<p>I'm taking the ACT for the last time this Saturday. I've heard many people say that they've benefitted from reading the questions first (on the reading section) and only skimming the passages. However, I've also heard that since the questions are based on the passage as a whole, it is in one's best interested to read the entire passage. Does anyone have success stories they would like to share? Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>A good strategy is to read the questions first, skim, and when you’re done go back to those questions based on the whole passage.</p>
<p>I’d say do whatever works best for you. Personally, I only skim the passages on the Science section, since they’re mostly fluff anyway. But for the Reading, I feel extremely uncomfortable if I skim because most of the questions aren’t going to be as cut and dry as “In lines 56-59, the author is most nearly trying to convey…”. If you’re a decent reader, there really shouldn’t be any reason to skim at all, as you will usually end up answering the last question with around 5-8 minutes to spare if you read at a normal pace.</p>
<p>The vast majority of my students who score in the 34-36 range on the ACT Reading section simply read the passage first…then answer the questions. There’s really no strategy involved. ACT Reading questions are very straightforward.</p>
<p>In most cases, students who score below 30 on this particular section have pacing issues secondary to any number of factors: lack of focus leading to rereading large sections of the passage, having to verbalize words while reading, wasting time underlining every word, compulsively rechecking the answer to every question, etc. Fix the primary problem, and you’ll maximize the student’s score. It’s that easy.</p>
<p>Do what works for you! Try it on the ACT practice test and see which you prefer. I got a 36 on the reading, and I always read the entire passage first.</p>
<p>I use the eraser at the end of the pencil to pace myself along, and at the end of each line, I do a quick (almost instant) check to see if I understood. Sometimes I don’t really catch it, but I just keep moving, and at the end of the next line, I remember what the previous one was about. Don’t focus too much on this though, if you pace yourself along and you have ok memory retention, you’ll remember what you need for the questions about the passage as a whole. Just make sure you get to finish the passage with enough time for the questions! I use the method of elimination for the answer choices (I know most people say not to do this because it takes too much time, but as I’m crossing out one, I’m already reading another choice).</p>
<p>Also, try to practice speed reading exercises! They help a lot :-D</p>
<p>I got a 36 for Reading on ACT and 800 for CR on SAT, and I just read the passage and answered the questions. I just get too flustered when I try to read the questions and try all of these “strategies” and what-not, but that is just me :D. Do whatever works best for you!</p>