How to Improve My Reading Score for the ACT

If you have spent any time studying for the ACT or have taken it in the past, then you know that each section can be scored up to a 36. Of course, very few achieve the ultimate score of 36 across the board. It requires virtually perfection and there aren’t too many of us that can ever claim to be perfect at anything.

One of the sections that can give many high school students a fit is the Reading section of the ACT. The average Reading score on the ACT is right around 21. Whether you have achieved this score already or are shooting for one even higher, there are little tips and tricks to be aware of for the next time you are taking the ACT Reading section.

The Passage Questions and Time Management

For the ACT Reading section, you must read a short passage and then answer questions about what you have just spent a few minutes reading. As the clock keeps on ticking, you might feel you are under the gun as the seconds turn into minutes. As there are 40 questions you must answer in 35 minutes, the pressure does mount up as the time slowly dissipates. The trick is to not let it get to you.

Don’t rush yourself into making snap judgments on questions simply because there is a time limit. Just like the tortoise thought, slow and steady can win the race. The difference between getting a question right or wrong on these passage questions usually comes down to you going back into the passage and looking for that exact right answer. Don’t think you know the answer already. Go back and look for it until you know you have the correct answer!

If you know there are only a couple minutes left for the Reading Section and you have ten questions left to answer, then you can speed through these last questions. But don’t do so until you have to. You might just realize you had more time on your hands than you originally thought.

Eliminate the Wrong Answers Instead of Choosing the Right One

With each question, you will have four possible multiple choice answers to choose from. At times, you will be unsure of just which is the correct answer. So instead of trying to find that correct answer, eliminate all the ones that you know are wrong for sure. That way you will have one answer left and even if you are unsure about it, you have eliminated all the wrong ones so you should be left with the correct one.

It’s almost like playing the game of Clue. If you can eliminate all the suspects except one, then you know the one that is left is the culprit. This logical method is called the process of elimination as you exclude all the other possible answers and are left with just one.

Know the Answer Before Reading the Possible Options

Let’s face it. Some of those possible answers are downright tricky. Instead of waiting to think of what the answer may be to the question until you read over the possible options, come up with your own answer first and then find that one in the multiple-choice section.

For instance, if a question asks what is the main idea of the story, you should already have a thought in your head on what it is. Then you can just go down and search for that exact answer in the multiple-choice section. It will save you valuable time and won’t lead to you second-guessing yourself.

Know the Terminology

There will be questions asking you to find the theme of the story, the main idea, to make an inference, find the author’s purpose, and things of that nature. You must know the terminology ahead of time or you are going to be lost on what you need to do. Study these terms before you sit down and try taking on the ACT. You’ll be glad that you did.

Consult with an Expert

Sometimes, no matter how you prepare yourself, you just need that extra hand to give you the edge needed. Luckily, iAchieve has that extra edge to provide you. We have special tutors that focus only on improving ACT scores. If you need help with the Reading section or any other category, we can be of assistance. Let our experts guide you into improving your score.

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