1. ACT: The Reading Test

2. ACT READING TEST 4 categories of reading passages Social Studies
Natural Sciences
Humanities
Prose Fiction
Each passage is about 1,000 words long
written at about the same difficulty level as college textbooks
Each has a very specific theme
SKIM ALL READING PASSAGES…DO NOT READ CLOSELY
10 questions after each passage
3 categories of reading questions: Specific Detail, Inference, Big Picture

3. SUGGESTIONS FOR READING THE PASSAGE
Read actively, with an eye towards where the author is going
Read very quickly but actively, getting a sense of the main idea of the passage and seeing how everything fits together
don’t worry about details; you can go back and find them later
circle key words (such as names, dates, and unfamiliar words) so that you can find them easily when you are answering the questions

4. READING CLUES Structural clues Signal clues
But, nevertheless, and moreover help you get a sense of where the paper is going
Signal clues
Clearly, as a result, or no one can deny that… determine logic of the passage
Remember you can come back for details later

5. SIGNAL WORDS TO WATCH FOR
Indicating a contrast
but, however, on the other hand, nevertheless
Indicating a continuation with a similar or complementary thought
moreover, furthermore, or a semicolon
Indicating a conclusion
therefore, thus
Reasons for a conclusion
since, because of , due to
Examples or illustration
for instance, for example

6. KAPLAN’S 3 STEP METHOD
You should spend only about 9 minute per passage
less than 3 minutes should be spent pre-reading
the rest of the time should be spent considering questions and referring back to the passage to find the answers
tale 2 sweeps through the questions for each passage
Get the easier questions the first time around
Go back for the more difficult ones
Questions are not in order of easiest to hardest

7. KAPLAN’S 3 STEP METHOD 1. Pre-read the passage quickly
2. Consider the question stem
3. Refer back to the passage for the answers

8. KAPLAN’S 3 STEP METHOD STEP 1: PRE-READ (3 min. per passage)
understand the main idea of the passage
get an overall idea of how the passage is organized
underline key points (like a highlighter)
jot down notes in the margin
circle key clue words
DO NOT get bogged down with the details

9. KAPLAN’S 3 STEP METHOD STEP 2: QUESTION STEM
don’t let the answer choices direct your thinking
The test makers intentionally design the answers to confuse you if they can
Look at the questions stem ONLY; do not look at the possible answers first

10. KAPLAN’S 3 STEP METHOD You WILL NOT re-read the entire passage
STEP 3: REFER BACK TO THE PASSAGE
You WILL NOT re-read the entire passage
look only for the area where the answer to the question can be found
sometimes the questions will give you a line # to help you out
you answer should match the passage--not in exact vocabulary but in meaning (answers are usually a paraphrase of the answer in the passage)

11. ACT READING PASSAGE Prose fiction (1 passage per test)
Nonfiction (3 passages per test, one each in:)
Social Studies
Natural Sciences
Humanities
Your approach should be the same for all 3 nonfiction passages

12. PROSE FICTION
The prose fiction passage is usually a story in which characters, fully equipped with their own motivations and emotions, interact in revealing ways
for this reason, the passage won’t break down into an orderly outline with several key terms and clue words
Pay attention to the story

13. PROSE FICTION
In the prose fiction passage, almost all the questions relate to the characters
your job is to find answers to the following questions:
Who are these people? What are they like? How are they related to each other?
What is their state of mind? Are they angry, sad, reflective, excited?
What’s really going on? What’s happening on the surface? Beneath the surface?
Most of the fiction passages focus on one person or are written from the point of view of one of the characters

14. PROSE FICTION
Figure out who this main character is and pay special attention to what he or she is like
Read between the lines to determine unspoken emotions and attitudes
Get a good feel for tone and style of the whole passage before going on to the questions

15. NATURAL SCIENCE PASSAGE
Know you are more likely to find unfamiliar vocabulary in Science passages
Don’t panic! The Science passages on the Reading test require no prior knowledge.
Any unknown terms are usually defined in the passage or will have inferable definitions from the context
Don’t let yourself become overwhelmed

16. READING PASSAGE
The Questions

17. SPECIFIC DETAILS
Specific Details questions ask about things stated explicitly in the passage
Line reference
Always refer back to the passage
When given a line reference, always read a few sentences BEFORE and AFTER the cited lines (context)

18. NAILING DOWN DETAILS
The challenge with this is finding the proper place in the passage where the answer can be found (sometimes you will be given a line reference)
Then, you have to match up what you see in the passage with the correct answer, which will probably be worded differently (paraphrased)

19. INFERENCE QUESTIONS
For these types of questions, it is your job to combine ideas logically to make an inference
This is something that is not stated explicitly in the passage but that is implied
This type of question has words like suggest, infer, or imply in the question stem
Common sense is your best tool here
Some will give you a line #
DO NOT make inferences too extreme (always, never, all the time, etc.)

20. BIG PICTURE QUESTIONS Ask yourself, as you read:
What is the point of this?
Why is the author saying this?
If you are stumped, try doing all the other questions first and completing this one last.

21. “Comprehend and Remember”
FIND AND PARAPHRASE
Your main job is to
FIND AND PARAPHRASE,
Your task is NOT to
“Comprehend and Remember”

22. SKIPPING Answer the EASY questions for each passage first
Skip the tough ones and come back to them later
When you return to that question later, try to identify the THREE WRONG answers
Guess if you have to and don’t let that get you stressed