ALL ABOUT THE ACT: READING TEST

It is testing your reading comprehension If you have trouble reading on the college level, you may have some trouble… But all is not lost… here are some tips to help give you a chance

The 4 S’s SKIMMING- read quickly, looking for important info SCANNING- look for the info that you need to answer the question SUPPORT- the actual info in the passage that answers the question SCOPE- the section of the passage that supports what you feel the answer is

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You’ve got the answer! The answer to EVERY Reading question is in the passage Underline important facts as you skim and scan so you can come back to it later As you skim, pay attention to the general idea of what is being said, who is saying it, and where the details are situated.

Never run out of time again! 8 It is essential to get through the entire test and not run out of time Set a time limit for each passage… 8 minutes!!! After 8 minutes, move on to the next passage!!!

Types of Questions… Finding Details Inferred questions Read Between the Lines

EASY POINTS Finding Details The test asks you to find a specific detail The key: recognize it! Then scan for details!!!! 3. The first two paragraphs establish all of the following about Pavlovtich Karamazov EXCEPT: a. a landowner b. a senseless type c. rich at the time of his death d. married multiple time

Reasonably Inferred or the “Least Worst” Answer This type of question usually begins as “it can be reasonably inferred that…” Infer means- conclude from evidence and reasoning Make your best guess You typically want to pick the “least worst” answer

Find all of the WRONG answers…. Eliminate answers that are obviously wrong so you won’t have too much to look through and consider Save time by eliminating the bad answers first! Eliminate answers that either contradict the passage or don’t correctly fit with what is being asked.

Read between the lines… You may have to determine what has been IMPLIED by examining what is written. You will need to understand main ideas of each passage. Eliminate incorrect answers first.

STOP OVER-THINKING!!!! Go with your gut! If you go to change an answer and you do not have a convincing reason to do so, DON’T CHANGE IT! You need both CONFIDENCE and SPEED to boost your score.

Contradictions… Sometimes answer choices are contradictions…use that to help determine the correct answer Wrong answers will contradict the passage or will not appear in the passage at all. Eliminate the contradictions.

Finding Meaning ACT Reading checks your understanding of the passages Ask yourself, “what is the author really trying to say here?” REFUSE TO GET CONFUSED!! Don’t let tough vocabulary distract you from the meaning

Brain Going Numb? Don’t suffer from Brain Drain! Practice like you’re taking it Shift your concentration….skip it and move on…. Come back to it!

Things you can do between tests… Vocabulary practice… use the dictionary! Any time you read something in school and you don’t know a word…look it up!!! Read! Keep reading and read a lot!!!