Welcome to Fiveable's ACT English overview! In this guide, we'll explain everything that's tested in this section and set you up to succeed!

✍🏽 ACT English Section

Overview

The ACT English section consists of 75 questions, and you'll have 45 minutes to answer them. This might sound a little scary at first, but we promise we'll set you on the path to success. The English section will present a variety of short essays and passages. Each will accompany a set of multiple-choice questions.

Question Types

For each passage, you'll encounter questions will either ask about...

• The passage as a whole

  • These questions will require you to truly understand the big picture of the passages. You'll have to take a step back and look at the entire forest—not just individual trees. These questions will ask things like the effect of a change on the entire passage, or what a logical addition may be.

• A specific underlined portion of the passage

  • These questions will essentially ask you to edit the passage, and will require a strong knowledge of grammar and mechanics. They will primarily rely on the underlined portion, but you may need to look at the surrounding sentences for additional context.

Skills Assessed

The ACT English section will test you on a wide range of language-related skills, including...

• Production of Writing (29-32% of questions)

  • Topic Development

    • These questions will ask you about rhetorical devices in the text. You will be asked to identify purpose, evaluate whether an author has achieved their purpose, and determine the relevance of certain material in the passage.

  • Organization, Unity, and Cohesion

    • These questions will ask you to alter the text so that it flows well, is logically organized, and has both a strong introduction and conclusion.

• Knowledge of Language (15-17% of questions)

  • These questions are all about word choice. You will be asked to pick the best word choice based on the style and tone of a passage, while still being precise and concise.

• Conventions of Standard English (52-55% of questions)

  • Sentence Structure and Formation (guide coming soon!)

    • These questions will as you to make edits to improve sentence structure and formation. This will test both your grammar knowledge and ability to make sure the sentence flows smoothly.

  • Punctuation (guide coming soon!)

    • These questions will test your knowledge of proper punctuation. They will ask you to recognize and make edits to fix common punctuation errors.

  • Usage (guide coming soon!)

    • These questions will ask you to notice and correct errors with how words are used in a sentence. "Usage" includes things like subject-verb agreement, tenses, and word order.

🥇 Prepping for Success

When it comes to preparing for the ACT English section, a strategic approach is the key to success. Begin by familiarizing yourself with the test format and question types. With dedication and the right strategies, you can enhance your language proficiency and conquer the ACT English section with assurance. 📚

How to Prepare for the Content

Follow these four easy tips to get ready to crush your ACT English section!

• Practice with Diverse Passages

  • In your quest for ACT English excellence, diversity is your ally. Engage with a wide range of passage types to enhance your adaptability and grasp of various subjects. Just as an explorer conquers different terrains, you conquer different ideas. This practice nurtures both your intellectual versatility and your confidence in handling different linguistic choices and styles on the test.

• Polish Your Grammar

  • The grammar and mechanics of Standard English are the bread and butter of the English section. Practice them until you know them like the back of your hand so that you can zip through the underline questions on the exam.

• Develop Strategic Approaches for Questions

  • Craft specific tactics for each question type. Try leaving main idea questions for after you've read the entire passage, but work on the underlined questions as you go. Each question type has its strategy, and by mastering them, you'll become a skilled navigator on the linguistic map.

How to Prepare for the Exam

• Use Official ACT Practice Materials

  • The ACT makes lots of materials available for free. Make use of them! There's no better way to practice than by going to the source. Using released tests is the best way to prepare yourself for the type of material that will show up on the exam.

• Do Timed Practice Tests

  • The biggest challenge of the ACT is not the content, but the limited time. Most of the content on all sections, but particularly the English section, is well-covered in K-12 education. But, to be able to recall it all under time pressure can be hard! Make sure to set yourself up for success by practicing under time pressure. This way, by the time you're taking the real exam, you'll be a pro.

• Review Your Mistakes

  • Mistakes give you the best opportunity to learn. If you get everything right, you won't be gaining any new information—just proving you know it. So, if you only focus on what you got right, you won't make improvements. Instead, focus on your mistakes and truly understanding the concepts behind the correct answer.

Keep in mind, nobody starts off as an ACT English prodigy. If you anticipate challenges in the ACT English section, the ultimate key to triumph lies in understanding it inside out. It's not just about practicing core skills – it's about getting to know the section intimately. Your secret weapon? Repeatedly taking practice exams. Each round of practice reveals insights into your personalized strategies for maximizing your correct answers within the time constraints. With every practice, you craft a roadmap tailored to your success, navigating the ACT English section like a pro. 📚🔍🕐

💡 Tips and Tricks

1. Pay attention to the details and the big picture: To maximize your time on the English section, it's best to work through the underlined/highlighted questions as you go. But, you still need to grasp the passage as a whole to answer the rest of the questions. Practice with released exams to master this balance!

2. Keep style in mind: The passages will cover a wide variety of content and disciplines. Keep in mind that grammar conventions, tone, and language usage could vary widely between passages—a personal letter and scientific article won't necessarily follow the same rules!

3. Pay attention to differences in answers: Questions covering grammar and mechanics may have very slight differences. Read them closely to ensure you select the best one!

4. Avoid extreme language: Beware of answer choices that use extreme language (always, never, completely). Often, these are incorrect.

5. Use the process of elimination: Use process of elimination to narrow down your choices. Cross out answers that are clearly incorrect, even if you're not sure of the correct answer yet.

6. Don't leave bubbles blank: Following up on Tip #5, here is no penalty for incorrect answers on the ACT! This means that you shouldn't leave anything blank, because there's a 25% chance you'll get it right if you guess. And, you can improve your chance if you can eliminate even 1 or 2 of the other choices.

7. Read aloud (Mentally): If you're unsure about the correctness of a sentence, try reading it aloud (mentally). This can help identify awkward or incorrect phrasing.

8. Prioritize concision and clarity: When improving sentences, choose options that maintain the original meaning while improving clarity and conciseness.

9. Consider "no change": Many questions will have "no change" as an option. Be sure you truly consider the chance that the sentence you're editing is already correct before changing it! If you're uncertain, it can help to explain your reasoning in your head or the margins of the exam paper.

🤩 Conclusion

The ACT English section will assess your command of language, grammar, and effective communication. Navigating this section successfully requires a keen eye for detail, an understanding of rhetorical strategies, and the ability to convey ideas clearly. By embracing strategies like reading for context, eliminating answer choices, and refining your grammar and punctuation skills, you can confidently approach this section. Remember, mastering the ACT English section not only enhances your test score but also equips you with essential language skills that extend far beyond the exam. 📝🧐

Happy ACT Exam!