ACT® Reading Practice Test

Prepare for your test with realistic questions.

The Reading section of the ACT® evaluates your ability to identify key ideas and details, understand a text’s craft and structure, and comprehend the integration of knowledge and ideas.

ACT® is a registered trademark belonging to ACT Education Corp. (“ACT”). ACT is not involved with or affiliated with Mometrix Media LLC, nor does ACT endorse or sponsor any of the products or services offered by Mometrix Media LLC.
 

 
To help you prepare for this section of the ACT, this page contains everything you need to know, including what topics are covered, how many questions there are, and how you can study effectively.

Click “Start Test” above to take a free ACT Reading practice test!

What’s on the ACT Reading Section?

Comparison chart of Online and Paper-and-Pencil ACT Reading sections. Both have 36 questions. Online allows 40 minutes; Paper-and-Pencil allows 35. Categories and skills are listed for each format.

ACT Online Prep Course

If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online ACT prep course designed to give you everything you need to succeed!

Here’s what you’ll find in the ACT course:

  • 80+ Review Lessons Covering Every Topic
  • Over 1,500 ACT Practice Questions
  • 300+ Video Tutorials
  • 350+ Digital Flashcards
  • Money-back Guarantee
  • Mobile Access

Everyone learns differently, so we’ve tailored the ACT online prep course to ensure every learner has what they need to prepare for the ACT exam.

Click below to check it out!


Ad for a Mometrix online course

FAQs

Q

How many reading questions are on the ACT?

A

The online ACT contains 36 Reading questions, while the paper-and-pencil version contains 40 Reading questions.

Q

How long is the Reading section of the ACT?

A

The Reading section is timed at 35-40 minutes, depending on which version you take.

Q

What is a passing score on the ACT Reading section?

A

There is no set passing score for the Reading section of the ACT. However, a score of at least 21 is generally recommended.

ACT® is a registered trademark belonging to ACT Education Corp. (“ACT”). ACT is not involved with or affiliated with Mometrix Media LLC, nor does ACT endorse or sponsor any of the products or services offered by Mometrix Media LLC.

 

by Mometrix Test Preparation | Last Updated: April 4, 2025