1. ACT Prep: Reading
NHHS
Mrs. Buehler

2. What are the biggest concerns you have about the Reading test?

4. Reading Section Directions
“There are four passages in this test. Each passage is followed by several questions. After reading a passage, choose the best answer to each question and fill in the corresponding oval on your answer document. You may refer to the passages as often as necessary.”
THESE DIRECTIONS NEVER CHANGE!

5. Just the facts, please! 35 minutes for 40 questions
Average of 50 seconds/question
Average of 9 minutes/passage
Passages are always in this order:
Prose Fiction
Social Sciences
Humanities
Science
TIP: You can read the passages in any order! Start with your strengths, and end with your weakest areas.

6. Just the facts, please! Each passage is about 750 words in length
All passages have the same instructions
The major issue on this test for most kids is not the skills, but the TIME LIMIT
The best way to improve your time is to practice, practice, and then practice some more!

7. Speed Reading Tips – Reading Section
by Speed Reading Expert, Richard L. Feldman, Ph.D. (Columbia University)
Reading the Passage (each of the four passages in the reading section of the ACT is words long)
* Allow about 3 ½ minutes to read the entire passage first (a reading speed of about 200 words per minute).
Timer – practice completing each reading passage using a timer. Use a watch timer on the actual test.
Use your pencil as a pacer while reading the passage to improve reading speed and concentration
Don’t do these: highlighting, circling words, writing notes, or any other time wasters.
Don’t try to skim the passage first; it doesn’t work well on the ACT exam reading section.

8. II. Answering the Questions for Each of the Four Reading Passages
Allow about 5 minutes to answer each set of ten questions that follow a reading passage.
Use your pencil as a pacer while reading the questions and answer choices to improve reading speed and concentration.
Answer all questions that are not line reference questions first without referring back to the passage. You can usually answer these the fastest.
Line reference questions: Answer these last
Codes: Cross out incorrect answer choices to save time later. Write a ? in front of each question that you skip but plan to return to shortly.

9. III. General Strategies for the ACT Reading Section
Spend 8.5 minutes per passage, which includes reading the passage and answering the ten questions. Do not allow additional time.
If you run out of time while you are still answering questions, fill in the remaining answers by guessing.
Answer all questions. Each passage has ten questions. Make sure you fill in all ten answers, even if you must guess, because there is no guessing penalty on the ACT.
Don’t try to be perfect: You can get a very high scaled score in reading (a scaled score of 30) even with 7 incorrect answers out of the 40 questions in the reading section.
USE ALL OF YOUR TIME!!!

10. What questions do you have for me?

11. (8:45 to read and answer the questions)
Let’s Practice!
(8:45 to read and answer the questions)