The Reading Test passages on the ACT can be challenging. They are long and may contain confusing language. Keep these tips in mind as you approach the Reading Test section of the ACT:

1. Read the introduction. The introductory text lists the author and the source of the passage. Sometimes it includes information that may be helpful in putting some questions into context. Refer back to it as needed.
2. Put the excerpts into context. When a question refers to text on a certain line (or lines), be sure to read the text that comes before and after the excerpt. Sometimes the answer cannot be determined from simply reading the sentence (or sentences) in the excerpt.
3. Pay attention to negatives. If you are asked to choose an answer that does NOT support the author's argument or to respond to a question that contains "EXCEPT," read each answer and ask yourself, "Is this true?" If it is, cross it off.
   
4. Choose a title, main point, or purpose that is not too broad or too specific. If you are asked to pick a title that best describes the passage, read each option carefully to determine not only whether it makes sense, but also whether it is too broad or too specific. You can be certain that one of the five choices will be much too general and that another will focus on a detail mentioned in the text rather than on the entire text. Similarly, if you are asked to choose the main point or purpose of the passage, be sure that your answer is not one that is too broad or too specific. Another helpful tactic is to reread the first paragraph and the first sentence of subsequent paragraphs to get a better sense of what the whole piece is about.
5. Think about inferences. An author may imply something without actually saying it. You will be asked to infer the meaning of the text. The answer will not be directly stated in the passage. Think about who the author is and from what kind of work the passage has been excerpted (you may know this from the introduction). This information may help you extract meaning from the text.
6. Turn the Roman numeral items into true/false questions. When you are presented with a question that asks which of three items (numbered with Roman numerals) are correct, treat each item as a true/false question. Read each item and decide whether it is true or false. Then look at the five answers to see which combination of "true" items is correct.
7. Move on and return if you need to. The test consists of four passages in different subjects: Prose Fiction, Social Studies, Humanities, and Natural Science. You will have 35 minutes to read the four passages and answer 10 questions per passage. If you are having trouble following a challenging or difficult passage, do not panic. Stop reading and move on to the next one. Return to the troublesome passage when you have finished the rest of the section.
8. Do not leave any questions unanswered. If you run out of time, fill in random answers. You will not be penalized for an incorrect answer, and you will have a 25% chance of guessing correctly.
9. Trust your instincts! If you are quite sure that an answer is correct but you think it must be wrong because it seems too easy, don't change your answer. You are smart and some questions are easy!