ACT Math Word Problems: A 4-Step Method That Works Every Time
Word problems are the most feared question type on the ACT Math section — and also the most common. Roughly 15–20 questions per test require you to read a scenario and extract the math. The good news: they are not harder than the pure math questions. They just require one additional skill: translation. This guide gives you a 4-step method that works on every ACT word problem, plus 13 free practice quizzes to drill it.
The 4-Step Method
- 1 Read for the question first. Go to the last sentence of the problem — that's what you need to find. Don't get distracted by story setup before you know what you're solving for.
- 2 Label every number in the problem. Re-read from the start, but this time write a word next to each number: "price = $40", "discount = 15%", "quantity = 6". This prevents misuse of numbers later.
- 3 Set up the equation before calculating. Translate the relationships into a mathematical expression. Resist the urge to start calculating immediately — writing the equation first catches 80% of setup errors.
- 4 Check your answer against the question. Did you answer what was actually asked? Many ACT word problems ask for "the value of 3x" when students solve for x and stop.
Common Translation Phrases
| English Phrase | Math Translation |
|---|---|
| "is", "equals", "gives" | = |
| "more than", "greater than", "increased by" | + (added to) |
| "less than", "decreased by", "difference" | − |
| "of", "times", "product of" | × (multiply) |
| "per", "for every", "ratio of" | ÷ (divide) |
| "twice", "double" | × 2 |
| "a number", "an unknown" | use a variable (n, x) |
When to Use Backsolving
Backsolving — plugging answer choices into the problem — is a valid strategy when the equation setup is complex or unclear. It works best when: (1) the answer choices are numbers, not expressions; (2) there are only 2–3 steps to check an answer; and (3) you can quickly tell if an answer is too big or too small (so you can eliminate efficiently).
Related ACT Math Topics
Strengthen the skills that connect to word problems:
- Equations — Most word problems require setting up and solving an equation
- Rates & Ratios — Rate and ratio word problems are a major sub-category
- Percentages — Percentage word problems require the translation method above