Moving ACT Reading from 24 to 30 usually starts with pacing so you finish all four passages, then cutting careless errors by always confirming answers with textual evidence. At a 24, the points you're missing are usually about time and consistency, not comprehension, and that means real gains are within reach.
Diagnose the 24-point bottleneck
Most students stuck near 24 either rush the last passage or pick plausible-but-wrong answers. Take a timed section and label each miss as "ran out of time" or "had time, chose wrong." Start with the bigger bucket and you will see progress faster.
Lock in pacing
If timing is your issue, you're likely leaving questions blank or guessing on the last passage. Drill the 10-minutes-per-passage budget from how to finish ACT Reading on time and build speed with how to read faster for the ACT.
Adopt evidence-based answering
Going from 24 to 30 means trusting the text over your gut. For every answer, find the proof line. This helps with the half-right traps that drain points; learn the system in the best ACT Reading strategy.
Target your weakest passage type
Many 24-scorers struggle most on one passage type, often prose fiction or dense social science. Identify yours and drill it until it's no longer a liability.
Build an error log
Track every miss by type. After a couple weeks, patterns appear, usually pacing on the final passage and inference questions. Direct your practice straight at those patterns and you will feel the difference.
Practice consistently
A 6-point Reading jump is realistic with steady timed practice over several weeks. Drill passages on thirty-six, review every miss, and retest. Once you're consistently at 30, push toward the top with improving from 30 to 36.
Start practicing
Start with a free diagnostic, then drill your weak spots with 15-question quizzes and track how you're doing across Reading, English, and Math. Compare plans whenever you're ready to go further.
This article offers general ACT prep guidance. The ACT can change from year to year, including its format, scoring, policies, test dates, and fees, so always confirm the latest details on the official ACT website at act.org before you make decisions. ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. thirty-six is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by ACT.