ACT English questions fall into two broad categories: Usage/Mechanics and Rhetorical Skills. Usage/Mechanics tests grammar rules, punctuation, and sentence construction. Rhetorical Skills tests your judgment as a writer — whether to add or delete content, how to organize ideas, and how to choose the most effective wording. Each guide below covers strategies, common traps, and interactive practice questions.
These questions test your grasp of standard English conventions — punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure. They make up roughly 52-55% of all English questions.
These questions test your ability to improve writing effectiveness — adding/deleting content, organizing ideas, and choosing concise, precise wording. They make up roughly 29-32% of English questions.