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ACT English reporting category

ACT Production of Writing Practice

Production of Writing questions test whether a passage's content and organization serve the writer's purpose: whether each sentence belongs, and whether ideas connect in a logical order. According to ACT, this category makes up 38–43% of scored English questions. Expect questions about adding or deleting sentences, choosing transitions, and ordering sentences.

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38–43% of scored English questions3 original questionsInstant answer checks

At a glance

Production of Writing on the ACT: the key numbers

Section and category facts from ACT.org, checked October 9, 2026. Time per question is ACT's section time divided by its question count.
SectionACT English: 50 questions in 35 minutes
Scored questions40 scored, 10 field test
Reporting categoryProduction of Writing
Share of scored questions38–43%, according to ACT
Average time per questionAbout 42 seconds
Counts toward the CompositeYes
Practice on this page3 original questions: Easy, Medium, Hard

What this tests

What does ACT Production of Writing test?

Practice questions

Practice ACT Production of Writing questions

Pick an answer to check it. Each question has one correct choice.

Question 1 of 3Easy

The town library added a 3D printer to its maker room in March. Staff members expected only a few patrons to use it. However, the sign-up sheet was full within a week.

Which choice best replaces the underlined portion "However,"?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answerA. NO CHANGE

How to solve it

  1. The second sentence says staff members expected only a few patrons to use the printer.
  2. The third sentence says the sign-up sheet filled within a week, which is the opposite of what staff expected.
  3. That relationship is a contrast, and "However" signals contrast, so the original wording is correct.
Why the other choices miss
B, "Similarly," signals that the next idea matches the last one, but a full sign-up sheet does not match low expectations. C, "For example," would need an instance of patrons ignoring the printer. D, "In addition," treats the sentence as one more point in the same direction instead of a surprise.
Question 2 of 3Medium

[1] In 1913, the town of Ashford paved its main street with asphalt for the first time. [2] Before then, the street was packed dirt that turned to deep mud every spring. [3] Delivery wagons sank to their axles, and some shops closed for weeks at a time until the road dried. [4] Once the pavement was laid, merchants could receive goods in every season.

The writer is considering adding the following sentence after Sentence 3: "Asphalt is made by mixing crushed stone with a thick, sticky binder. " Should the writer make this addition?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answerD. No, because it shifts the focus from the muddy street's effect on businesses to how asphalt is made.

How to solve it

  1. Sentences 2 through 4 describe the spring mud, how it hurt local businesses, and how paving helped them.
  2. The proposed sentence describes what asphalt is made of, a detail that does not connect to wagons, shops, or merchants.
  3. Placed between the problem and the solution, it interrupts the paragraph's point, so it should not be added.
Why the other choices miss
A misdescribes the sentence: it lists ingredients, not how Ashford paved its street. B is wrong because the sentence is about asphalt, not dirt or mud. C is wrong because Sentence 1 mentions asphalt but never says what it is made of, so nothing is repeated.
Question 3 of 3Hard

[1] To find out why their classroom felt stuffy every afternoon, students in Ms. Ortiz's science class placed a carbon dioxide sensor near the back wall. [2] Those readings rose steadily after lunch and peaked just before the final bell. [3] After reviewing these results, the class asked the principal to leave two windows partly open during afternoon classes. [4] For two weeks, the students checked the sensor every fifteen minutes and wrote down each reading.

For the sake of logic and cohesion, Sentence 4 should be placed:
Show answer and explanation
Correct answerC. after Sentence 1.

How to solve it

  1. Sentence 2 begins "Those readings," so it must come right after a sentence that mentions readings. Only Sentence 4 does.
  2. Sentence 4 refers to "the sensor," so it must come after Sentence 1, which introduces the sensor.
  3. The order 1, 4, 2, 3 moves from setup to data collection to results to the class's request, so Sentence 4 belongs after Sentence 1.
Why the other choices miss
A leaves "Those readings" with nothing to point back to, and it describes collecting data after the class already acted on the results. B mentions "the sensor" before the paragraph introduces it. D still places "Those readings" before any readings are mentioned.

Avoid these traps

What mistakes do students make on Production of Writing?

Keeping interesting details

Students keep a proposed sentence because it is true or interesting, even when it has nothing to do with the paragraph's main point.

Fix: Name the paragraph's topic in a few words first. Keep a sentence only if it supports that topic.

Picking transitions by sound

Students choose a transition that sounds formal or smooth, such as "furthermore," without checking how the two sentences actually relate.

Fix: Read the sentences before and after, and name the relationship (contrast, cause, example, or addition) before you look at the choices.

Reading one sentence alone

On order and purpose questions, students judge a sentence by itself and miss words like "those," "this," or "after that" that point back to an earlier idea.

Fix: Read the whole paragraph and note every word that refers back to something. That word must come after the idea it refers to.

Study method

How should you practice ACT Production of Writing?

  1. Before answering, note a few words stating the main point of each paragraph so you can judge relevance quickly.
  2. For add or delete questions, decide yes or no first, then pick the choice whose reason matches what the sentence actually does.
  3. For transitions, cover the choices, name the relationship between the two sentences, and then find the word that matches it.
  4. For sentence order, track pronouns and time words, then test your chosen spot by reading the paragraph straight through.
  5. Practice Production of Writing questions in Dolphin, and for each miss, write one line on what the paragraph was trying to do.
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FAQ

Questions about ACT Production of Writing

How many questions are in the ACT English section?

According to ACT, the English section has 50 questions in 35 minutes. Of those, 40 are scored and 10 are field-test questions. That works out to 42 seconds per question on average. The section measures your ability to make decisions to revise and edit short texts and essays in different genres.

How much of the ACT English section is Production of Writing?

According to ACT, Production of Writing makes up 38–43% of scored English questions. With 40 scored English questions, that is about 15 to 17 questions. Your score report lists this category with the number of questions in it, the number you answered correctly, and your percent correct.

Is Production of Writing about grammar?

Mostly not. Production of Writing questions are about content and organization: whether a sentence belongs, what job it does, how ideas connect, and where a sentence fits. A choice can be grammatically correct and still be wrong because it is off topic or in the wrong place. Sentence structure, punctuation, and usage fall under Conventions of Standard English.

How do I answer questions about adding or deleting a sentence?

Start with the paragraph's main point. If the sentence supports it, the answer is probably yes; if it drifts to a side topic or repeats something already said, the answer is probably no. Then read the reasons, and among the choices that match your yes or no, pick the one whose reason accurately describes the sentence.

Should I guess on English questions I am unsure about?

Yes. According to ACT, there is no penalty for incorrect answers, so a blank answer has no chance of earning credit. Rule out the choices you can, pick from what is left, and move on. Before time is called, make sure every question has an answer.

Related practice

ACT Knowledge of Language PracticeACT Conventions of Standard English PracticeACT Key Ideas and Details PracticeAll ACT English practiceACT Math practiceACT Reading practiceACT Science practiceDolphin ACT prepSAT vs ACTCollege ACT score ranges

Sources

Where these facts come from

ACT facts checked . Every practice question on this page is original Dolphin practice written to match one ACT reporting category. None is a released ACT item.

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