ACT Reading Tips for Non Native

Test Preparation ACT Preparation
1

I’m struggling horribly with ACT Reading Section

. I’m not native; english is my second language. Do you have any tips for non- native speakers? Especially for passages Social Studies, Humanities and Natural Science?

I’m good at Prose fiction, but I have no idea how to “tackle” the three others.

Also, I read “Cracking the ACT prepmium” the princeton review and “The Real ACT” but it wasn’t that helpful. I did all practice tests, but my score isn’t improving.

I would be extremely grateful for any piece of advice.

Waiting for help :slight_smile:

2

Honestly, I’m struggling with the reading section too… What I tried…(don’t know if it’ll work for you) was reading half of the passage (take around 2:30)… then going through the questions and solving the ones you know (1:15-1:30), reading the final half of the passage, then solving the rest… I usually finish the process in 8 minutes, give or take 10-15 seconds depending on passage… Tell me if it works!!

3

I scored a 32 on my real April ACT test and I’m expecting a 34 on the September test.

  • Move your pencil along the line so you focus on the words
  • Read through the entire thing once
  • Answer the questions
  • Look back if you have to
  • Aim for around 7~8 minutes. Aim for 5~6 on the Prose passage since you're good at it.
  • You can skip questions if you'd like. Come back to them after going through the entire Reading test once.
  • Pretend the passages are interesting.
4

Thank you so much hhjjlala. So you read whole passage first right? You don’t skim, just read the whole thing and then answer the questions?

5

thank you a lot aidiwwwnmw1. I’ll try your tactic and let you know.

6

I wouldn’t advise reading the whole thing first. It takes too long - unless you read as quickly in English as in our native language.
Reading the questions ahead if the text helps you focus your reading.
Look at the questions and categorize them between 'detail’questions and ‘general idea/synthesis’ questions. I’d it’s a detail question, go to the paragraph and read for the answer. (always do the 'detail’questions first. They’re easier for non native speakers because our can focus on objective information included or implied in the text.) Devote 5mn to this. At this point quickly read through the whole text - out already know salient details so now you’re trying to get an idea of the general ideas, mood, tone… And answer the general idea questions all in a row.

7

@Madeleine1997, when you say you’re “good at Prose fiction, but have no idea how to tackle the three others,” what do you mean?

Do you mean,
You’ll get 9-10 questions right in Prose, but just 5-6 right in each of the three others?

If that’s the case, whatever you’re doing in Prose seems to work, so maybe repeat that same process/thinking in the three others.

Reading is reading.

8

So how did it turn out? Was reading half the passage ok?

9

I don’t know if there’s something wrong with me, but none method really works for me… I got 21 on reading section which made my score so much lower… I’am at the point that I have no idea what should I try… But still, thank you a lot aidiwwwnm1

10

I got a 34 on the reading portion for the September test. Like I said, read through the passage carefully, but quickly as possible.