The ACT English section looks simple at first glance—it’s just multiple-choice grammar questions, right? But once students sit down to attempt it, they quickly realize how tough it really is.
Plus, with the digital ACT now being the standard, you need to adapt their strategies so students are prepared for the faster pace and on-screen question format.
As a tutor, you already know this section is less about creativity and more about rules, speed, and strategy. Your role is to break down ACT English into bite-sized sections, train students to apply grammar rules under pressure, and help them build the stamina to finish the section confidently.
This guide will give you the structure and examples you need to coach students toward higher English scores.
The ACT English section is unique because it combines two skills: knowing grammar rules and spotting writing improvements inside real passages. Students should not simply memorize definitions—they need to apply rules quickly and consistently.
With 50 questions in just 35 minutes, there’s hardly any time to think. On top of that, questions jump between grammar, punctuation, and rhetorical style, which can overwhelm even strong readers.
For example, a student may know that commas separate clauses, but under time pressure, they often throw in extra commas because “it feels right.” Or they may understand parallel structure in class but miss it when a passage says: “She likes reading, to swim, and jogging.”
And then there’s the time crunch due to which even strong students run out of time if they get stuck overthinking. Others get “passage fatigue” halfway through and stop catching simple errors.
That’s why you need focused strategies—along with teaching rules, you’re also teaching how to apply them fast.
Before you can coach students, it helps to break down exactly what the ACT English section looks like. The test is built around multiple essays, or passages, and each one is followed by a set of multiple-choice questions.
In paper testing, students see underlined portions of text, but in the digital version, those parts are highlighted. Their job is to pick the choice that best improves the passage in context.
Questions don’t all work the same way. Some ask about a single highlighted phrase, others test whether a sentence should be added, deleted, or rearranged, and a few check the effectiveness of the passage as a whole.
Many questions also include “NO CHANGE” as an option—something that confuses students who assume every sentence must be fixed.
The section is designed to put students in the role of an editor. They are revising real passages from different genres, making decisions about grammar, punctuation, tone, and structure.
Four scores are reported here: one overall English score and three subscores tied to key skill areas:
For students, this means ACT English isn’t just about “knowing grammar rules.” More than half the test measures mechanics, but nearly half is about style and rhetorical skill.
That’s why you need to prepare students for both rule-based corrections and higher-level editing tasks.
The digital ACT English section gives students 50 questions in 35 minutes. That’s roughly 40 seconds per question, which means pacing is as important as grammar knowledge.
Students who know the rules still lose points when they waste time second-guessing or re-reading whole passages. You can train them to work smarter, not slower.
ACT English is less about guessing grammar rules and more about spotting patterns and applying them quickly under pressure. Your job is to give students repeatable strategies they can lean on when the clock is ticking.
The following 11 tips are simple to teach, easy for students to practice, and powerful enough to raise accuracy on test day.
Many questions ask whether a sentence or detail belongs in a passage. Students should practice asking: “Does this sentence support the writer’s main point, or does it drift off-topic?”
For example, if a passage is about renewable energy, a sentence about the history of coal mining may seem loosely related, but it distracts from the main focus. Training students to evaluate relevance will help them avoid being tricked by extra information that looks academic but doesn’t serve the passage.
As practice, give students short passages and a set of add/delete questions. Walk them through why one detail strengthens the focus while another muddies it. Over time, they’ll learn to see each sentence as part of a bigger puzzle, making it easier to decide whether it fits.
The ACT often tests transitions like “however,” “for example,” or “therefore.” Students usually guess these, but the key is to show them how each signals a specific relationship.
“However” means contrast, “for example” means illustration, and “therefore” means cause-and-effect. When students practice linking transitions to meaning, they stop seeing them as interchangeable words and start seeing them as logical clues.
Create quick drills where you blank out a transition in a sentence and give them four options.
For example: “She prepared carefully. ___, she felt confident during the presentation.” The correct answer is “As a result,” not “However.” Repeated practice builds an instinct for matching logic to transition words.
Introductions and conclusions anchor the passage. The ACT tests whether these match the passage’s main idea.
For example, if the passage is about how community gardens help neighborhoods, the best introduction might mention “local food access” or “neighborhood collaboration.” An introduction about “farmers’ markets in summer,” while related, doesn’t align tightly enough.
