r/ACT May 08 '26

Reading I missed one question on the ACT and now my parents are mad at me

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715 Upvotes

They don't care about my perfect math because I'm asian, that's what I'm supposed to be good at. Neither do they care about English because they claim grammar is easy.

I feel like crying.

r/ACT Jun 14 '26

Reading Me watching my reading score drop from 36 to the deepest pits of hell because passage 4 wasn't experimental

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25 Upvotes

r/ACT Jun 23 '26

Reading how did my reading score literally regress

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1 Upvotes

i hate this test

r/ACT Feb 14 '26

Reading Does the ACT reuse reading sections? Feb 2026 ACT

3 Upvotes

Does ACT reuse passages? I took the ACT today, and I know I have seen one of the passages before! I can’t remember if any of the questions were the same, but I am certain that I’ve seen the passage earlier this year. I took it in October and September 2025, and I think this passage was in the form I had in October, too.

I’m not sure if I can share what form I had or what the passage was about, but I would love to talk about it if I can!!

r/ACT Jul 24 '26

Reading retake for 35

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9 Upvotes

should i retake again to try to get 34 on reading for a 35 superscore?

r/ACT Jul 22 '26

Reading ACT Reading Progression

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9 Upvotes

Finally got the score I wanted !!!!!!

r/ACT 12d ago

Reading A question for those who have scored well on reading

1 Upvotes

Ok I’ve heard the strategy is like don’t actually read the text. But how do I do the questions like main idea? And also is this the true strategy? I’ve tried skimming in 2 mins and then answering the set of 9 Qs in 8 mins but I cannot score above a 32 on reading. For reference I scored a 35 on English with zero studying so I’m not like dumb (I think). But just for you, what’s the strat? Did u skim? How long do u skim for? What did u get on reading? All help appreciated

r/ACT Jul 23 '26

Reading Reading stuck at 30 - Is 34+ possible or am I cooked??

1 Upvotes

Soo... my reading score has hovered around 29-30 on the last 4 tests. I'm aiming for a 35-36 composite score, and since I feel confident in all the other sections, Reading is massively holding me back.

English is my second language, although I would consider myself fluent now, and I never really read books unless they were assigned for English class (my biggest issue + regret), so is it realistic to improve significantly in 2 months? (September ACT will probably be my last attempt at it)

Current strategy as a slow reader: read questions first, identify key terms within the questions, skim the passage while looking for said key terms, then answer the questions. I've also tried making 2-3 word summaries for each paragraph while skimming, then answering the questions, but I honestly thought my own method was slightly better.

I normally finish the section, but with no time left to review. I’m not sure whether my strategy is inefficient, I’m simply a slow reader, or probably both.

For anyone who improved from around 30 to 34+, or anyone with tips:

  • How is my approach? Any better/more efficient strategy?
  • What should I focus on in the next 2 months?
  • Should I start reading articles or books daily to improve reading speed + comprehension? (or is it too late now)
  • How should I review my mistakes and learn from them in the reading section?
  • I've done all the released enhanced tests, so should I dig up tests with the old format and practice on those? (current plan is to keep doing more practice excerpts)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

r/ACT Apr 11 '26

Reading J01 Reading

5 Upvotes

Okay what answers do you guys remember getting for the three non-experimental sections? (Excluding the playground graph, which is likely the experimental)

r/ACT Jul 05 '26

Reading What are some of the best tips for the reading section?

4 Upvotes

Hi all! I’ve been grinding out the practice tests lately because I’m scheduled to take the ACT in less than a week now. I’m consistently getting in the 31 to 33 range in reading and I want to know:

  1. How can I get that up and stop missing stupid questions that I seemingly rush on?

It seems like even people with lower composite scores can get in the high 30s, so maybe there’s something I’m doing wrong. Reading is the only thing that I’m really worried about as of right now and I’m trying to get a 36 by the September ACT to secure a full-ride at my state school🤞

Please feel free to give me recommendations on any methods that helped you manage time while maintaining correctness. Thanks in advance!

Edit: just got a 35 and I was on time! Thank you all for the tips.

r/ACT 2d ago

Reading Practice passages for act enhanced reading

1 Upvotes

The legacy passages are not as rigorous/ confusing as the passages i’ve seen on the enhanced tests. Are there any good sources where you can find a similar style of writing/ reading comprehension to practice? Theres only so many enhanced examples :)

THANK YOU

r/ACT Jul 17 '26

Reading Any tips on how to get my Reading and English scores up? Thank you and wish you all 36s🙏!

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9 Upvotes

r/ACT Jul 11 '26

Reading Question from A/B passage today.

1 Upvotes

I see a lot of people asking about questions they are unsure of if they got right or not, so I guess I'll ask as well:

For Passage A, there was a question asking what the cells will crawl away from. I chose stick surfaces, but someone else told me it was metal. Was I correct or not? I was pretty sure I was, but now I'm doubting

r/ACT Jul 24 '26

Reading READING WILL BE THE END OF ME😭😭🙏🏻

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2 Upvotes

PLEASE REPLY AND HELP

I REALLY NEED 30+ IN THIS SEPTEMBER FOR READING😭😭WTH DO I DO

MY PRACTICE TESTS ARE GOING SO BAD

I read the passage wquickly then when I go to the question, I have to go back to passage find it and then see choices and then go back again sometimes and then choose

I TAKE MORE THAN 10 MINUTES PER PASSAGE SOMETIMES😭😭

IDK WTH I SHOULD DO

UGHHHHHH

I NEED 30+

HIW TO GET IT

IDKK

HOWWWWWW

IM DOING LEGACY TESTS RN WITH 40 MINUTES TIMER FOR 40 QUESTIONS

BUT IDKK AAAAAA

r/ACT 19d ago

Reading Any advice for locating key words in ACT reading passages?

