English and Language Usage · 4 min read
Inside the English Test
On the English test you play the role of an editor. You read short essays that contain errors and weak spots, and for each marked spot you choose the best revision. Some items fix a single comma; others ask whether a sentence belongs in the essay at all.
What an English Item Looks Like
Each passage is an essay of several paragraphs. Words and phrases that you may need to revise are marked (underlined or highlighted on screen; shown in bold in this guide), and each marked portion carries an item number. Some numbers sit next to a whole sentence or paragraph instead; those point to a question about the passage.
Two Kinds of Items
| Format | What you see | Mostly tests |
|---|---|---|
| NO CHANGE item | Marked words + 3 rewrites | Grammar, punctuation, word choice |
| DELETE/OMIT item | One choice removes the words | Concision, redundancy, relevance |
| Add/keep/delete question | Yes/No + a reason | Topic development, focus |
| Placement question | Where a sentence or paragraph fits | Logical order |
| Writer’s goal question | “Which choice best…?” | Purpose, emphasis, intros, conclusions |
- If the marked portion has no error and is as clear and concise as any rewrite, choose NO CHANGE.
- Don’t pick a different choice just because it “sounds more formal.” A change must fix something.
The Three Reporting Categories
Your score report breaks English into three reporting categories. Conventions items are the largest group, but the other two categories together are roughly two of every five points, and those items reward careful reading of the whole paragraph.
| Category | Approx. share | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Production of Writing | 24–28% | Topic development, purpose, organization, unity, cohesion |
| Knowledge of Language | 12–16% | Precise and concise word choice; consistent style and tone |
| Conventions of Standard English | 58–62% | Sentence structure and formation, usage, punctuation |
How to Work Through a Passage
For question items (add, delete, move, goal), pause and think about the paragraph’s main idea first. Many of these items can only be answered from the sentences around the marked spot.
- When two choices are both grammatical and say the same thing, the shorter one usually wins.
- A choice that changes the writer’s meaning is wrong even if its grammar is perfect.
Pacing and Scoring
| Time used | Aim to have finished |
|---|---|
| 11 minutes | About 15 items |
| 22 minutes | About 31 items (halfway) |
| 34 minutes | About 47 items |
| 43 minutes | All 62 items, with 2 minutes to recheck flagged items |
- No penalty for wrong answers. Your score is based on points earned, so answer every item.
- Scale score: English is reported on the ACT Aspire scale (scores in the 400s).
- Readiness benchmark: 426 for grade 9 and 428 for grade 10. At or above the benchmark is “Ready” or “Exceeding.”
- Skill scores: the report shows points earned out of points possible in each reporting category, so you can see which area to practice.
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