My experience with the reading section of the ACT is not a good one. While I’m getting 34-35 on practice English and Math sections and getting 27-29 on practice Science (which I feel I can easily pull up to 30+ if I practice more), I cannot get more than a 22-24 on reading no matter what. I have tried multiple strategies like just reading it first and answering but that didn’t work. I tried skimming by reading REALLY FAST and answering questions that I could but I’m not sure if it’s working. On crack ACT tests i noticed i started getting a little better using this strategy but then took an actual test and got the same score so not sure if I should use it (maybe I haven’t practiced with it enough?) Anyway, can someone please give me good tips for the reading section? Is there any way I might be able to spot out wrong answers quickly? I really want to make a 32 or greater on the ACT so I really need to get better at the reading section. I’m taking the ACT in July by the way.
I went from 22-32 on reading, so not a stellar score, but a much better one lol. I just read the passage first then go to questions. I read somewhere that all the correct answers are objectively correct, which is something to think about. Look up “How to get 36 ACT reading prepscholar” and you’ll get good tips, that’s what I did to get my increase. Reading tough literature helped me too since I got used to weird phrasing.
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You might want to try a practice SAT and see if that better for you.
practice practice practice. i disagree with happy, it’s always worth a shot, but typically sat reading is harder.
@trufflemac24 I suggested a practice SAT because I am fairly certain that the SAT exam gives more time/question as compared to the ACT. From what I saw from a quick online check (and the OP would need to verify) the SAT reading section consists of 52 questions in 65 minutes while the ACT reading section is 40 questions in 35 minutes. Since time seems to be a stumbling block for the OP it seems worth looking at the SAT.
I am not recommending that the OP stop practicing for/give up on the ACT, simply that he/she take a bit of time to look at the alternative exam.
FWIW our guidance counselor told us that typically 1/3 of students do better on the ACT, 1/3 of students do better on the SAT and 1/3 of students do the same on both standardized exams. For some people finding the exam they are more suited to can make a difference.