The 6 ACT English Question Types: How to Answer Them

The ACT English is one of the most repetitive sections in standardized testing. With a lot of preparation and diligent practice, this is a section where you can efficiently and strategically improve your score. The section is about 40% grammar, 60% writing skills, so make sure you work on both areas of content. We’ve broken down the 6 question types you’ll come across during the ACT english section and some tricks and tips to answering them!

4. Sentence Placement

Sentence placement questions are often located at the end of a passage when students are ready to move on. When done correctly, a sentence placement question can take up to two minutes, so don’t rush these!

5. OMIT Questions

Omit questions look like all other questions on the ACT English except one of your choices is to omit the phrase in its entirety. Stop, breathe, and read each answer choice in the passage (with 3 lines above and 3 lines below to contextualize) and choose the best fit!

6. Keep/Delete Questions

The most important part about Keep/Delete questions is not the “keep/delete” part, but rather, the descriptions. Pay very close attention to the reasons the test provides for keeping or deleting an answer choice.

1. KIS - Keep it Simple 

Keep it Simple questions test your ability to choose the simplest choice. These questions are often hard for students because students are taught to believe that the ACT and SAT are complicated tests...this couldn’t be further from the truth!

2. NOT/EXCEPT

NOT/EXCEPT questions are not difficult, but they are incredibly counterintuitive. It is important to use process of elimination when answering NOT/EXCEPT questions, to go slowly, and to continuously refer back to the question.

3. RFQ

RFQ stands for “Read the Freakin’ Question,” because the secret to these questions is placing more emphasis on what the question is asking than on what fits in best with the passage itself.

Want more? We at Lotus have created a full ACT English Fundamentals GUIDE with explanations, organization tools, practice questions for each type, helpful pro-tips, and examples! Join our Lotus College Planning Group for the full guide.