The ACT Reading section is a speed test disguised as a comprehension test. You have 30 minutes for 36 questions across 4 passages — that is roughly 7.5 minutes per passage (reading + answering).
The passages always appear in this order:
| Passage | Genre | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| 1 — Prose Fiction / Literary Narrative | Novel or short story excerpt | Characters, relationships, emotions, narrative techniques. Focus on "how does the character feel?" and "what motivated this action?" |
| 2 — Social Science | Psychology, economics, political science, sociology | Arguments, data references, cause-effect claims. Focus on the author's thesis and supporting evidence. |
| 3 — Humanities | Art, architecture, music, memoir, personal essay | Often more subjective/reflective than Social Science. May blend narrative and analysis. Focus on the author's perspective and tone. |
| 4 — Natural Science | Biology, chemistry, physics, ecology | Scientific processes, experiments, observations. Focus on understanding the process/phenomenon described, not memorizing facts. |
The enhanced ACT has 36 questions (27 scored + 9 field test). Field test questions are not identified — you must answer all 36. The time limit remains 30 minutes.
| Skill Category | % of Questions | Question Count |
|---|---|---|
| Key Ideas and Details | 55% | ~20 questions |
| Craft and Structure | 30% | ~11 questions |
| Integration of Knowledge | 15% | ~5 questions |
These ask about what the passage says or implies:
These ask about how the passage is written:
These require synthesis across the passage: