<p>I am struggling with the reading section. I have Kaplan and it is not helping. what other books are good for reading? And what strategies are most useful.
thanks</p>
<p>Just read constantly everyday for 2 hours till the test day. Strategy wise, read first, answer questions after. While reading, jot down notes, like what the paragraph was talking about.</p>
<p>ACT</a> SparkNotes Test Prep: Strategies for the Reading Test</p>
<p>Sparknotes is really good for reading, IMO. Chapter 12 consists of strategies/tips, and Chapter 13 provides an example of each of the four types of passages as well as questions that pertain to each passage.</p>
<p>As Chi said, read first and then answer questions. Learn to read fast while taking in everything. I don't "jot down notes" (although that may work for you), but I simply underline proper nouns, even if I've already underlined that particular proper noun prior in that passage. I do this because it's easy to refer back to the passage and find that name/place if it's being asked about, and I underline it in every paragraph because different paragraphs talk about different things. Therefore, if that noun was mentioned twice in two different paragraphs, you will know that the answer is in one of those paragraphs, depending on what's being talked about/asked.</p>
<p>Read all the passages in the book and try to finish reading it under 3 minutes (don't worry if you don't seem to understand anything). Just see if you can finish it in under 3. If not, don't bother reading the passages then and do it PR-style - skim the passage for like a minute while making notes/underlining terms and start using 7 or 8 minutes doing the questions while finding the answers in the passage.</p>
<p>Obviously, with this strategy, you'll do the roman numerals/tone of the passage/etc. questions last.</p>
<p>I think reading is a section that you have to plan long term. I doubt a week of studying is going to help much. I'd suggest using this test more for finding weak spots. And then read something every day, or at least every week. The point is to get really fast at reading .......anything (don't be one of those people that only reads classics, they don't always help) </p>
<p>I feel like the comprehension questions on both SAT and ACT reading are easily possible to answer as long as you have enough time to think about them. So my advice would be to just learn to read incredibly quickly.</p>
<p>Everyone here has provided excellent advice thus far, but I think one thing has yet to be mentioned. While you're reading, focus on taking everything in. Every adjective, every proper noun, every connotation. Even if it takes you a little bit longer, that's ok-- but at the same time, attempt to be as efficient as possible. </p>
<p>Then, once you are finished with the passage, you should be able to answer each question immediately. You should have a gut feeling about the right answers, but make sure you support them; make sure you have a reason why one answer is right and reasons why the others are wrong. Then answer. If there is a question you are unsure about, circle it and come back to it after you've answered all the questions for that passage. </p>
<p>Let me say, it is better to not get to the last two questions in the section than it is to rush through and finish and make silly mistakes. The ACT does a pretty good job of creating answer choices that goad poorly-attentive readers, so be wary.</p>