The ACT at a glance

The ACT is one of two standardized tests used in the US admission process. It is a three-hour examination divided into four sections—English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science. Candidates sitting the ACT have their results, called ‘raw scores’, placed into an ACT scoring algorithm that scales the score according to the student’s relative performance compared to the rest of their cohort.

Although the educational landscape of the United States has changed in recent years, and most US colleges are now ‘test-optional’, the ACT is still an important examination. The ACT exam functions as a means to allow students to distinguish themselves from their peers. A notable ACT score can also result in scholarships that non-ACT candidates would be unable to access.

Common difficulties in ACT English and Reading

On the face of it, an exam like the ACT, which tests a student's general English language and reading skill, should be easy enough. However, students often find themselves facing unique challenges with regard to the ACT examination.

With regard to the ACT English section, the first part of the ACT exam, students often struggle due to their incomplete knowledge of the conventions of the English language. Much of what is tested in the ACT English is, for one reason or another, glossed over in school. Consequently, students sitting their ACT examination lose out on marks that should be gained quite easily.

Insofar as the ACT Reading portion is concerned, the common sticking point is time management. Although time management is a factor in the English section also, ACT candidates must be particularly swift and decisive with their answers in the Reading portion of the exam. Students are presented with four passages on a variety of topics, with a total of 40 questions and 35 minutes to answer them. This means candidates should spend little more than 9 minutes per passage, or about 52 seconds per question. One can see how time management is a crucial aspect of the ACT Reading section.

Tips for students

Although suitably challenging, there are some tips students can use to improve their ACT English and Reading scores.

With regard to ACT English, it is essential that students consolidate their fundamental knowledge of the conventions of the English language. Where this begins is examining multiple past ACT exam papers and studying the types of questions that arise, then investigating the language conventions to which these questions relate. In some instances this will be as simple as where to place an apostrophe, in others it will be somewhat more complicated.

For the ACT Reading section, students must refine their time management skills. In ACT Reading, it is not wholly necessary to read from top to bottom every passage—to do so would consume a significant portion of the 9 minutes allotted to each one. Instead, ACT candidates must dive into the questions for each Reading passage, completing the more direct questions first, i.e. those that point students to a particular line or paragraph in the text, and only then attempt the broader questions. This approach allows candidates to both read the passages of the ACT Reading section and answer the questions simultaneously, gaining a considered understanding of the excerpts all the while.

How ACT tutoring can help

Mastery of the ACT English and Reading sections, not to mention the remaining portions of the ACT examination, is supremely challenging. In some instances, students must relearn, or learn for the first time, information that has its roots in earlier education. In others, ACT students must leave aside the traditional idea of ‘read-the-passage-answer-the-questions’ and embrace a ‘question-first’ methodology that appears at once foreign and intimidating. Consequently, an experienced ACT tutor is invaluable to ensure confidence in the English and Reading sections of the examination.

At BartyED, our expert tutors are trained in ACT examination preparation, and have guided students through the exam and on to places at some of the United State’s most prestigious learning institutions, including Dartmouth, Stanford, Duke, Brown, and Northeastern. Our tutors understand the unique challenges of the ACT English and Reading sections and operate a student-first approach to support the individual in achieving academic excellence.

If you’d like to find out how we can help you or your child, reach out today at 2882 1017 or via email at enquiries@bartyed.com.