Boost your ACT Reading score with our free practice questions designed to mirror the actual test. These carefully curated problems span all major content areas tested on the ACT, including prose fiction, social science, humanities, and natural science passages.
New questions are added every day, so you can practice consistently and stay sharp for test day.
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ACT Reading practice questions are split into three categories:
Main Ideas: Practice identifying central themes and summarizing information from passages.
Supporting Details: Work on finding specific information and understanding relationships in the text.
Sequencing: Master understanding the order of events and cause-and-effect relationships.
Word Meanings: Practice interpreting vocabulary in context and understanding nuanced meanings.
Author's Purpose: Work on identifying the author's tone, attitude, and rhetorical choices.
Text Structure: Master understanding how passages are organized and why certain details are included.
Comparing Viewpoints: Practice analyzing different perspectives in paired passages.
Evaluating Arguments: Work on distinguishing facts from opinions and evaluating evidence.
Visual Elements: Master interpreting graphs, charts, and other visual data in relation to text.
To get the most out of ACT Reading practice questions, we recommend the following strategies (they have been shown to help improve your score twice as fast!):
Take a full-length practice test to identify your strengths and weaknesses. This helps you focus your study time on areas that need improvement.
Work through ACT Reading problems by content area. Master one topic before moving to the next.
Always practice under timed conditions. Aim for about 52 seconds per question to build the pacing skills you'll need on test day.
Don't just check if you got the answer right. Read the explanations to understand the reasoning and learn new strategies.
Keep a record of your scores and note which types of ACT Reading questions give you trouble. Focus extra practice on these areas.
Understanding the ACT Reading test format is crucial for effective practice and test day success. The ACT has announced significant changes to the Reading section starting in 2025, so it's important to know which version you'll be taking:
| Feature | Current Format | Enhanced Format (Starting 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Questions | 40 multiple-choice questions | 40 multiple-choice questions |
| Time Allotted | 35 minutes (about 52 seconds per question) | 35 minutes (about 52 seconds per question) |
| Passage Count | 4 passages (3 single + 1 paired passage) | Same format |
| Passage Types | Prose Fiction, Social Science, Humanities, Natural Science | Same passage types |
Each correct answer on the ACT Reading section earns you 1 raw point. There's no penalty for wrong answers, so always guess if you're unsure.
Your raw score is converted to a scaled score from 1-36. The national average is around 20-21, while competitive scores are typically 25+.
Here are some key facts about ACT Reading scoring:
No penalty for wrong answers – always guess
All questions are worth equal points
Reading contributes 1/4 to your composite score (1/3 on enhanced test without Science)
ACT offers superscoring across multiple test dates
For comprehensive information about the ACT Reading section, including detailed explanations of question types, scoring, and test format, check out our complete guides:
ACT Reading: All You Need to Know - Complete guide to the ACT Reading section with detailed breakdowns of all passage types and question categories.
ACT Score Range Guide - Understand how ACT Reading scores translate to college admissions and what scores you need for your target schools.
Enhanced ACT vs Traditional ACT 2025 - Learn about the upcoming changes to the ACT format and how they affect the Reading section.