How Many Questions Are on the Reading ACT? 40 Questions in 2024

The ACT Reading section consists of 40 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 35 minutes. Each question is based on one of four passages, with 10 questions per passage. Passages range from 700 to 850 words and cover four subject areas: prose fiction, such as a short story or memoir; social sciences, including history or psychology; humanities, such as art, music, or philosophy; and natural sciences, like biology or earth science. All questions measure core reading skills, including identifying main ideas, locating details, drawing inferences, and interpreting vocabulary based on context.

Time pressure is significant. Test takers have less than one minute per question, which includes reading the passage. Many students benefit from skimming the passage first to understand its organization, then reading the questions and returning to the text to find answers. Since there is no penalty for incorrect responses, it is important to answer every question, even if guessing is necessary ACT.

A typical question might read: “The author’s use of the phrase ‘flickering shadows’ in line 34 primarily serves to…” with answer options related to tone, imagery, or emotional effect. These questions evaluate your ability to interpret language and authorial purpose, not just recall facts.

The test measures four main skill areas. About 25% of questions assess key ideas and details, such as identifying the central claim or locating specific information. Another 25% focus on craft and structure, including word choice, tone, and the role of a sentence or paragraph. Approximately 30% involve integration of knowledge and ideas, such as comparing viewpoints or assessing evidence. The remaining questions support general comprehension across disciplines, ensuring students can understand complex texts in various fields.

For instance, a social science passage may present two perspectives on urban development. A question might ask how the second viewpoint responds to the first, measuring your ability to follow logical connections and distinguish between positions.

Your score is based on the number of correct answers, known as the raw score. This is converted to a scaled score ranging from 1 to 36. This scaled score is combined with your score from the English section to calculate your ELA score.

To improve, use official ACT practice materials to become familiar with passage types and timing. Taking full, timed Reading sections weekly builds speed and accuracy. Reviewing incorrect answers helps identify recurring issues, such as challenges with inference questions or spending too much time on certain passage types.

Key Takeaways

• The ACT Reading section has 40 multiple-choice questions, to be completed in 35 minutes.
• There are four passages—one each from prose fiction, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences—with 10 questions per passage.
• Questions test skills in main ideas, details, inference, vocabulary in context, tone, and argument analysis.
• Time management is crucial; practice pacing and use active reading strategies to improve performance.
• There is no guessing penalty, so answer every question.