ACT Reading Strategies
Master passage types and strategies for the ACT Reading section.
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Reading Passage Types
Literary narrative, social science, humanities, natural science and paired passages.
Reading Section Strategy
Passage mapping, main idea vs detail, evidence, tone, inference, pacing and paired passages.
Science Passages: Reading & Science Tips
Natural-science reading passages plus ACT Science strategy for data and experiments.
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ACT: Reading Strategies
ACT Reading Format
40 questions, 35 minutes. Four passages:
- Literary Narrative / Prose Fiction
- Social Science
- Humanities
- Natural Science
General Strategy
Time Management
About 8-9 minutes per passage. Do your strongest passage type first.
Active Reading
- Underline main ideas and key details
- Note the author tone and purpose
- Mark transitions that signal key points
Question Types
Main Idea
Look at the first and last paragraphs.
Detail / Specific Information
The answer is explicitly stated in the text. Go back and find it.
Inference
Must be supported by evidence in the text.
Vocabulary in Context
Re-read the sentence with each answer choice. The most common meaning is often NOT the answer.
Author Tone / Attitude
Look for descriptive words and overall word choice.
Passage-Specific Tips
Prose Fiction
Focus on characters, relationships, emotions.
Social Science / Natural Science
Focus on the main argument, evidence, and conclusions.
Humanities
Focus on the author perspective.
ACT Tip: Always answer based on what the passage SAYS, not what you already know.
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