ACT Reading Test

The ACT Reading Test measures reading comprehension skills through a variety of passages and question types.

Understanding Passage TypesQuestion Types and What They TestReading for Main Ideas and Details
Interpreting Author’s Tone and PurposeAnalyzing Relationships and ArgumentsMaking Inferences and Synthesizing Information
Applying Reading Skills to Everyday LifeCollaborative Reading and DiscussionUsing Reading Strategies in Other Subjects
Time Management During the TestActive Reading Techniques
Understanding Passag...Question Types and W...Reading for Main Ide...Interpreting Author’...Analyzing Relationsh...Making Inferences an...Applying Reading Ski...Collaborative Readin...Using Reading Strate...Time Management Duri...Active Reading Techn...
Basic Concepts

Understanding Passage Types

Exploring Different Passage Genres

On the ACT Reading Test, you'll encounter four main types of passages: Prose Fiction/Literary Narrative, Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science. Each passage brings its own unique style, vocabulary, and structure.

What Makes Each Type Special?

  • Prose Fiction/Literary Narrative: Focuses on storytelling, characters, and themes. These passages often explore emotions and relationships.
  • Social Science: Discusses topics like psychology, history, or sociology, usually in a straightforward, informative style.
  • Humanities: Relates to arts, philosophy, or literature analysis. These passages may include opinions and interpretations.
  • Natural Science: Covers biology, chemistry, physics, or technology, and is heavy on facts, explanations, and sometimes technical terms.

Why Does This Matter?

Recognizing the type of passage can help you predict the kinds of questions you'll get and guide your reading strategy.

Real-World Connections

People read for different reasons—news articles for information, novels for entertainment, or science journals for research. The ACT Reading Test mimics this variety to see how well you adapt.

Examples

  • Reading a Prose Fiction passage about a family's summer vacation and analyzing how the main character changes.

  • Tackling a Natural Science passage about renewable energy and identifying the main idea.

In a Nutshell

Get to know the four passage types you'll face, so you can adjust your reading style for each.

Key Terms

Prose Fiction
A narrative passage focusing on characters, plot, and theme.
Social Science
A passage about topics like history, psychology, or society.
Humanities
A passage relating to arts, philosophy, or literary analysis.
Natural Science
A passage dealing with scientific topics or discoveries.
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Question Types and What They Test