How to Navigate ACT Reading’s New VQI Questions
In a surreptitious change, ACT has updated their description of the Reading test to include a short blurb about “Visual and Quantitative Information” questions in that section of the exam. The “new” question types will appear on test booklets during National Testing dates beginning this year, and will contribute to students’ scores in the Information and Knowledge of Ideas reporting category.
But, these questions are not really new. If you read ACT’s description, you will note that it sounds oddly reminiscent of the skills required to complete the infographic questions that are already on the SAT’s Reading and Writing & Language sections. Those exclusively familiar with the ACT will recognize similar question structures and answer patterns to those of the Science test.
The change represents a relatively minor one, and is part of ACT’s ongoing struggle for market share with SAT, whose supremacy was regained after its redesign and subsequent partnership with Khan Academy. To be clear, the change will affect approximately 5% of the questions on the Reading test. One of the four passages may include a graph, figure, or table. Of the 10 questions that pertain to that passage, only two of them will refer to the visual reference. Be sure to check out this example from ACT’s website, as (unfortunately) none are forthcoming in the 2021-2022 edition of The Real ACT Prep Guide.
Our Recommended Approach
Students who have been preparing for the ACT Science section will be well-equipped to tackle the new VQI question type on ACT Reading. To succeed, plan use similar strategies to those you would use for Interpretation of Data questions on the Science test:
Actively read labels, axes, column titles, and keys, noting trends and flagging important information.
Write down independent and dependent variables when possible.
Use locator words in the questions and answer choices to direct you to the correct figure and graph labels.
For two-part questions, anticipate the parallel structure and tackle one part at a time. Remember: if one detail in an answer choice is wrong, the entire answer choice is wrong!
The strategies listed above are general recommendations that have been developed by our team of expert tutors. If you’d like their support in charting a course through this new question type, or on the ACT and SAT in general, please reach out to our team. We’d love to help hone your analytical skills to excel on test day – and beyond.
