🇺🇸 ACT (American College Testing) · subject

ACT (American College Testing) English Syllabus

The English syllabus for ACT (American College Testing) in full: 3 chapters, 9 topics and 31 sub-topics, every one listed below, plus 50 English flashcards with answers.

3Chapters

9Topics

31Sub-topics

50Flashcards

English syllabus: all 3 chapters

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.

Production of Writing
3 topics
- Topic Development
  - Relevance of supporting material to purpose
  - Choosing sentences that accomplish a stated goal
  - Identifying the main purpose of a passage
  - Adding, revising, or deleting content for relevance
- Organization, Unity, and Cohesion
  - Logical sequencing of sentences and paragraphs
  - Effective opening, transitional, and closing statements
  - Transition words and phrases signaling relationships
  - Sentence placement for paragraph coherence
- Writer's Purpose and Audience
  - Matching tone to intended audience
  - Evaluating whether a passage meets its goal
Knowledge of Language
3 topics
- Word Choice and Precision
  - Selecting the most precise and concise word
  - Avoiding redundancy and wordiness
  - Idiomatic usage of common expressions
- Style, Tone, and Register
  - Maintaining consistent style across a passage
  - Matching diction to formality level
- Eliminating Wordiness
  - Recognizing the most economical phrasing
  - Removing unnecessary qualifiers
Conventions of Standard English
3 topics
- Sentence Structure and Formation
  - Run-ons, comma splices, and fused sentences
  - Sentence fragments
  - Subordination and coordination of clauses
  - Misplaced and dangling modifiers
  - Parallel structure in lists and comparisons
- Usage Conventions
  - Subject-verb agreement
  - Pronoun-antecedent agreement and pronoun case
  - Verb tense and aspect consistency
  - Comparative and superlative adjective/adverb forms
  - Commonly confused words (their/there, its/it's)
- Punctuation
  - Commas in series, clauses, and nonessential elements
  - Apostrophes for possessives and contractions
  - Semicolons and colons
  - Dashes and parentheses for interruption

ACT (American College Testing) English flashcards — 50 questions with answers

In ACT English, what is the focus of 'Topic Development' questions?
They assess how well ideas in a passage are developed and supported—whether sentences/paragraphs add relevant information, accomplish a stated goal, or should be kept, added, or deleted.
When an ACT English question asks whether a sentence should be added or deleted 'because' of a reason, what two things must your answer choice get right?
Both the decision (yes/keep or no/delete) AND the correct justification for that decision; an answer with the right choice but wrong reasoning is incorrect.
On 'should this sentence be added?' questions, what is the key test for keeping it?
Keep it only if it is relevant to the paragraph's main idea and provides needed/specific information; delete it if it is off-topic, redundant, or merely interesting but irrelevant.
In Topic Development, what does it mean for detail to be 'relevant'?
The detail directly relates to and supports the main point of the sentence or paragraph in which it appears.
On ACT 'accomplish the writer's goal' questions, what is the strategy for picking the right answer?
Identify the specific goal stated in the question stem, then choose the option that fulfills exactly that goal—not merely a true or well-written statement.
What distinguishes 'Organization, Unity, and Cohesion' questions in ACT English?
They test logical ordering of sentences/paragraphs, smooth transitions between ideas, and the placement of information so the passage flows coherently.
Define 'unity' as tested on the ACT English section.
Unity means every sentence in a paragraph supports a single main idea; sentences that stray from that idea break unity.
Define 'cohesion' in the context of ACT English writing.
Cohesion is the smooth, logical connection between sentences and ideas, achieved through transitions, consistent references, and clear flow.
How do you solve ACT 'where should this sentence be placed?' (logical placement) questions?
Look for context clues—pronouns, transition words, and references to earlier nouns—and place the sentence where it logically follows what comes before and sets up what comes after.
On sentence-reordering questions, what clue best signals correct order?
Logical/chronological cues and reference words (this, that, these, such, then, as a result) that must point back to something already introduced.
What is the function of a transition word, and name the main categories tested on the ACT.
Transitions signal the relationship between ideas. Main categories: addition (also, furthermore), contrast (however, but, although), cause/effect (therefore, thus, because), example (for instance), and sequence (first, then, finally).
Which transition shows contrast, and which shows cause-and-effect: 'however' vs. 'therefore'?
'However' shows contrast; 'therefore' shows cause-and-effect (a conclusion or result).
On the ACT, how do you choose the correct transition word?
Determine the logical relationship between the two ideas (addition, contrast, cause/effect, example, sequence) and pick the transition that matches it; ignore word familiarity.
What does an effective topic sentence do in an ACT English paragraph?
It states the paragraph's main idea and previews the supporting details that follow, helping unify the paragraph.
In 'Writer's Purpose and Audience' questions, what should you determine first?
Identify the writer's intended purpose (to inform, persuade, describe, narrate, entertain) and the target audience, then judge whether the writing/choice serves them.
How do you answer 'Does this essay accomplish the writer's primary purpose?' questions?
Restate the purpose given in the stem, decide yes or no based on what the essay actually does, and select the option whose reasoning correctly matches the essay's content and scope.
Why might a grammatically correct answer choice still be wrong on a purpose/audience question?
Because it may not fulfill the specific rhetorical purpose or suit the audience the question asks about; ACT rhetorical questions test effectiveness, not just grammar.
What is 'Word Choice and Precision' testing on the ACT?
Selecting the word that conveys the exact intended meaning, fits the context, and matches idiomatic/diction conventions—avoiding vague, incorrect, or imprecise words.
Distinguish the commonly confused words 'affect' vs. 'effect.'
'Affect' is usually a verb meaning to influence; 'effect' is usually a noun meaning a result. (Effect can be a verb meaning to bring about.)
Distinguish 'than' vs. 'then.'
'Than' is used for comparisons (taller than); 'then' refers to time or sequence (and then we left).

