Using Key Words

Basic Reading Strategies

Lesson by Kristin Fracchia

Magoosh Expert

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Lesson by Kristin Fracchia

Magoosh Expert

Summary

The ACT Reading section rewards fast, targeted scanning, and keywords help you locate evidence quickly when questions do not provide line references. The best keywords are visually distinctive or highly specific, and using them strategically can save time and improve accuracy under pressure.

The keyword strategy is designed specifically for the ACT Reading test, where long passages and strict time limits make it important to find information quickly rather than rely on perfect recall.
Effective keywords are terms that visually stand out or appear less often, such as dates, names, capitalized words, italicized words, unusual formatting, and precise nouns rather than common words like "and."
When choosing among possible keywords in a question, avoid terms that are repeated throughout the whole passage and favor more distinctive options, such as "1979," "Iron Lady," or "recession."
If the question keywords are hard to locate, shift to the answer choices and scan for distinctive names or terms there, then use process of elimination to identify the correct answer.
A sample question about "light blue converse boots" shows how a branded, capitalized phrase can lead directly to the relevant passage section and reveal that the detail emphasizes the character's teenage social identity.
The core routine is to underline strong keywords in the question, scan for the easiest ones to spot, and use answer-choice keywords as a backup when the passage is difficult to navigate.

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