Mastering the English Section: What You Need to Know About the Digital SAT and ACT
Preparing for the Digital SAT or ACT can feel like a major undertaking, especially when it comes to the English sections. Both exams evaluate your ability to analyze texts, apply grammar rules, and understand complex writing, but they do so in slightly different ways. Knowing the structure and key focus areas of each test is crucial to performing your best.
In this blog, we’ll break down the English sections of both the Digital SAT and ACT, including a detailed look at the subsections, percentage breakdown of question types, and strategies to help you succeed. We will also use Digital SAT and SAT interchangeably as CollegeBoard only gives DIgital version of SAT in the US.
The Digital SAT: What to Expect in the Reading and Writing & Language Sections
The English section of the SAT consists of two parts: Reading and Writing & Language. Together, these sections assess your ability to read critically, comprehend complex texts, and apply grammar and language skills effectively.
1. The SAT Reading Section
The SAT Reading section tests your ability to comprehend and analyze complex passages from a variety of subjects, including literature, history, social science, and natural science. You’ll encounter five passages, each followed by a series of multiple-choice questions designed to assess different skills.
Structure: The Reading section consists of 52 questions with a total of 65 minutes to complete the section. The questions fall into three main categories:
Information and Ideas (55% of questions): This category focuses on your ability to identify key ideas, find details in the text, and make inferences. Questions in this category often ask you to:
Identify the main idea or theme of a passage.
Locate specific details and determine their relevance to the main argument.
Make inferences based on the information provided in the passage.
Summarize important points and understand relationships between ideas (cause and effect, comparisons, etc.).
Craft and Structure (25% of questions): These questions evaluate your understanding of how a passage is written. They focus on the author’s choices, such as word selection, tone, and structure. In this category, you’ll be asked to:
Determine the tone of the passage or the author’s intent.
Understand how the structure of the passage contributes to its meaning.
Define vocabulary in context, where you’ll figure out what a word means based on its use in the passage.
Analyze the author’s perspective or point of view.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (20% of questions): This smaller category focuses on synthesizing information from multiple sources or analyzing ideas in a broader context. Some of these questions require you to interpret charts, graphs, or other data presented in the passage. In this category, you’ll:
Compare and contrast information from two different texts or from a passage and a graphic.
Understand how quantitative information (such as charts or graphs) relates to the written text.
Evaluate an author’s argument and the effectiveness of their reasoning or evidence.
Key Skills for the SAT Reading Section:
Reading Comprehension: The SAT tests how well you can grasp both the meaning and deeper implications of a passage.
Evidence-Based Questions: Many questions will require you to support your answer by citing specific lines or paragraphs from the passage.
Data Interpretation: Some passages will include graphs or charts that you need to interpret in relation to the text.
2. The SAT Writing & Language Section: What to Expect
The SAT Writing & Language section asks you to read passages and improve them by correcting errors in grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure, as well as by enhancing the clarity, style, and effectiveness of the writing.
Structure: The Writing & Language section includes 44 questions across four passages, and you’ll have 35 minutes to complete it. The questions fall into two main categories:
Expression of Ideas (55% of questions): These questions focus on improving the overall quality of the writing, particularly in terms of clarity, effectiveness, organization, and tone. The main tasks include:
Revising text to improve the logic and flow of ideas.
Making sentences and paragraphs more concise and precise.
Improving transitions between ideas to create a smoother flow.
Adjusting the tone and style of writing to match the passage’s intended audience or purpose.
Strengthening the argument, such as by adding evidence or improving clarity.
Standard English Conventions (45% of questions): This category tests your knowledge of basic grammar and punctuation rules. You’ll be asked to correct common grammatical errors and ensure the passage follows standard rules of English. This includes:
Correcting subject-verb agreement, pronoun use, and verb tense consistency.
Fixing punctuation errors, including the proper use of commas, semicolons, and apostrophes.
Ensuring that sentences are structured correctly, avoiding run-on sentences or fragments.
Editing for parallelism, which requires maintaining consistent grammatical structures in sentences or lists.
Key Skills for the SAT Writing & Language Section:
Grammar and Usage: You’ll need to have a solid understanding of grammar rules, including verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, and punctuation.
Effective Writing: You’ll be tested on your ability to improve passages by making them more concise and clear, enhancing their organization and flow.
Logical Structure: Many questions will ask you to reorganize parts of a passage to improve the logical flow of ideas.
Strategies for Success:
Learn Common Grammar Rules: Focus on mastering common grammar and punctuation rules that are frequently tested, such as parallelism, pronoun clarity, and verb tense.
Read for Context: Don’t focus solely on individual sentences—make sure any changes you make align with the overall context and purpose of the passage.
Practice Revising Passages: Work on identifying and correcting awkward or unclear sentences and revising them for conciseness and clarity.
The ACT: What to Expect in the English and Reading Sections
The ACT separates its English components into two sections: English and Reading. Each section tests different skills, but together they measure a student’s ability to understand and improve written passages.
1. The ACT English Section
The ACT English section focuses on grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills.
Structure: The ACT English section has 75 multiple-choice questions spread across 45 minutes.
Question Breakdown:
Production of Writing (29–32%): This section assesses your ability to evaluate how well a passage accomplishes its intended purpose. You’ll improve the clarity, style, and organization of the text.
Knowledge of Language (15–17%): These questions test how well you can revise text for wordiness, redundancy, and overall language precision.
Conventions of Standard English (52–55%): This section measures your knowledge of grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. Questions focus on correcting errors in usage and ensuring that sentences follow the rules of English.
Key Skills for the ACT English Section:
Grammar Mastery: You’ll need a solid understanding of English grammar rules, including punctuation, verb tense, and pronoun usage.
