The ACT English section is one of four sections on the American College Test (ACT). While the English portion might seem overwhelming at first, using strategies and tips can help you succeed.
This article outlines 9 ACT English tips, including what types of questions are in the ACT English section, and how it’s different from the ACT Reading section.
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What is the ACT English Section?
The ACT English section is the ACT’s first portion, which tests students’ English language skills, including rhetoric, usage, and mechanics.
It features multiple-choice questions addressing grammar, punctuation, phrasing and style, sentence and paragraph structure, editing text, and author’s purpose.
ACT English Section Timing
The English section features 75 multiple-choice questions, broken up into 5 passages of 15 questions each. Students are given 45 minutes to complete the section, which allows 9 minutes per passage or 36 seconds per question.
ACT English Question Structure
ACT English passages are placed side-by-side with accompanying questions. Particular words, phrases, and sentences are underlined within the passage, with answer options rephrasing the underlined portion for optimal correctness and style.
ACT English Section vs ACT Reading: What’s the Difference?
The main difference between the ACT English and ACT Reading sections is that the English section focuses on writing mechanics and grammar, while the Reading section focuses on reading comprehension.
In other words, the English section focuses on writing skills, while the Reading section focuses on reading skills.
The English section also focuses more on specific words and phrases within a passage, while the Reading section addresses passages as a whole.
What Kinds of Questions are in the ACT English Section?
The ACT English section has two main types of questions: usage/mechanics questions and rhetorical skills questions.
Usage/Mechanics
Usage and mechanics (U/M) questions focus on writing’s technical correctness–especially grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.
These questions underline a phrase or word and offer 3 alternate answers with different forms of punctuation, different subject-verb agreements, or different word arrangements.
Punctuation
Punctuation questions usually focus on commas, but also address dashes (-), semicolons (;), colons (:), and apostrophes (‘). Many questions, like question 5, offer answer choices with the same exact wording–simply swapping the comma, semicolon, colon, and period.
Students should know:
Commas
Semicolons
Colons
Dashes
Periods
Appositive phrases
Simple, compound, and complex sentences
Coordinating conjunctions and commas
Grammar and Sentence Structure
Grammar and sentence structure questions seek to confuse the reader about the sentence’s main subject and verb–the main clause. Wrong answers often present verbs or nouns that disagree with their paired noun or verb, like in sample question 1.
Students should remember that subjects and verbs must agree in both plurality and tense.
Students should know:
Subject-verb agreement (time/tense, and plurality)
Complete sentences vs sentence fragments
Rhetorical Skill
Rhetorical skills (RS) questions test students’ knowledge of writing style, language choices, and structure. These questions underline words, phrases, or entire sentences within the passage, offering answer options that vary by efficiency and style.
Some RS questions ask about the purpose or meaning of sentences, phrases, or words. RS questions test students’ use of transition words, like in sample question 3. Some RS questions ask where sentences should be added within the larger paragraph or passage.
Students should know:
Paragraph structure
Passive vs active voice
Concise vs inefficient or redundant language
Transition words
9 ACT English Tips
9 tips for the ACT English Section:
The most concise answer is often the best
Identify the sentence’s core clause: subject and verb
Know appositive phrases
Read the passage one question at a time
Know Comma vs. Semicolon vs. Colon
Trust your ear
For “whole passage” questions, use each paragraph’s first sentence to determine its main idea
Read the full sentence–not just the underlined portion
Use the process of elimination
1. The most concise answer is often the best
The shortest phrasing is often the correct one.
The ACT frequently gives three wrong answer choices that are grammatically correct but demonstrate one of two errors:
Express redundant information that was already communicated in the sentence or paragraph
Use too many words, to the point where the phrase becomes awkward and annoying to read
When you don’t find any grammatical errors, turn your attention to each option’s style and information: Were any of these details already conveyed? Which answer option sounds the least awkward and fluffy?
In general, favor the most concise answer.
2. Identify the sentence’s core clause: subject and verb
Every sentence has a core clause: a primary subject and verb.