Show the other 30 English flashcards

Distinguish 'its' vs. 'it's.'
'Its' is the possessive of it; 'it's' is the contraction for 'it is' or 'it has.'
Distinguish 'their,' 'there,' and 'they're.'
'Their' = possessive; 'there' = place or existence; 'they're' = contraction of 'they are.'
What is an idiom error on the ACT, and give an example.
An idiom error is an unconventional preposition/word pairing. Example: 'capable to' is wrong; the idiomatic form is 'capable of.'
What is the focus of 'Style, Tone, and Register' questions on the ACT?
Matching word choice and phrasing to the passage's overall tone and level of formality so the selected option is consistent with the surrounding style.
Define 'register' in writing.
Register is the level of formality of language (formal vs. informal/casual) appropriate to the audience and purpose.
On the ACT, how do you maintain consistent tone within a passage?
Choose words whose formality and connotation match the rest of the passage; avoid slang in a formal piece and overly formal jargon in a casual piece.
What is the difference between denotation and connotation?
Denotation is a word's literal dictionary meaning; connotation is the emotional or associative meaning it carries (positive, negative, or neutral).
What is the central goal of 'Eliminating Wordiness' (conciseness) questions?
Choose the shortest answer that clearly and fully expresses the idea without redundancy or grammatical error—conciseness is valued when meaning is preserved.
On ACT conciseness questions, what is a useful rule of thumb about answer length?
When all options are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning, the most concise (often shortest) choice is usually correct.
Define 'redundancy' as penalized on the ACT and give an example.
Redundancy is needlessly repeating the same idea in different words. Example: 'past history,' 'each and every,' 'sum total,' or 'unexpected surprise.'
Is 'DELETE the underlined portion' often the correct choice on the ACT, and why?
Yes, frequently—when the underlined words are redundant, irrelevant, or add no needed information, deleting them produces the most concise correct sentence.
What is the difference between a complete sentence and a fragment?
A complete sentence (independent clause) has a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought; a fragment lacks one of these or is a dependent clause standing alone.
What is a comma splice and how is it fixed?
A comma splice joins two independent clauses with only a comma. Fix it with a period, a semicolon, a comma + coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS), or by subordinating one clause.
What is a run-on (fused) sentence?
Two or more independent clauses joined with no punctuation or conjunction between them; fix as you would a comma splice.
List the FANBOYS coordinating conjunctions.
For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.
How do you correctly join two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction?
Use a comma before the FANBOYS conjunction: 'Independent clause, and independent clause.'
What is a misplaced or dangling modifier, and how is it corrected?
A modifier placed so it describes the wrong word (or no clear word). Correct it by placing the modifier next to the word it logically modifies—often the subject right after an introductory phrase.
What is faulty parallelism, and give a corrected example.
Mixing grammatical forms in a series. Incorrect: 'hiking, to swim, and biking.' Correct (parallel): 'hiking, swimming, and biking.'
What does subject-verb agreement require on the ACT?
A singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb, regardless of intervening prepositional phrases or clauses.
In subject-verb agreement, how do you handle words between the subject and verb?
Ignore intervening prepositional phrases/modifiers and match the verb to the true subject (e.g., 'The box of pens IS,' not 'are').
What is pronoun-antecedent agreement?
A pronoun must agree in number and gender with the noun it refers to (its antecedent): singular antecedent → singular pronoun, plural → plural.
What is verb tense consistency on the ACT?
Verb tenses must remain consistent within a passage unless a logical time shift requires a change; pick the tense matching the surrounding context.
Distinguish 'who' vs. 'whom.'
'Who' is a subject pronoun (does the action); 'whom' is an object pronoun (receives the action). Test: if you can answer with 'he,' use 'who'; if 'him,' use 'whom.'
What is the rule for using commas with a nonessential (nonrestrictive) clause or phrase?
Set nonessential information off with commas (or a pair of commas/dashes); essential (restrictive) information takes no commas.
How is a semicolon used correctly on the ACT?
To join two closely related independent clauses, or to separate items in a list that already contain commas. Each side of a clause-joining semicolon must be a complete sentence.
What are the two main correct uses of a colon?
To introduce a list, explanation, or quotation after a complete independent clause. What precedes the colon must be a complete sentence.
How do you form the possessive of a singular noun vs. a plural noun ending in -s?
Singular: add 's (the dog's bone). Plural ending in -s: add only an apostrophe (the dogs' bones).
What is the rule for commas in a series (items in a list)?
Separate three or more items with commas: 'red, white, and blue.' Do not place a comma before the first item or after the last.
When is a dash used correctly on the ACT?
To set off a nonessential element or to mark an interruption/abrupt break; dashes used as a pair must both be dashes (not one dash and one comma).
What is the rule for a comma after an introductory phrase or dependent clause?
Place a comma after an introductory element before the main clause: 'After the game, we ate.' / 'Because it rained, we stayed in.'

ACT (American College Testing) English FAQ

What is in the ACT (American College Testing) English syllabus?

ACT (American College Testing) English is split into 3 chapters: Production of Writing, Knowledge of Language and Conventions of Standard English. Together they contain 9 topics and 31 sub-topics.

How many chapters are in ACT (American College Testing) English?

3 chapters, containing 9 topics and 31 sub-topics. The largest chapter is Production of Writing, with 3 topics.

Are there flashcards for ACT (American College Testing) English?

Yes — a 50-card English deck, printed in full in the flashcards section of this page and available in the Examius app with spaced repetition. The free plan covers one exam of your choice, including its flashcards; Examius Pro, a one-time purchase, unlocks every other exam and deck.