The Enhanced ACT English test gives you 35 minutes for 50 questions.

ACT currently groups English questions into three reporting categories:

• Production of Writing: about 38–43%
• Knowledge of Language: about 18–23%
• Conventions of Standard English: about 38–43%

The section is therefore not just a punctuation test — for the full section-by-section breakdown, see the Enhanced ACT guide.

A strong ACT English student needs to do three things:

1. fix grammar and sentence structure;
2. choose clear, concise language;
3. understand the writer's purpose and organization.

Start with the highest-value grammar rules

1. Complete sentences and fragments

A complete sentence needs:

• a subject;
• a finite verb;
• a complete thought.

Complete:

The researchers repeated the trial.

Fragment:

Because the researchers repeated the trial.

“Because” turns the clause into a dependent clause.

Complete:

Because the researchers repeated the trial, they discovered the error.

2. Comma splices

A comma cannot normally join two independent clauses by itself.

Wrong:

The team revised the design, the new version was lighter.

Correct:

The team revised the design; the new version was lighter.

or

The team revised the design, and the new version was lighter.

or

The team revised the design. The new version was lighter.

3. Semicolons

A semicolon can connect closely related independent clauses.

The rainfall ended; the river continued rising.

Test both sides.

Can each stand alone?

If yes, a semicolon may work.

4. Colons

Use a colon after a complete statement to introduce:

• a list;
• explanation;
• example;
• elaboration.

Correct:

The survey included three groups: teachers, students, and parents.

Incorrect:

The survey included: teachers, students, and parents.

“The survey included” is incomplete.

5. Dashes and parenthetical information

Paired dashes can set off nonessential information.

The oldest building—constructed in 1887—was restored.

A single dash can introduce an explanation:

The expedition faced one final problem—a damaged radio.

ACT English often tests whether punctuation is paired correctly.

6. Subject-verb agreement

The verb agrees with the true subject, not the nearest noun.

The collection of manuscripts is valuable.

Subject: collection

Not: manuscripts.

Plural:

The manuscripts in the collection are valuable.

7. Pronoun agreement and clarity

Pronouns must clearly refer to a noun.

Ambiguous:

When Lena spoke to Maya, she was frustrated.

Who was frustrated?

ACT may prefer a revision naming the person directly.

8. Verb tense

Use the timeline established by the passage.

In 2024, researchers conducted the trial.

The study shows that the method remains useful.

A passage can shift tense when the time frame changes.

9. Modifiers

Place a modifier near the word it modifies.

Wrong:

Walking through the museum, the painting caught Jalen's attention.

The painting is not walking.

Better:

Walking through the museum, Jalen noticed the painting.

10. Parallel structure

Match grammatical forms.

Wrong:

The position requires collecting data, writing reports, and to present findings.

Correct:

The position requires collecting data, writing reports, and presenting findings.

11. Comparisons

Compare like with like.

Weak:

The population of City A is larger than City B.

Better:

The population of City A is larger than that of City B.

Knowledge of Language: shorter is often better—but not always

ACT rewards precision and concision.

Wordy:

At this point in time

Better:

now

Wordy:

due to the fact that

Better:

because

But do not blindly pick the shortest answer.

A short answer can:

• remove necessary detail;
• create ambiguity;
• change meaning;
• damage tone.

The rule is:

Choose the shortest option that preserves the intended meaning and grammatical correctness.

Redundancy

Wrong:

The two twins collaborated together.

Better:

The twins collaborated.

Wrong:

completely unanimous

“Unanimous” already means complete agreement.

Style and tone

An academic passage usually should not suddenly become slangy.

If the passage uses formal explanatory language, an answer such as:

“the experiment totally bombed”

is unlikely to fit.

Tone consistency matters.

Production of Writing

This category asks broader rhetorical questions.

You may need to decide:

• whether a sentence should be added or deleted;
• where a sentence belongs;
• which introduction/conclusion works;
• whether a detail supports the paragraph's purpose;
• how ideas should be organized.

Add/delete questions

Do not ask:

“Is this sentence interesting?”

Ask:

“Does this sentence advance the paragraph's stated purpose?”

A fascinating detail can be irrelevant.

Transition logic

Before choosing a transition, classify the relationship:

• addition;
• contrast;
• cause/result;
• example;
• chronology;
• emphasis.

Do not select a transition because it sounds sophisticated.

ACT English pacing

35 minutes / 50 questions = 42 seconds per question on average.

You cannot spend 90 seconds debating every comma. Once you've locked in a test date from the ACT test dates guide, build pacing drills into your remaining prep time.

A good approach:

• grammar rules: decide quickly;
• rhetoric: read enough surrounding context;
• skip/mark a stubborn item;
• keep moving through the passage.

Original mini-practice

1

The collection of fossils ___ stored in a climate-controlled room.

A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have been

2

The first trial failed ___ the team adjusted the sensor and repeated it.

A. ,
B. ;
C. no punctuation
D. :

3

Walking toward the station, ___

A. the rain began heavily.
B. Nina opened her umbrella.
C. the platform came into view.
D. the train's whistle was heard.

4

The internship involves interviewing participants, organizing data, and ___ reports.

A. writing
B. to write
C. wrote
D. written

5

Which is most concise without changing meaning?

A. due to the fact that
B. because of the fact that
C. because
D. owing to the fact that

Answers

1. B — subject is collection.
2. B — two independent clauses.
3. B — Nina logically performs “walking.”
4. A — parallel structure.
5. C — concise and precise.

High-value study order

If ACT English is weak, learn:

1. sentence boundaries;
2. commas/semicolons/colons;
3. agreement;
4. verbs;
5. modifiers;
6. pronouns;
7. parallelism;
8. concision;
9. transitions;
10. organization/purpose.

That sequence fixes the most repeatable errors before the subtler rhetorical ones. See what these gains translate to in the good ACT score guide, and browse more ACT guides for other sections.

Official references

• ACT English section structure: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation/act-exam-sections-and-structure.html
• ACT English description: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation/description-of-english-test.html

---

Trademark note: ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT Education Corp. MastaPrep is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by ACT Education Corp.