(subject) (verb)
For example: Caffeine acts as a tool.
However, in more complicated sentences, it becomes difficult to identify the core clause. For example, when the sentence gets complexified with an appositive phrase.
(subject) (verb)
Complex example: Caffeine, found in only a few foods, acts as a study and focus tool.
ACT questions attempt to disguise or separate the sentence’s primary subject and verb, adding phrases to confuse you about subject-verb agreement or where to place a comma. Always start by identifying a sentence’s core clause–subject and verb–before choosing the best answer.
3. Know appositive phrases
Building on tip 2, it’s important to identify appositive phrases and distinguish them from the sentence’s core clause.
Appositives are added words or phrases that describe, identify, or explain nouns. These descriptions can go before or after the noun they explain, and are separated from the sentence’s main clause by commas.
Example appositive phrases:
Tyler, a diligent writer, worked on his article.
Caffeine, found in only a few foods, acts as a study tool.
However, appositive phrases can also go at the beginning or end of a sentence. In these cases, they only require one comma, since a period replaces the other.
Appositive phrases in different places:
Tyler worked on his article, a true masterpiece.
Found only in a few foods, caffeine acts as a study tool.
The ACT English section often inserts appositive phrases to complicate sentences. When you can identify appositives and separate them from the sentence’s core clause, you can better understand where punctuation should go.
4. Read the passage one question at a time
ACT English passages are placed side-by-side with their accompanying questions, which progress through the passage in order.
To save time, only read the passage up until you reach underlined words, indicating a question. Finish the sentence, then answer that question.
Then, continue.
5. Know the difference: comma, dash, colon, semicolon, & period
You must know the difference between a comma, dash, colon, semicolon, and period.
The ACT English section often includes a dozen questions where all the answer choices use the same words, only swapping these punctuation marks for each other.
These 5 punctuation marks–comma, dash, colon, semicolon, and period–each pause the sentence with increasing intensity:
Comma: The lightest pause, can separate clauses and phrases
Dash: Basically a more intense comma, which can act like a colon (but not a period)
Colon: Usually acts as a period. Connects two sentences when the second one explains the first, or when preceding a list
Semicolon: Acts as a period to connect two related complete sentences
Period: Adds a full break between complete sentences
6. Trust your ear
As you read the passage, pay attention to what sounds right in each underlined space.
Substitute each answer option, reading the full sentence internally: Does it sound right? Which answer sounds the most natural? Which answers sound clearly wrong and awkward?
While not 100 percent reliable, your ear will often guide you to the right answer–or at least away from bad answers.
7. Use the passage’s intro paragraphs and sentences to identify big ideas
A passage’s last two questions often ask about the essay as a whole. For example, question 9 asks if the writer achieved a certain purpose with the passage.
In these cases, you must quickly identify each paragraph’s function. Helpfully, a paragraph’s first sentence usually indicates its main idea. The same goes for the essay’s intro paragraph, which usually outlines the essay’s main idea.
Use these introductory signposts to quickly recap the essay’s overall purpose, determining if the essay achieved the indicated purpose or not.
8. Read the full sentence–not just the underlined portion
ACT English questions like to complicate sentences by sprinkling appositive phrases throughout sentences. In order to grasp the sentence’s main clause (subject + verb) and get full context for the underlined portion, you must read the entire sentence.
Do not make the mistake of reading an underlined phrase and immediately choosing the answer that seems right. Confirm the correct answer by reading the whole sentence.
9. Use the process of elimination
When a question seems overwhelming, start by eliminating one or two answers that you know are wrong. Typically, some answers will sound obviously awkward or off-base.
While you’ve probably heard this tip before, it is a universally helpful test-taking strategy.
Ready to Succeed on the ACT English Section?
You can do well on the ACT English section–especially if you take practice tests and apply the strategies listed in this article.
Tips such as reading the passage one question at a time, identifying the sentence’s main clause, and distinguishing when to use a comma vs a dash–can boost your ACT English score by multiple points.
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