ACT English Hacks to Help you with your ACT Test Prep

Master the ACT English Section with These Expert Tips

The ACT English section can feel intimidating, but with the right strategies and a solid plan, it becomes your chance to shine. As the first test on ACT day, English sets the tone for your entire exam experience. Whether you’re aiming for a few extra points or a perfect score, this guide will help you understand the test, develop effective strategies, and create a study plan that delivers results.

Understanding the ACT English Section

Let’s start with the basics. The ACT English section isn’t just about grammar rules—it’s a comprehensive test of your writing and editing skills.

Key Details:

• Number of Questions: 75

• Time Allowed: 45 minutes (just 36 seconds per question!)

• Passages: 5 total, with 15 questions each

Focus Areas:

1. Usage/Mechanics

• These 40 questions test your understanding of grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure—the nuts and bolts of effective writing.

• Examples: Correcting comma usage, fixing subject-verb agreement errors, and ensuring consistency in verb tense.

2. Rhetorical Skills

• These 35 questions assess your ability to make writing clear, engaging, and well-organized.

• Examples: Improving sentence flow, maintaining the right tone, and reorganizing paragraphs for clarity.

Strategic Test-Taking Approaches

Success on the ACT English section isn’t just about knowing the rules—it’s about using the right strategies to work efficiently and avoid common pitfalls.

1. First-Pass Strategy

• Skim the first sentence of each paragraph to get a sense of the main ideas.

• Don’t waste time reading the entire passage upfront. Instead, tackle questions as you read.

• Underline key topic sentences and transition words as you go to stay organized.

2. Navigating Questions

• Follow the flow: Questions appear in the order of the passage, so you won’t need to hunt around.

• Use line numbers and underlined text to focus your attention on specific areas.

• For “NO CHANGE” options, compare it quickly with other choices—ACT often tests for unnecessary complexity.

3. Time Management

• Allocate 8 minutes per passage (e.g., finish Passage 1 by minute 8, Passage 2 by minute 16, etc.).

• If a question takes longer than 30 seconds, skip it and come back later.

• Reserve the final 2 minutes for reviewing skipped questions.

4. Answer Selection

• Eliminate answers that are clearly wrong—this narrows your choices.

• For “DELETE or KEEP” questions, test the sentence with and without the underlined portion to decide.

• When stuck, remember: concise answers that maintain clarity are usually correct.

Key Content Areas to Master

To succeed, you’ll need a solid grasp of both grammar and rhetorical concepts.

Usage/Mechanics (40 Questions):

• Punctuation: Watch out for comma splices, semicolons, and apostrophes. Misplaced punctuation is a common trap.

• Grammar: Focus on subject-verb agreement, verb tense consistency, and pronoun clarity.

• Sentence Structure: Learn to identify fragments, run-ons, and misplaced modifiers.

• Word Usage: Pay attention to commonly confused words (e.g., their/there/they’re).

Rhetorical Skills (35 Questions):

• Strategy: Understand the author’s purpose and tone. For example, is the goal to persuade, inform, or entertain?

• Organization: Ensure paragraphs and sentences flow logically. Questions often ask you to reorder sentences.

• Style: Focus on making writing clear and concise. Watch for redundancy and awkward phrasing.

Essential Study Strategies

Daily Grammar Drills

Spend 5–10 minutes reviewing grammar each day. Use:

• News articles, magazines, or textbooks to spot real-world grammar errors.

• Online resources or ACT prep books for targeted practice.

Timed Practice

Start by practicing without a time limit to ensure accuracy. Once you feel confident, introduce timing:

• Aim to complete a passage in 8 minutes.

• Gradually reduce time until it becomes second nature.

Tracking Your Errors

Keep a spreadsheet to track your mistakes. For each error, note:

• Question type (e.g., punctuation, tone, etc.)

• Your answer vs. the correct answer

• The grammar rule or rhetorical skill you missed

Your 6-Week Study Plan for ACT English

Week 1-2: Master the Basics

• Focus on grammar and punctuation rules (e.g., commas, subject-verb agreement).

• Use drills to improve your accuracy on specific rules.

Week 3-4: Develop Rhetorical Skills

• Practice reorganizing sentences and paragraphs for clarity.

• Analyze passages for tone, purpose, and logical flow.

Week 5: Timed Practice

• Work through full English sections under timed conditions.

• Aim to complete each passage in 8 minutes or less.

Week 6: Full Practice Tests & Review

• Take two full-length practice tests to simulate test day.

• Use your error log to review and target weak areas.

Bonus Tips for Test Day Success

• Mindfulness Techniques: Stay calm with deep breathing and positive self-talk.

• Fuel Up: Eat a healthy breakfast with protein and complex carbs.

• Trust Your Prep: You’ve done the work—focus on one question at a time.

Join Our ACT English Workshop!

Need more personalized support? Join our LIVE ACT English Workshop on February 1st from 10 AM–12 PM CST!

For just $65, you’ll get:

📘 A downloadable workbook filled with practice questions

🎯 Hands-on strategies tailored to your needs

✅ Expert guidance to help you ace ACT English

LIVE via ZOOM

Spots are limited, so secure your seat today!

CLICK HERE to REGISTER!

Final Thoughts

The ACT English section doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. By understanding the test, using smart strategies, and following a structured study plan, you’ll be ready to tackle it with confidence. Start your prep today and take the first step toward achieving your dream ACT score!

For more tips and strategies, tune into the Test Prep+ podcast or explore our resources on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Let’s conquer the ACT together! 🎓

Check out all of the resources mentioned in this episode:

ACT English Workshop (live online):  Learn all of the strategies and content to study for your ACT English prep live via Zoom.  Learn more here: https://bit.ly/act-english-live

ACT Official Test Prep Book: Click here to purchase (paperback version) on Amazon. Click here to purchase the Kindle version on Amazon.

ACT Official English Guide Book: Click here to purchase (paperback version) on Amazon. Click here to purchase Kindle version on Amazon.

ACT English Study Plan Guide: Free guide to help you ace the ACT English Test.  https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:78e774b4-46e4-4c34-bbab-1a8395ed17de

ACT Student Study Planner: This planner has templates to help students plan their test prep and keep track of their progress.  https://upreptestprep-site-1ee6.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/act-study-planner

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Good luck on your test prep journey!

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