ACT READING HELP

If there are any strategies that can help improve my reading score on the ACT substantially, that would be great. After taking the ACT for the first time as a sophomore, I thought that science would be the struggle for me, but that turned out to be one of my highest scores. Reading is what was the limitation of my composite reaching the 30s. I know it is possible to get any section above 33 and 34 with the right practice. I am confident with English, Math, and Science to get to 33+ because I found EXACT strategies and materials to get this done in the future. But as for reading, I have yet to find that strategy that works for me, which is why it is in the 20s still.

So, if anyone (Who has scored in the high 30s on the Reading section can give me advice, that would help a lot. I really want to get my goal composite score of 34 before my Junior year so i can focus on SAT subject tests and the SAT itself.)

I am a math and science person who is stronger in those areas, which may be the case why my reading lacks? I am not sure, but any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance :smiley:

36 reading score here!

Before you get into strategy, you have to diagnose what it is that makes the section hard for you. Timing? Comprehension? Practice tests will help you figure this out.

Without knowing exactly where your stumbling block is, the best advice I can give is to relate the reading section to the science section. The science section (which you said you did well on) is basically a section of complex reading comprehension. The answers are in front of you - you just have to identify them in the text. Additionally, one or two choices can usually be eliminated immediately (which really helped me).

The science section seems much easier to me because I do not have to read big texts of wording all the time. I only have to look at small sections, such as graphs, to get the right answer.

That being said, I could get a 36 in Reading, which im sure most could, if I had unlimited time. But since I do not have unlimited time, and 35 minutes to complete 4 passages, I get pressured to get the right answer, which makes me have anxiety while I test and thus have no comprehension. Its the timing that throws me off.

36 reading scorer here.

  1. spend 3.5 min reading EVERYTHING. DO NOT SKIP ANYTHING.
  2. 4.5 on questions: answer the detail questions first and MAKE SURE NOT TO ANSWER BASED ON YOUR MEMORY: circle exactly where the detail is referenced.
  3. more broad questions last.
    Practice practice practice. PM me if you like.