You can practice this by giving students two or three possible introductions or conclusions and asking which one fits best. Discuss why the wrong options don’t match. By rehearsing these decisions, students get faster at spotting when an opening or closing sentence is out of place.
Wordiness is one of the ACT’s favourite traps. Students should always aim for the clearest, most direct version of a sentence.
For example: “Due to the fact that he was late, he missed the bus” should be revised to “Because he was late, he missed the bus.” The shorter version is always the stronger choice if it preserves the meaning.
To reinforce this, give students three versions of the same sentence and ask them to pick the best. Over time, they’ll recognize that the ACT almost always rewards simplicity. This skill also saves time—they won’t waste energy reading through long-winded choices.
The ACT cares about maintaining the same tone throughout a passage. A sentence that suddenly shifts into slang or informality—even if grammatically correct—will be wrong.
For example, in a passage about climate research, the sentence “It’s kinda a big deal” is not acceptable, even though it’s understandable.
To practice, mix in examples where one option matches the passage’s academic tone and another sounds casual. Ask students which one fits better. This exercise builds an awareness that style and tone are just as important as grammar, something many students overlook.
ACT questions often separate the subject from the verb with a distracting phrase.
For example: “The bouquet of roses (is/are) beautiful.” Students often pick “are” because they see “roses.” Train them to cross out the middle phrase and just check “The bouquet ___ beautiful.” Once they see it this way, the correct verb (“is”) becomes obvious.
Build drills with sentences where the subject and verb are far apart or where the subject is singular but looks plural. The more variations they practice, the less likely they’ll fall into this common trap.
Punctuation makes up a big part of the test, and the rules are predictable.
For example:
Have students rewrite run-on sentences and fix them with punctuation. Over time, they’ll start to “hear” when a semicolon or comma is needed, which saves them from second-guessing.
Grammar rules only stick with repetition. If students do a handful of practice questions every day, they’ll stop overthinking and start recognizing patterns.
For example, after seeing 10 questions on pronoun clarity, they’ll know instantly that “Everyone should bring their book” is wrong and should be “Everyone should bring his or her book.”
Tools like EdisonOS make this easy because you can assign quick daily quizzes and track which rules are still giving them trouble. Consistent exposure builds the kind of automatic recall they’ll need under pressure.
Mistake logs are powerful for eliminating repeated errors. Every time a student misses a question, have them write the correct rule in a notebook.
For example, if they miss subject-verb agreement, they’ll note: “Each = singular.” After a few weeks, they’ll have a personalized grammar guide tailored to their weaknesses.
Review the log weekly and revisit the most common errors. This turns mistakes into lessons and gives students a concrete record of their progress, which also helps keep parents updated on what’s improving.
The ACT consistently favors the simplest answer.
For example: “in view of the fact that” vs. “because.” The correct answer is “because.” Students often second-guess because the longer option “sounds fancier,” but on ACT English, fancy is almost always wrong.
Show students side-by-side examples where the shortest option is correct. Over time, they’ll learn to cross out wordy answers first. This speeds up decision-making and boosts accuracy.
Every student has different weak spots. EdisonOS lets you see if one student misses mostly punctuation while another struggles with rhetoric, and helps you personalize their study plan accordingly.
Some features of the AI-powered test prep platform that will help are:
With BYOT (Build Your Own Test), you can quickly design tests that mirror the real ACT. This keeps practice relevant and lets you target specific grammar or rhetoric areas students struggle with.
Every second spent on each question is analyzed, helping you see if a student’s weakness is pacing, grammar accuracy, or logic flow. You won’t waste time guessing what to fix.
The platform replicates the official digital ACT format, so your students walk into the exam already comfortable with the interface.
Use data-driven insights to build clear prep timelines for each student. This helps you set measurable goals and show parents visible progress.
The ACT English section doesn’t have to be a guessing game. With clear strategies, daily practice, and the right tools, students can turn their weaknesses into strengths. As a tutor, your role is to simplify grammar, build pacing habits, and keep students motivated when they hit frustrating plateaus.
By combining smart strategies, repeated practice, and data-driven tools like EdisonOS, you can give students both confidence and results. When parents see steady score growth, they’ll know you’re not just teaching rules—you’re building future success.
Book a demo with EdisonOS today.
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