The English section of the ACT assesses your ability to read and comprehend written passages, revise and edit written passages for clarity and coherence, and demonstrate mastery of standard English conventions. Here’s a comprehensive study guide that covers all these aspects and can help you achieve a perfect score of 36.

  1. Understand the format and structure of the test

The English section of the ACT consists of 75 multiple-choice questions that you need to answer within 45 minutes. The test is divided into five passages, each followed by a set of 15 questions. The passages are typically taken from different genres, such as social studies, natural sciences, humanities, and fiction.

  1. Improve your reading comprehension skills

The first step to achieving a perfect score on the English section of the ACT is to improve your reading comprehension skills. You can do this by practicing active reading, which involves engaging with the text, asking questions, and making connections to your prior knowledge.

Some tips for active reading include:

  • Skim the passage first to get a general idea of its content and structure.
  • Read the passage carefully, underlining or highlighting key information.
  • Identify the main idea, supporting details, and the author’s purpose.
  • Pay attention to the tone, style, and organization of the passage.
  • Take notes as you read, summarizing the main points and key details.
  1. Improve your grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure skills

The English section of the ACT also assesses your mastery of standard English conventions, including grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. Here are some tips to help you improve your skills in these areas:

  • Review basic grammar rules, such as subject-verb agreement, pronoun-antecedent agreement, and verb tenses. (Basic Grammar Rules)
  • Practice identifying and correcting common errors, such as misplaced modifiers, run-on sentences, and fragments. (Writing Section Study)
  • Learn how to use punctuation correctly, including commas, semicolons, and apostrophes. (Punctuation Study)
  • Study different sentence structures, such as simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences, and practice writing sentences in each structure. (Structure Study)
  1. Improve your rhetorical skills

The English section of the ACT also assesses your ability to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of different rhetorical strategies used in written passages. Some tips to improve your rhetorical skills include:

  • Learn the different rhetorical devices, such as analogy, metaphor, simile, and personification, and how they are used to convey meaning and enhance the reader’s experience.
  • Practice identifying the author’s tone, style, and voice, and how they contribute to the overall message of the passage.
  • Identify the main argument and supporting evidence used in the passage and evaluate their effectiveness.
  • Pay attention to the organization and structure of the passage and how it helps to convey the author’s message.
  1. Practice with sample questions and tests

Finally, the best way to prepare for the English section of the ACT is to practice with sample questions and tests. Here are some resources you can use to practice: