Updated December 10, 2025

11 Hardest ACT English Questions (With Explanations)

Bonus Material: ACT Score Ranges for 750+ Schools

What are the hardest questions on ACT English?

That depends on your personal strengths and weaknesses. But based on 20 years of experience preparing students for the ACT, we know which types of questions tend to cost students points.

Here, we’ve selected 11 of the hardest question types you’re likely to run into on ACT English, plus explanations of why they can trip students up.

Try applying our proven ACT English strategies to the questions below and see what you still need to work on before the test!

And if you’re curious what ACT English score you should be aiming for in the first place, we lined up the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile scores at hundreds of schools so you can see what it takes to be a competitive applicant. Find the schools on your list in the free download below!

Jump to section:
What’s on the ACT English Section?
#1: Commas and Dashes
#2: Pronouns and Commas
#3: Pronouns
#4: More Dashes
#5: Transitions
#6: Word Choice
#7: Comma Rules
#8: Tone and Formality
#9: Relevance
#10: Text Organization
#11: Author’s Goal
Next Steps

What’s on the ACT English Section?

The ACT test makers give this breakdown of the content of the English section:

  • Production of Writing (38-43%, or around 20 questions)
    • Identify the purposes or goal of a text and whether the text meets its goal
    • Evaluate the relevance of material in the text
    • Ensure that a text is logically organized
  • Knowledge of Language (18–23%, or around 10 questions)
    • Select precise and concise wording
    • Maintaining consistency in style and tone
  • Conventions of Standard English (38–43%, or around 20 questions)
    • Apply understanding of sentence structure and formation in a text and make revisions to improve the writing
    • Recognize and correct common problems with Standard English punctuation
    • Recognize and correct common problems with Standard English usage

Based on our experience, we’ve broken these categories down further into the concrete skills you’ll see on the test:

According to the test makers, “[t]he English section puts you in the position of a writer who makes decisions to revise and edit a text.” That’s a great way to approach the English passages: if you were writing this text, how would you choose to edit it?

Here are some crucial things to know about the ACT English section:

  • The English section has 50 questions to answer in 35 minutes. That means time management is a big part of preparing – you get less than 1 minute per question! (To see the full structure of the new ACT format, check out our post breaking it down.)
  • The questions in the English section do not get harder as you go along. Unlike on the Math section of the ACT, you’ll find the hardest ACT English questions scattered throughout the section.
  • The questions are passage-based, but you won’t need the whole passage to answer most questions. Unlike the SAT, the ACT will give you questions based on multi-paragraph passages. Only a handful of English questions will ask you to consider the whole passage, though: most will be about one paragraph or even one sentence and can be answered without the full context.

Now, on to the practice questions!

What are the Hardest ACT English Questions?

#1: Commas and Dashes

The museum’s new exhibit showcases artifacts from various ancient civilizations, such as, the Romans and even the Minoans—in a stunning, interactive display.


Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
A. No Change
B. civilizations—such as the Romans
C. civilizations such as—the Romans
D. civilizations such as, the Romans

Why this is a hard question: Many students are tripped up by the rules on long dashes, but this question is especially tough because a single long dash could be possible here (with some other changes).

Remember the 2 ways you can use a long dash?

#1: To introduce a change in tone or thought – if it’s preceded by a complete sentence.

#2: To offset non-essential information in a sentence – but then you need a pair of 2 long dashes.

(If this doesn’t ring a bell, check out our full post on long dashes here.)

Could this be a case of long dash rule #1?

The museum’s new exhibit showcases artifacts from various ancient civilizations, such as, the Romans and even the Minoans—in a stunning, interactive display.

Let’s test whether what comes before the long dash is a full sentence:

The museum’s new exhibit showcases artifacts from various ancient civilizations, such as, the Romans and even the Minoans.

This is not a sentence that can stand alone, so nope – a single long dash is not possible here.

(Note that it would have been okay to use a single long dash in a sentence like The museum’s new exhibit showcases artifacts from various ancient civilizations—in a stunning, interactive display. But none of the answer choices give us that option.)

We’re left with long dash rule #2: offsetting non-essential information. But then we need a pair of long dashes, not just one.

The museum’s new exhibit showcases artifacts from various ancient civilizations – such as the Romans and even the Minoans—in a stunning, interactive display.

To make sure that this information is non-essential, see if the sentence would still work without it:

The museum’s new exhibit showcases artifacts from various ancient civilizations – such as the Romans and even the Minoans—in a stunning, interactive display.

It works! So choice B is our answer.

If you need to review your punctuation rules, start with our guides to commas and long dashes here. And if you want more guidance learning these skills and how to use them on the test, give us a call about ACT tutoring. We’ve been tutoring for the ACT for over 20 years, and we can help you adjust to the brand-new test format.

#2: Pronouns and Comma Rules

The explorer finally reached the remote mountain village, it was a settlement completely isolated from the modern world.


Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
A. No Change
B. village and, historically, this settlement was
C. village, being a settlement
D. village, a settlement

Why this is a hard question: This sentence reflects how a lot of people normally write or type informally – even though it’s not technically correct. You might be so used to seeing comma splices that you don’t notice it!

If you know your comma rules, you’ll notice that there are 2 complete sentences here that are separated only by a comma – and that doesn’t work in Standard English. (And if you don’t know your comma rules, here’s everything you need to know.)

The answer choices (other than choice A) treat the second part of this sentence as a supplementary phrase giving more information about the village. (You don’t need to know what a supplementary phrase is, just that the second part cannot stand as a complete sentence on its own.)

That means we’re looking at a complete sentence followed by a supplementary phrase. Those can be joined together with a simple comma.

So which answer choice is the best? If in doubt, go for the simpler (usually the least wordy) option. 

Answer choice D is the best fit that avoids the comma splice in the original sentence.

Another option would have been to leave the words as they are and make the punctuation fit for two complete sentences: 

The explorer finally reached the remote mountain village. It was a settlement completely isolated from the modern world.

But we weren’t given that option. Remember, on the ACT, there will only ever be one correct answer choice.

#3: Pronouns

To avoid cross-contamination in the bakery’s display case, each gluten-free item had plenty of space between it and the other baked goods.

Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable? 

A. No Change 

B. between them 

C. among them 

D. among it

Why this is a hard question: There’s potential for a confusion between singular and plural here. Don’t be fooled!

You might be tempted to go for answer choice B – after all, there’s probably more than one gluten-free item in the display case.

But take a closer look at the sentence. What is the word “it” referring back to? (In grammar jargon, what’s the antecedent?)

It’s “each gluten-free item.” That’s singular, so the pronoun that refers back to it needs to be singular too.

The correct answer is A – no change needed here.

If these questions are feeling super hard and you want more guided practice, check out our one-on-one tutoring options. A great, experienced tutor can help you focus on the concepts that are the hardest for you until you understand them thoroughly.

#4: More Dashes

The new policy, while well-intentioned, may have unintended consequences that will—and should—be debated by the public.


Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
A. No Change
B. will and should—
C. will, and should
D. will and, should

Why this is a hard question: Trick question! Students often assume that “no change” must be wrong.

Remember the rules on dashes? A pair of long dashes can be used to set off non-essential information in a sentence. 

That might trip you up here, because “and should” is being emphasized by the dashes in the sentence. It’s pretty essential to the writer’s point.

But that’s not what “non-essential” means. It means the sentence can still make sense even without the bit between dashes. Confirm that that’s the case here:

The new policy, while well-intentioned, may have unintended consequences that will be debated by the public.

That works, so the dashes are fine. Choice A is the answer.

Don’t be afraid to select “no change!” Sometimes, the right answer is hiding in plain sight.

#5: Transitions

The trail was much steeper and more rugged than the map had indicated. Our progress slowed to a crawl as we scrambled over loose rocks. Coincidentally, the weather began to turn, with dark clouds gathering overhead and a cold wind picking up.


Which transition word is most logical in context?

A. No Change
B. Fortunately,
C. Meanwhile,
D. Consequently,

Why this is a hard question: Questions about transition words require you to look at the whole paragraph for context, which can be time-consuming and involves a higher level of analysis than the punctuation questions above.

When you get a question about transition questions, these are the steps to take:

  1. Identify the relationship between the sentences before and after the transition. (Common ones are continuation, causation, and cause-and-effect.)
  2. Predict transition words that would fit that relationship. 
  3. Look for a match among the answer choices.

It’s helpful to be familiar with the most common transition words and the types of transitions they represent. We’ve lined them up in this post.

Let’s apply this strategy to this question.

  1. Before the underlined word, we’re told that the trail was harder than expected. After the underlined word, we learn that the weather was also getting worse. This sounds like a continuation transition: we’re going from bad to worse.
  2. Some words that might show a continuation are also, moreover, furthermore, on top of that, meanwhile, or additionally.  
  3. Meanwhile is among the answer choices.

So we can select answer choice C. 

(To double-check, confirm that the other choices don’t work: there’s nothing “fortunate” about the bad weather, it’s not “coincidental,” and it’s not a “consequence” of what comes earlier in the paragraph.) 

Wondering how to set your goal score on ACT English? Here’s the most recent data on how admitted students at over 500 schools scored, so you can see what you need at your goal schools.

#6: Word Choice

The master carpenter laments that most furniture sold today is temporary. When he was an apprentice, he explains, workshops produced a limited number of pieces, but each item was constructed to last for generations.

The writer is considering revising the underlined portion to the following:
disposable

Should the writer make this revision?

A. Yes, because the revision creates a clearer contrast between the short-term nature of modern furniture and the enduring quality of the handcrafted pieces.
B. Yes, because the revision emphasizes the carpenter’s hope that his own work will become more widely available.
C. No, because the original wording more accurately reflects the specific style of furniture he was trained to build.
D. No, because the original wording better supports the idea that the older pieces were also intended to be easily replaced.

Why this is a hard question: Questions about tone and intent will always have at least a little room for subjective opinion. That makes them trickier than grammar and punctuation questions, where there’s a clear-cut correct answer.

The good news is that usually, you don’t actually have to decide whether the answer is “yes” or “no.” You just have to choose the most reasonable explanation.

The process of elimination is often your best friend for this question type. At least two of the “explanations” will usually make no sense, so you can cross them off right away.

Let’s go through the options here.

Option A: Is there a contrast between the old furniture (made to last) and the new furniture (made for now)? Yes, so we can keep this option.

Option B: Since when does the carpenter hope his work will become more available? This isn’t relevant to the question.

Option C: We don’t hear anything about the “style” of the furniture, so this option doesn’t make sense.

Option D: There’s no indication that the older pieces were also meant to be temporary. To the contrary, we’re told it was meant to “last for generations.”

That means option A is your answer – and you didn’t even have to choose “yes” or “no.”

#7: Comma Rules

London-based chef, Anya Sharma, is a culinary artist who specializes in fusion cuisine. “Usually when I say fusion, people think of randomly combining dishes,” Sharma says. But her dishes are carefully crafted, blending flavors in surprising and harmonious ways.


Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?

A. No Change
B. London-based, chef, Anya Sharma,
C. London-based chef, Anya Sharma
D. London-based chef Anya Sharma

Why this is a hard question: This is another one of those sentence types where most people are used to writing it incorrectly. That makes it hard to recognize the mistake.

This brings us back to the comma rules. Non-essential information within a sentence can be set off between two commas.

You might be tempted to select “no change.” After all, the chef’s name seems like extra information, and it’s already set off between two commas.

But that’s a trap. The test for “non-essential information” is whether the sentence still works without it.

Try crossing out the information between parentheses:

London-based chef, Anya Sharma, is a culinary artist who specializes in fusion cuisine. 

London-based chef is a culinary artist who specializes in fusion cuisine. 

This doesn’t make sense. We need the chef’s name for this to be a complete sentence.

That means that, as essential information, it shouldn’t be set off between commas (or dashes) at all.

We want answer choice D. 

#8: Tone and Formality

The research grant provided crucial support for the project. The funding let the scientists get a hold of the specialized equipment needed for the experiments, ensuring the study could proceed without delay.


Which choice most effectively maintains the essay’s tone?
A. No Change
B. permitted the scientists to hang onto
C. allowed the scientists to acquire
D. made it okay for the scientists to get

Why this is a hard question: Questions about tone are always a little subjective, making them harder to study for. You also need to rely on context more than for some other question types.

When you see a question on the essay’s tone, ask yourself:

  1. What is the tone of the context around the underlined portion?
  2. What’s the tone of the underlined portion?
  3. Do they match?

In this case, the text is relatively formal. It uses words like “crucial” and “ensuring” and “proceed.” It’s about a scientific topic and is not from a personal perspective.

The phrase “get a hold of” sticks out here as a weirdly informal phrase to use. 

Two of the answer choices also use an informal tone: “hang onto” and “made it okay” aren’t formal language. (They also don’t make a lot of sense, since you can’t “hang onto” something you don’t already have, and the funding made it possible to get the equipment, not “okay”.)

Only one answer choice matches the businesslike tone of the rest of the paragraph: choice C.

#9: Relevance

Supporters of the new highway expansion—often construction executives and real estate developers who own land along the proposed route—argue that the project will create jobs and reduce commute times.


If the writer were to delete the underlined portion (adjusting the punctuation as needed), the paragraph would primarily lose:

A. a suggestion that many proponents of the highway expansion may be motivated by financial gain.
B. an indication of how many jobs the construction project is expected to create.
C. an explanation of how real estate development affects traffic congestion.
D. a summary of the primary argument made by the highway expansion’s supporters.

Why this is a hard question: Questions about the function of a phrase or sentence are usually asking you to go beyond what the phrase actually says to understand what it’s implying. There might be a trap answer choice that speaks to the phrase’s literal meaning but doesn’t address its function in the paragraph.

For this question type, ask yourself:

  1. What does the sentence/paragraph say without the phrase in question?
  2. What is the phrase literally saying?
  3. What is it implying, in context?

What is the sentence saying without the phrase? It notes that supporters of the highway argue that it will create jobs. (But don’t fall for answer choice D – that part of the sentence isn’t underlined! This is a common trap: the right answer to a different question.)

The phrase points out the seemingly unrelated fact that many supporters own land along the proposed route. 

Put the two together and you get an implication: people who are pro-highway tend to be people whose land will be reached by the new highway. It’s a good thing for them personally.

That brings us to answer choice A.

#10: Text Organization

The life cycle of the salmon is a demanding and epic journey. [A] After hatching in the fresh water of a stream, the young salmon, called fry, begin to feed and grow. [B] They undergo a physical transformation, becoming smolts, which allows them to survive in saltwater. [C] This change prepares them for their migration downstream to the ocean. [D] They will spend the majority of their adult lives navigating the vast, open sea.


The writer wants to add the following sentence to the preceding paragraph:

This process, known as smoltification, is crucial for the species’ survival.

This sentence would most logically be placed at:

A. Point A.
B. Point B.
C. Point C.
D. Point D.

Why this is a hard question: When you’re speeding through 50 questions in 35 minutes, it’s hard to take the time for paragraph-length questions like this one. This particular question throws in the added hurdle of using a word you probably haven’t heard before.

One strategy to save time on this question type is to identify the words and types of words we’re looking for, then skim.

We have a clue: the new sentence starts with “this process.” So we’re looking for a sentence that refers to some kind of process to come before this new sentence.

Another clue is that the sentence gives the name of the process: smoltification. We might be on the lookout for a word that looks similar.

Based on that information, we can skim the paragraph for a potential fit.

Skimming the paragraph picks up on a sentence that refers to “smolts” and to a “transformation.” The spot right after that is point C, so we can choose C.

If you have time, it’s an excellent idea to read the paragraph as a whole and mentally add in the new sentence. But on the ACT, you might just not have that kind of time, and that’s when it’s helpful to have strategies like this up your sleeve.

#11: Author’s Goal

While traditional approaches to coastal erosion involve building seawalls and importing sand, marine biologist Dr. Aris Thorne champions a different method: growing an underwater defense system. 

His work centers on the strategic cultivation of oyster reefs. These living barriers are formed by depositing clean, recycled oyster shells onto the seabed, which provides a foundation for free-floating oyster larvae to settle and grow. Over time, these colonies expand into vast, complex structures. The roughness of the reef bed absorbs wave energy, reducing its force before it reaches the shore. Furthermore, the reefs encourage sediment accumulation, which can gradually elevate the seafloor and create new habitats. 

Thorne’s projects have transformed vulnerable stretches of coastline in several states. “We’re not just fighting the ocean,” he explains. “We’re inviting it to help us build a more resilient shoreline.”


Suppose the writer’s primary purpose had been to outline the economic benefits of a new environmental technology. Would this essay accomplish that purpose?

A. Yes, because it compares the cost of oyster reef cultivation to the high expense of traditional seawalls and beach renourishment projects.
B. Yes, because it suggests that the new habitats created by the reefs have boosted local economies through commercial fishing and tourism.
C. No, because it focuses on the biological mechanics and protective function of the reefs rather than their financial advantages.
D. No, because it indicates that the primary benefit is ecological resilience, not cost savings.

Why this is a hard question: Questions that refer to the whole passage are typically the most time-consuming to answer.

The good news is that these questions usually come at the end of the question set that goes with the passage. By answering the previous questions, you’ve hopefully gotten a good idea of what the passage says.

Here’s a secret about this question type: you don’t really have to think about the question itself.

Would this essay accomplish that purpose? That’s a hard and nuanced question to answer. But all you have to do is figure out which of the answer options says something reasonable and true.

Does the passage say anything about the cost of reef cultivation? No, so choice A is out. We also hear nothing about fishing and tourism, so you can cross off B.

How about C? The passage definitely focuses on the mechanics and function of the reefs.

As for D, this is a strong option, but the passage is mostly about the protective function of the reefs, not the ecological benefit.

That leaves answer choice C. 

On a question like this, if you feel confident that you’ve read and grasped the passage, you can start by selecting “yes or “no” and then eliminating just one answer option.

But if you’ve mostly skimmed the text, then verifying each answer choice is a good way to go.

Next Steps

These are some of the hardest questions you’ll see on ACT English – but all of them are doable. WIth enough time, hard work, and patience, you can gain confidence approaching even the hardest ACT English questions.

If you’re aiming for a top score, tutoring support can also be helpful. We’ve been working with students preparing for the ACT for over two decades, and many of our tutors achieved perfect scores on the ACT themselves. 

Our students often see their scores go up by several points over just a few months of tutoring. And with some colleges offering hefty scholarships for perfect or outstanding ACT scores, a few months of tutoring can lead to big tuition savings down the line.

Learn more about our programs here, and get in touch with our team for a free consultation on the right option for you.

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Ro

Rosamond graduated summa cum laude from Princeton. During college, she worked as a peer tutor for Italian, French, Greek, and academic writing. Since graduation, she’s continued to tutor students of all ages in French, Italian, Latin, English, and math, some of them for several years. She’s currently a graduate student studying the relationship between religion and secular law, and she works as a freelance journalist and translator.

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