The Very Easy ACT English Test
Many of our students begin their ACT training with only basic grammar skills, but with the right mindset and structured guidance, they often see dramatic improvement—sometimes reaching near-perfect scores within just one month. With motivation, a positive attitude, a willingness to follow clear directions, and openness to critical feedback, you can absolutely exceed your ACT English goals.
A Surprisingly Easy and Student-Friendly Format
The ACT English Test is known for being approachable and straightforward. Its questions follow a consistent, predictable format without unnecessary distractions. Unlike the SAT Writing and Language Test, the ACT does not include supplementary materials like tables, charts, or graphs—just text and grammar-focused questions. For students with a solid grammar foundation, many answers feel intuitive and even obvious. As training progresses, we see students grow increasingly confident and relaxed with the format. Many express surprise at how manageable the test feels. And because grammar rules don’t change, there’s little room for trick questions. With enough preparation, students often finish with plenty of time to review their answers—boosting both accuracy and confidence.
ACT and SAT grammar test comparison. The SAT Writing and Language Test has two supplementary material questions that incorporate charts, tables, or maps. Supplementary material can complicate test questions and negatively impact time management, but ACT English Test students do not have to worry about these questions. Created by: Presidio Education® English Faculty, 2019.
ACT English Test vs. SAT Writing & Language Test
| Test | Sections | Passages | MCQs | SMQs | Total Questions | Time |
| ACT | English Test
(Section 1) |
5 | 75 | 0 | 75 | 45 Minutes |
| SAT | Writing & Language Test
(Section 2) |
4 | 44 | 2 | 44 | 35 Minutes |
Build a Strong Grammar Foundation
Grammar might not be the most exciting part of studying English, but it’s absolutely essential—especially for mastering the ACT English Test. Unfortunately, many high schools spend little time teaching grammar or linguistics, which often leaves students underprepared. The good news? Grammar rules are consistent. Once you learn the rules, they don’t change. That means mastering grammar is less about memorizing endless exceptions and more about building reliable habits. With targeted practice and repetition, students can strengthen their grammar “muscle memory” and gain confidence quickly. So don’t be discouraged—strong writing starts with strong grammar, and success is within reach.
Remember These Key Concepts
The ACT English Test is designed to be straightforward—there are no tricks nor unexpected challenges. If you’ve paid attention during your ACT training, you’re already on the right track. We teach students to focus on a few recurring concepts that frequently show up on the test. For instance, while British English often discourages the use of serial (Oxford) commas, American English permits them. That’s why serial commas appear regularly on the ACT, and students should be comfortable identifying when they’re appropriate. Vocabulary-in-context questions are also common. These questions test whether students can choose the word that best fits the passage—not just one that makes sense, but the most accurate and precise choice for the given context.
Navigating Slightly Interpretational Questions
While the ACT English Test is generally predictable and rule-based, there are a few questions that require interpretation rather than strict grammar knowledge. Don’t worry—these are manageable with proper training and a bit of strategy.
Placement Questions ask you to move a sentence or even a whole paragraph to a more logical spot in the passage. These questions are not about grammar—they’re about flow and coherence. Pay close attention to the sequence of events, transitions between ideas, and logical connections. When testing out sentence placement, read a bit of the text before and after to fully understand the context. Some students only focus on the underlined portions, but it’s essential to remember that every sentence contributes to the overall meaning of the passage.
Relevance Questions evaluate whether a specific sentence or phrase should be kept or deleted, or whether the author effectively achieved a goal. These questions typically follow a consistent pattern in the answer choices: two say "yes" or "keep," and two say "no" or "delete." Your job is to determine whether the sentence adds meaningful information. If you’ve read the passage carefully, you’ll likely know right away whether it helps or distracts. This strategy alone can narrow your options by half, improving your chances of getting it right.
Remember, if you find yourself relying on the answer choices to make sense of the question, it likely means you didn’t absorb enough from the passage itself. Always let your comprehension guide your answer—not the other way around.
Need Support for the ACT English Test?
Many students have the potential to score near-perfect or even perfect on the ACT English Test—but success doesn’t happen without preparation. Grammar mastery, time management, and strategic test-taking are all essential. To see how our students have performed, visit our Student Results page and read their success stories.
If you’re interested in joining our ACT training program, please complete the Private Class Registration Form on our Private Classes page, or reach out to our Admin Team for more information.
Good luck to all ACT students—we’re cheering you on!
