Boosting ACT Reading Score?

Hi! I just took the ACT and my reading score didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. Any tips on how to improve it? What resources did you find helpful? Thank you!

Improving your ACT Reading score requires a strategy that includes building reading skills, identifying question types, and practicing time management. Here are some tips and resources to help you boost your ACT Reading score:

1. Increase reading speed and comprehension: To improve your reading speed, learn to balance between reading for detail and skimming the text to grasp the main idea. Regularly reading articles from reputable sources or academic journals can help you get used to reading complex texts.

2. Familiarize yourself with the question types: The ACT Reading section has several common question types, such as main idea, detail, inference, vocabulary-in-context, and author's tone/purpose. By recognizing these question types, you can more efficiently answer questions during the actual test.

3. Read the questions first: Before reading the passage, quickly scan the questions to get an idea of what you should look for while reading. This approach can help you focus on important details throughout the passage, to make your reading more efficient.

4. Time management: Allocate seven to nine minutes for each passage so you can finish the 40 questions in the testing period. While practicing, use a timer to monitor your pace and track your improvement.

5. Practice with official ACT materials: Use ACT's Official Guide and Practice Tests, which contain real ACT Reading passages and questions, to get a better understanding of what to expect on the actual test.

6. Consider using additional resources: Other helpful resources include prep books from reputable publishers such as Kaplan, The Princeton Review, and Barron's. These books typically provide strategies, tips, and practice tests, as well as explanations for each question type. CollegeVine's blog also has a series of ACT-focused posts, which you can access here: https://blog.collegevine.com/category/standardized-tests/act/

7. Review your mistakes: After each practice test or study session, carefully review incorrect answers to understand the reasoning behind the correct answers and identify areas where you need further improvement. You could even consider reviewing the questions you got right, to ensure your overall process was sound, and you didn't just accidentally arrive at the right answer.

8. Seek guidance: If you're struggling, consider getting help from a tutor, teacher, or counselor. They can provide personalized advice, share their experience, and suggest resources to improve your ACT Reading score. If you don't know where to look, CollegeVine has a marketplace of expert college admissions advisors, some of whom focus on standardized test prep in particular.

Remember that it takes time and consistent practice to see improvement, so be patient with yourself. Keep working on your reading skills, practice test-taking strategies, and build your confidence for the ACT Reading section. Good luck!