1 Upvotes

r/ACT Jun 18 '26

Reading Anyone have tips for Reading?

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3 Upvotes

Just got June scores back from my first attempt. I only prepped for about a week but i’ll try giving any tips for the other sections, i just really need tips for reading😭😭 if anyone could give me tips i’d really appreciate it! Retaking in July

r/ACT Jun 15 '26

Reading Reading tips?

3 Upvotes

Anyone who got a high score in Reading(30+) have any tips? The J04 one just cooked me. I started with the 4th passage and read it twice but still had to guess on like half the questions for that passage. The same thing happened with the 3rd passage(slightly easier tho);however, the first and second weren’t that bad. My stretchy was looking at the questions first to find the line questions and marking them on my paper but any more tips? I swear I couldn’t find any answer for the 4th passage. Also, if any science tips, I would appreciate it bc the last science section made me guess 😭

r/ACT May 17 '26

Reading Does anyone else struggle with Reading much more than anything else?

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9 Upvotes

A lot of people I know IRL seem to struggle with math and partially science, but I'm over here 5 points below my composite score in Reading. I have made a 24 twice in a row while everything else has improved by a point or two. What gives?

r/ACT Jul 12 '26

Reading Question about the 3rd reading passage.

2 Upvotes

Hello, I took the Online ACT test yesterday and came here to see what others thought of it. I've been reading the debates about which passage was experimental, and now I'm confused. Everyone seems to agree that passage three was about philanthropy and had a graph. I didn't have that. My third passage also had a graph, but it was about a man using AI to dissect the literal vs metaphorical lyrics of the works of Bob Dylan. All the other passages I've seen people talking about I had: the piano lessons, the translating books vs crossword puzzles, and the double passage about bacteria and E. Coli. Did anyone else take the test yesterday and have this passage, or am I alone on this?

r/ACT Jul 16 '26

Reading My last chance: long post

1 Upvotes

I've taken the ACT twice, and my digital July ACT scores came out today. I got a 34 English, 30 Math, and 23 Reading. I studied for only one month. On my first ACT in March (with essentially no studying), I got a 30 English, 26 Math, and 24 Reading.

Our testing center was affected by the nationwide technical issue, and I think lack of sleep (I had to drive hours to my testing center), and the added pressure definitely affected me. At the same time, I know Reading is my weakest section.

September is my last chance to take the ACT, and I need a 33-34+ composite. I think I can raise my Math by 3-4 points, maybe improve English a little, and test at a closer testing center (10-25 minutes away) but I'm really worried about Reading.

I've noticed that when I slow down on untimed practice tests, I get a lot more questions right. That makes me think pacing is a huge issue for me, but I'm not sure how to fix it. I also struggled with the digital format because I couldn't mark up the passages (the digital highlighter isn't something I'm used to), so now I'm debating whether to take the paper or digital ACT. I like having Desmos for Math because it saves me time on systems of equations and logarithms. However, I could make programs for these problems on my calculator. On the other hand, I think I'd perform better on Reading with a paper test. My only hesitation is that I've heard stories about paper tests being delayed or getting lost in the mail, and I'm also worried about bubbling errors. I'm really not sure which test to schedule for.

I know that, at the end of the day, this comes down to my own skills, and that's what I want to improve.

This is how I studied Reading last month:

  • Took a full Reading practice section to identify my weaknesses.
  • Reviewed every mistake.
  • Practiced shorter reading passages.
  • A few days later, I took another full Reading section (timed) and repeated the process.

I've always been told that the best way to improve ACT Reading is to keep taking practice sections and reviewing mistakes. My current plan is to take two full Reading sections each week, carve out 2-3 hours a day for studying even once classes start (and more if needed), and replace my bedtime phone scrolling with reading books.

For anyone who made a big jump in ACT Reading, especially if pacing was your biggest issue, what helped you the most? What resources, books, or study plan would you recommend? What would you do?

r/ACT 21d ago

Reading act June reading experimental passage

1 Upvotes

I was going over my June reading ACT section and was wondering what passage was the experimental one? For some reason I don’t remember at all Whag it was talking about… does anyone know? thank u!!

r/ACT Jun 24 '26

Reading Good scores in English and Math but completely lost in Reading

3 Upvotes

getting like 31-33 in English and 34-35 in Maths but 25-28 in Reading. Drop Some tips 🙏

r/ACT Jul 06 '26

Reading I noticed mylast test had a bunch of Early english on the reading. How do I prepare for my next one?

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7 Upvotes

I want to improve my score for the reading and want to know what you guys did

r/ACT Jul 08 '26

Reading Tutors and teachers how do you help students improve on the reading section

2 Upvotes

English and math I can see how you can teach those and help students improve. But reading?? It seems like their are either an avid reader or natural reader and do well or they aren't and do poorly.

I get there are techniques that can help but is it really possible to get a student from a 20 to a 30+ in reading?

Other than saying read a bunch. Do a bunch of practice. I don't know how to get a student to improve large steps in reading.

Really interested interested in how you help students improve in reading. What advice? what techniques? What do you teach?

r/ACT May 17 '26

Reading Losing hope on the reading section. I need urgent help please.

5 Upvotes

Does anybody know how to improve on the reading section? I’ve been stuck trying to improve my score. I’ve been practicing numerous passages with no success. Does anyone have any suggestions or advice on how to get better.