<p>I find myself reading the passages and when I get to the questions I end up having to refer back to the passage (which includes re-reading). What is the best strategy or advice you can give me for the reading? Should I read the questions first?</p>
<p>The Perfect Balance: Optimizing Your Time
As is probably abundantly clear to you by now, the Reading Test demands a little extra something from you: in addition to answering its questions, you must digest approximately 3,000 words worth of information. In order to be effective on this test, you must achieve an optimum balance between the time you spend reading the passages and the time you spend answering the questions. There’s no formula for this perfect balance; in fact, what’s “perfect” varies from person to person. Below, we’ll give you some general strategies for rationing your time on the Reading Test. We think these strategies work well for most people, but ultimately it’s up to you to decide what works best.
Because the Reading Test quizzes you on your understanding of general themes and specific information in each passage, your instinct is probably to read the entire passage carefully, making sure you don’t miss anything that can be covered in the questions. If you had unlimited time, this method of reading would probably make sense, but you don’t have unlimited time; in fact, you have extremely limited time.
There are only ten questions accompanying each passage. These ten questions cannot cover the entire content of a passage, so reading for every detail is a waste of time. When reading an ACT passage, read carefully to understand general elements: the topic, theme, argument, etc. When you see details that seem important, don’t fuss painstakingly over those details. Instead, lightly note them in your mind and perhaps make a quick mark in the margin. This way, you’ll reduce wasted time and gain a good enough comprehension of the passage to answer questions that cover general aspects of the passage correctly. You’ll also have a good enough sense of the passage’s layout, so that when the passage asks about specific information, you’ll be able to go back quickly to the passage, check the information, and choose the correct answer.</p>
<p>Achieving the Perfect Balance
“Reading for a general understanding means you don’t have to memorize all the specific facts of the passage. The author uses specific facts to support an argument, but as you read, you should be more concerned with their cumulative effect (i.e., the larger argument) than with the specific facts themselves. If you get to a point in a passage where the author lists a bunch of facts to support an idea, you can make a quick note of the list in the margin for future reference”</p>
<p>“Reading on the ACT is like taking a tour of a room—you have to know the layout of the room, but you don’t have to know the location of every knicknack.”</p>
<p>“After you finish the passage, go to the questions. Since you read the passage with the big picture in mind, you should be able to answer the general questions dealing with main points, point of view, tone, etc. When you get to a question on a specific detail, don’t immediately look at the answer choices to avoid being influenced by “trick” answers. Instead, articulate to yourself exactly what the question is asking. Then quickly go back to the passage and come up with your own answer to the question. Finally, choose the answer that best matches yours.”</p>
<p>“If you get to a question that is very hard and threatens to take a lot of time, place a mark next to it, skip it, move on to the next question, and come back if you have time. You should not, however, move on to the next passage while leaving a blank question behind you. Answer all questions dealing with a passage while the passage is still fresh in your mind.”</p>
<p>Do not read the questions first. It will waste more time and it’s too much to remember. By the way, if reading is your issue, try the SAT. The reading section is less time intensive on it.</p>