Section 1: English
- 5 passages (usually 15 questions each)
- Based on history, social and natural sciences, and personal stories
- 75 questions total — all multiple choice
- Grammar
- Sentence and paragraph structure
- Choosing text that best achieves a goal
- Evaluating text for clarity and relevance
- 45 minutes under standard timing
- Scored on a 1–36 scale
For an in-depth explanation of the elements tested in the English section, listen to the audio above. Then, watch the video for a real-time look at how to tackle the English section.
Video: ACT English Tips
Watch the video to learn how the ACT English section works.
Practice Questions
Try the practice set below to get a feel for the ACT English section.
The Wonders of the Night Sky
The Wonders of the Night Sky
In the time during the years of my being a child, many of my peers were drawn to video games, computers, and television for entertainment. While I certainly enjoyed these myself, my primary interest was something quite literally out of this world astronomy. The night sky—with its glittering array of stars, nebulae, planets, and galaxies—has always fascinated me.
It all started when I was seven years old. One evening, I was bored and looking for something to do. As soon as I saw the glossy cover of that latest issue of Sky & Telescope, I was hooked. In only a few hours, I had read it from cover to cover and was begging my father for a telescope that we could set up in our backyard.