PrepLion

Cheat sheet

ACT Reading cheat sheet

A condensed reference for the formulas, graph-reading rules, and must-know facts most worth reviewing before exam day.

Passage strategy

  • Spend ~2–3 minutes getting the main idea and structure; don't memorize details — you'll return for them.
  • Note tone and the author's purpose as you read; jot a two-word summary per paragraph.
  • Budget ~8–9 minutes per passage set so you reach all four.
  • Consider doing your strongest genre first to bank points.
  • Every correct answer is provable from the text — if you can't point to it, it's probably wrong.

Question types

  • Detail/reference: go back to the cited lines and read a sentence above and below.
  • Main idea: choose what the whole passage supports, not a single detail.
  • Inference: pick what must be true from the text, not what's merely possible.
  • Vocabulary-in-context: read the sentence and choose the meaning that fits — not the most common definition.
  • Paired passages: identify each author's claim first, then compare agreement/disagreement.

Answer-elimination tells

  • Too extreme: 'always,' 'never,' 'all,' 'none' are often wrong unless the passage is that absolute.
  • Out of scope: brings in ideas the passage never states.
  • Half-right: one clause matches, the other distorts — read the whole choice.
  • Word-match trap: reuses passage vocabulary but changes the meaning.
  • When two answers seem close, the more specific, text-supported one usually wins.

Practice this first: Social Science passages - Fact- and evidence-dense — great for practicing fast location of support.

Now put it to work - practice ACT Reading free

Reviewing the sheet is step one. Passers are usually hitting about 70-80% on realistic practice before test day, so the fastest way to know you are ready is to start answering real questions.