5-6 minutes per passage
• Total per passage: 8-9 minutes maximum

Time-Saving Tips:

• Don't spend more than 30 seconds on a single question
• If you're stuck, mark the question and move on
• Return to difficult questions if time permits
• Never leave questions blank—make an educated guess

Practice Timing:

• Take practice tests under timed conditions
• Use a timer to track your pace
• Aim to complete each passage in 8 minutes, leaving buffer time for review

Strategy 6: Build Reading Stamina

Reading comprehension under time pressure requires mental stamina. Build yours through consistent practice:

Daily Reading Practice:

• Read challenging academic articles or literary passages
• Practice summarizing main ideas quickly
• Read diverse subjects to build familiarity with different passage types

Timed Practice Tests:

• Take full ACT Reading sections regularly
• Gradually increase difficulty and complexity
• Track your improvement over time

Active Reading Techniques:

• Summarize each paragraph in one sentence as you read
• Identify the author's main argument early
• Note transitions and shifts in argument or perspective

Strategy 7: Develop Vocabulary Skills

While ACT Reading doesn't test vocabulary directly, a strong vocabulary helps you:

• Understand passages more quickly
• Comprehend nuanced meanings
• Recognize synonyms and paraphrases in answer choices

Vocabulary Building:

• Read widely across different subjects
• Keep a vocabulary journal of new words
• Use flashcards for word roots, prefixes, and suffixes
• Practice identifying context clues

Strategy 8: Practice with Real ACT Passages

Using official ACT practice materials ensures you're familiar with:

• Passage complexity and length
• Question types and wording
• Answer choice patterns
• Time constraints

Recommended Resources:

• Official ACT practice tests from ACT.org
• The Official ACT Prep Guide
• Previous ACT tests (available online)

Avoid relying solely on third-party materials, as they may not accurately reflect ACT difficulty or question styles.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Reading Too Thoroughly

Many students try to understand every detail, wasting precious time. Focus on main ideas and structure instead.

Mistake 2: Answering Questions in Order

Some questions are easier than others. Answer quick questions first, then return to challenging ones.

Mistake 3: Not Reading Answer Choices Carefully

Answer choices often contain subtle differences. Read all options before selecting your answer.

Mistake 4: Overthinking Simple Questions

If a question seems straightforward, it probably is. Don't second-guess yourself unnecessarily.

Mistake 5: Ignoring Passage Context

When answering vocabulary or inference questions, always consider the passage's overall context, not just the immediate sentence.

Tracking Your Progress

Monitor your improvement by tracking:

• Raw Score: Number of questions answered correctly
• Time Per Passage: How long you spend on each passage
• Weak Areas: Which passage types or question types cause the most difficulty
• Error Patterns: Common mistakes you make repeatedly

Use this data to adjust your study strategy and focus your practice efforts.

Sample Practice Plan

Week 1-2: Foundation Building

• Read diverse academic passages daily
• Learn question types and strategies
• Take one untimed practice test to understand the format

Week 3-4: Strategy Practice

• Practice strategic reading techniques
• Focus on time management
• Take timed practice sections (not full tests)

Week 5-6: Full Test Practice

• Take complete timed ACT Reading sections
• Review mistakes and identify patterns
• Refine strategies based on performance

Week 7-8: Fine-Tuning

• Focus on weakest areas
• Practice under realistic test conditions
• Build confidence and reduce anxiety

Conclusion

Improving your ACT Reading score requires a combination of strategic reading, time management, and consistent practice. By implementing these strategies and dedicating regular practice time, you can significantly enhance your performance on this challenging section.

Remember that improvement takes time and patience. Track your progress, learn from mistakes, and stay committed to your practice plan. With focused effort, you can achieve your target ACT Reading score.

Use our ACT Score Calculator to see how improving your Reading section score affects your composite score, and check out our guide on ACT Math Section Breakdown for strategies on other sections.

Sources

• ACT, Inc. – Official ACT Reading section guide and question types
• Educational Testing Service – Research on reading comprehension and test performance