Back to: ACT English
ACT Directions
You’ve likely read through the exam directions at this point, but here’s a reminder:
In the five passages that follow, certain words and phrases are underlined and numbered. In the right-hand column, you will find alternatives for the underlined part. In most cases, you are to choose the one that best expresses the idea, makes the statement appropriate for standard written English, or is worded most consistently with the style and tone of the passage as a whole. If you think the original version is best, choose “NO CHANGE.” In some cases, you will find in the right-hand column a question about the underlined part. You are to choose the best answer to the question.
You will also find questions about a section of the passage, or about the passage as a whole. These questions do not refer to an underlined portion of the passage, but rather are identified by a number or numbers in a box.
For each question, choose the alternative you consider best and fill in the corresponding oval on your answer document. Read each passage through once before you begin to answer the questions that accompany it. For many of the questions, you must read several sentences beyond the question to determine the answer. Be sure that you have read far enough ahead each time you choose an alternative.
Question Structure Examples
The following presents the different types of questions you’ll see on the exam. While specific details will change according to the particular passage, the questions will generally follow similar patterns. Try to familiarize yourself with the structure of each question and the particular concept or language feature on which it is focused. Relevant terms have been bolded.
Conventions of Standard English
Most of the items for this category will simply provide a list of options to replace the underlined portion of the text, with one option being “NO CHANGE,” as explained in the directions. For example:
In a few cases, more specific questions like the following might be used:
- Which choice most closely maintains the sentence pattern the writer establishes after the semicolon?
- Which of the following alternatives to the underlined portion would NOT be acceptable?
Production of Writing
Items that address production of writing will typically require you to focus on how a given sentence or paragraph is functioning rhetorically in the passage. You may encounter questions like the following:
- Suppose the writer’s primary purpose had been to X. Would this essay accomplish that purpose?
- Each answer choice would indicate either yes or no and follow with a rationale/explanation.
- At this point, the writer wants to emphasize the idea that X. Which of the following best accomplishes that goal?
- Which of the following choices, if added here, would best conclude the paragraph and refer back to X at the beginning of the essay?
- The writer is considering deleting the preceding sentence. Should the sentence be kept or deleted?
- This would be followed by four options that each begin with either “Yes, because…” or “No, because…” and provide a rationale.
- For the sake of the logic and coherence of the essay, Paragraph 3 should be placed:
- This would be followed by four options, each of which states where the paragraph should be placed and follows with a rationale/explanation.
- Which choice best introduces the main focus of the paragraph?
- The following paragraphs may or may not be in the most logical order. Each paragraph is numbered in brackets, and question 14 will ask you to choose where Paragraph 3 should most logically be placed.
- Which of the following true statements, if added here, would most effectively lead into the new subject of the paragraph?
Knowledge of Language
Items addressing knowledge of language will ask you to determine how the passage can be enhanced by refining a given selection or by adding text. The questions might be phrased as follows:
- Which choice provides the clearest and most specific information about X?
- Which choice provides the clearest and most specific reason that X?
- Given that all the choices are accurate, which one best indicates that X?
- The writer wants to add a detail here that X. Which choice best accomplishes that goal?
- Which choice is most consistent with the word pattern used in the other two examples in this sentence?