<p>I'm struggling with ACT Reading section. When I try to read the passages carefully to fully comprehend them, I run out of time. When I skim through them to save some times, I get most of the questions wrong. What should I do? Oh, some CCers who score 34-36 on ACT Reading are saying that I don't have to read the whole passage to answer the questions. Then how to I know which part of the passage to read?</p>
<p>Bump......</p>
<p>Try skimming to familiarize yourself, then going to the questions, and finally going back to the passage in more detail to find the specific answers.</p>
<p>These are the things that I do normally to get to the 35-36 range on Reading (never gotten below a 33).</p>
<p>1) MAKE THE PASSAGE INTERESTING. I'm extremely right-brained, so while I'm reading images of what I think the passage would look like form in my mind instantly. Train your mind to do this as you go; it makes remembering what material is where in the passage SO much easier. </p>
<p>2) SKIM THE PASSAGE. I spend ~1.5–2 mins maximum reading the passage to get an overall picture of it, and then I move directly into the questions. This means that as I read, words are basically going through my head in a blur. I actually read more in depth when I look for the answers in the passage than I do when skim through the first time, so by the time you get to the "main point" questions you already know the passage well.</p>
<p>3) DON'T GUESS ON WHAT ANSWER "SOUNDS" RIGHT (which is my key to success on the English hehe), even if it's an inference question. Find the area that the question pertains to, and answer it FROM THE CONTEXT. This was my struggle; I read a lot as a child and knew that I had good reading comprehension, but never came up with the same inferences that standardized tests did for their questions. I would try to answer the question by choosing which one sounded the best to me, which was rarely correct. You really do have to answer the questions completely by the context that they're given in. Some answers are given directly in the passage, while others are a little more hidden.</p>
<p>4) Most importantly, drink lots of coffee beforehand! :D</p>
<p>Marlow, you're saying that I naturally understand the passages by first skimming them and then reading questions and answer choices right?</p>
<p>Yes. You skim it fast first (I cannot skim "fast" enough, unless you naturally read at break-neck speeds) and then move directly into the questions. From there, you either find the direct answers from the passage or the context for the answers (if it's an inference question). The questions about the main passage are usually at the end, so after answering all of the other questions and constantly referring back to the passage, you naturally know the passage by the time you get to those questions.</p>
<p>I used to try to write little notes and stuff for it, but there simply isn't enough time. Now I just circle names and dates.</p>