Rhetorical Skills: The ACT focuses heavily on improving the style, clarity, and structure of passages. You’ll need to revise texts for conciseness and flow.
Strategies for Success:
Time Management: With 75 questions in 45 minutes, you need to be efficient. Skip difficult questions and return to them after answering easier ones.
Practice Editing Passages: Focus on improving your ability to identify awkward or unclear sentences and revise them for clarity and effectiveness.
2. The ACT Reading Section
The ACT Reading section tests how well students can quickly comprehend and analyze passages from a variety of subjects.
Structure: The Reading section consists of 40 questions based on four passages, with 35 minutes to complete the section.
Passage Types: Passages are drawn from prose fiction, social science, humanities, and natural science.
Question Breakdown:
Key Ideas and Details (55-60%): These questions assess your ability to understand the central themes, locate specific information, and make inferences from the passage.
Craft and Structure (25-30%): You’ll answer questions that focus on the author’s tone, purpose, and structure of the passage, as well as vocabulary in context.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (13-18%): These questions require you to compare and synthesize information across passages or from different points in the text.
Key Skills for the ACT Reading Section:
Comprehension and Speed: The ACT Reading section requires you to quickly extract key information while maintaining a clear understanding of the passage’s structure and meaning.
Inference and Analysis: Many questions ask you to make inferences or analyze the author’s purpose or tone, requiring a deeper understanding of the passage.
Strategies for Success:
Skim for Key Information: Focus on the main idea of each paragraph rather than trying to memorize details. This will save you time while still allowing you to answer comprehension questions.
Answer Questions as You Read: Rather than reading the entire passage first, answer questions as you go to make better use of your time.
Key Similarities and Differences Between SAT Reading & Writing and ACT English & Reading
While both the SAT and ACT assess students’ mastery of reading comprehension and grammar, they differ in their approach, pacing, and focus areas. Understanding these similarities and differences will help you decide which test aligns better with your strengths.
Similarities Between SAT and ACT:
Focus on Reading Comprehension: Both the SAT Reading and ACT Reading sections test your ability to understand, analyze, and draw inferences from complex passages. Whether you’re reading literature, historical documents, or scientific articles, both tests assess how well you can interpret the information presented.
Grammar and Sentence Structure: The SAT Writing & Language section and the ACT English section both evaluate your ability to correct grammar errors, improve sentence structure, and enhance the clarity and effectiveness of a passage. Key grammar rules, such as subject-verb agreement, verb tense, and punctuation, are central to both exams.
Passage-Based Questions: Both tests present questions directly tied to passages. You won’t face standalone grammar or vocabulary questions in either exam. Instead, all questions are based on the content of the passages provided, which means you need to read and understand each passage to answer the questions correctly.
Time Management is Crucial: For both the SAT and ACT, time management plays a key role in your success. Both tests require students to work through passages efficiently and quickly, but the ACT is particularly known for its faster pace.
Differences Between SAT and ACT:
Test Structure and Timing:
SAT: The SAT Reading section consists of 52 questions with 65 minutes to complete it. The Writing & Language section has 44 questions with 35 minutes. This provides a more relaxed pace compared to the ACT.
ACT: The ACT Reading section has 40 questions with only 35 minutes to complete it. The ACT English section is more intense, with 75 questions in just 45 minutes. This means the ACT requires students to answer more questions in less time, making it a faster-paced exam.
Reading Section Focus:
SAT: The SAT Reading section includes a significant emphasis on evidence-based questions, where you must cite specific parts of the text to support your answers. This makes the SAT a bit more analytical, requiring careful attention to detail and textual evidence.
ACT: The ACT Reading section is more straightforward, focusing on direct comprehension and information retrieval. While it tests critical thinking and inference, the questions tend to be less complex than those on the SAT, favoring speed over depth.
Grammar and Rhetoric Emphasis:
SAT: The SAT Writing & Language section places a heavier emphasis on grammar and sentence structure, but also on rhetorical analysis. You’ll need to improve passages by adjusting the tone, style, and flow of ideas in addition to correcting grammatical mistakes.
ACT: The ACT English section tests many of the same grammar rules but places more emphasis on rhetorical skills. You’ll often be asked to make decisions about word choice, sentence clarity, and the overall organization of the passage.
Content Beyond Grammar:
SAT: In the SAT Writing & Language section, you might encounter passages that include informational graphics like charts or graphs, asking you to interpret them in the context of the passage.
ACT: The ACT English section does not include this kind of graphical data interpretation, sticking strictly to improving and editing written passages.
Which Test Should You Choose?
Deciding whether to take the SAT or ACT depends on your strengths and test-taking preferences:
Choose the SAT if you prefer more time per question and feel comfortable with evidence-based reading and critical thinking. The SAT may be better suited for students who excel in analysis and writing clarity, especially when working at a steady pace.
Choose the ACT if you’re quick on your feet and excel at retrieving information under pressure. The ACT is better for students who are confident in their grammar skills and can handle fast-paced, straightforward questions. If you’re comfortable juggling a variety of passage types and don’t mind the time constraints, the ACT might be the better option.
How BetterGradez Can Help You Excel in the SAT and ACT English Sections
At BetterGradez, we understand the challenges of preparing for the SAT and ACT English sections. That’s why we offer personalized 1:1 tutoring for both SAT prep and ACT prep designed to target your specific strengths and areas for improvement. Whether you need help with reading comprehension, grammar rules, or rhetorical skills, our experienced tutors will create a custom study plan tailored to your needs.
Through focused practice and expert guidance, we’ll help you sharpen your skills and build the confidence you need to excel on test day. Schedule a free consultation today and take the first step toward mastering the SAT or ACT English sections with a tutor who’s fully committed to your success.
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