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Award-Winning ACT Tutors

Alexandra

Certified Tutor

Alexandra

AB
Alexandra's other Tutor Subjects
Elementary School Science
ACT
Elementary School Writing

Hi! My name is Alexandra, and I am a Princeton University Neuroscience major with 5+ years of tutoring experience. I specialize in SAT/ACT/PSAT prep and have successfully taught topics ranging from computer science and basic sciences to elementary reading and writing and college essay writing. In hi...

Education

Princeton University

AB

Test Scores
Perfect Score
ACT
36
Alex

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Alex

Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering
Alex's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Algebra

Medical school at the University of Arizona sharpened Alex's science and reading comprehension chops, but it's the chemical engineering degree from Washington and Lee that keeps his ACT Math strategies rigorous — and tutoring since 2010 means he's seen every version of the test's recurring traps acr...

Education

Washington and Lee University

Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1590
ACT
36

Certified Tutor

Richard

Bachelor in Arts, Government
Richard's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra
Linear Algebra

Having spent a year as a course assistant in Harvard's math department while majoring in Government, Richard is genuinely comfortable on both sides of the ACT — the quantitative reasoning that dominates Math and Science and the rhetorical analysis that drives English and Reading. His 36 composite me...

Education

Harvard University

Bachelor in Arts, Government

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1600
ACT
36

Certified Tutor

Christopher

Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Christopher's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus AB
College Algebra
Algebra 3/4
Trigonometry

Mechanical engineering at Harvard keeps Christopher deep in the math and science reasoning the ACT demands, but his Spanish and writing background means he's not faking it on the English and Reading sections either — he earned a 35 composite covering all four with genuine fluency. He teaches student...

Education

Harvard College

Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering

Test Scores
ACT
35

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Joy

AB
Joy's other Tutor Subjects
Geometry
College Math
AP Environmental Science
SAT

A strong ACT score depends on managing four very different sections under tight time constraints, and Joy's teaching background covers all of them — math from pre-algebra through trig, science data interpretation, reading analysis, and English grammar conventions. She designs practice sessions aroun...

Education

Boston University

AB

Test Scores
SAT
1570
ACT
35

Certified Tutor

8+ years

Benjamin

Current Grad Student, English
Benjamin's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus AB
Calculus 2
Calculus
Algebra

Most ACT prep treats all four sections like they require the same skillset — Benjamin actually lives in both worlds, with a computer science degree and a graduate English program at Columbia giving him native fluency in quantitative reasoning and close reading alike. He earned a perfect 36 composite...

Education

Columbia University in the City of New York

Bachelor of Science, Computer Science

Columbia University in the City of New York

Current Grad Student, English

Test Scores
Perfect Score
ACT
36

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Ilesh

Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering
Ilesh's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Statistics
Calculus
Algebra

Georgia Tech's Industrial and Systems Engineering program sits at the crossroads of math, data analysis, and logical reasoning — which means Ilesh trained daily in exactly the quantitative and analytical thinking the ACT tests across Math, Science, and even the evidence-based Reading questions. He e...

Education

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering

Test Scores
Perfect Score
ACT
36

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Rahul

B.S. in Chemical Engineering
Rahul's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Multivariable Calculus
Pre-Calculus
Geometry

Cornell's chemical engineering program forced Rahul to master everything from thermodynamics to technical writing under pressure — a combination that maps neatly onto the ACT's full spread of math, science, and English content. He earned a perfect 36 composite and leans heavily on conceptual underst...

Education

Cornell University

B.S. in Chemical Engineering

Test Scores
Perfect Score
ACT
36

Certified Tutor

Kyle

Bachelor's (in progress)
Kyle's other Tutor Subjects
SAT
ACT
Algebra 2

As a passionate tutor with over 2 years of experience, I am dedicated to helping students excel in mathematics, particularly in subjects like Algebra, Calculus, and Geometry. Currently pursuing a Bachelor's in Data Science at Utah State University, I leverage my academic background to provide real-w...

Education

Utah State University

Bachelor's (in progress)

Weber State University

Associate's

Test Scores
ACT
35

Certified Tutor

15+ years

Austin

Bachelors
Austin's other Tutor Subjects
Elementary Math
Calculus
Algebra
Elementary School Math

Classics and philosophy trained Austin to do two things quickly: parse dense texts and build logical arguments from limited evidence — which maps almost perfectly onto ACT Reading and Science, where students need to extract answers from unfamiliar passages under serious time pressure. His 33 composi...

Education

University of Notre Dame

Bachelors

Test Scores
SAT
1570
ACT
33

Certified Tutor

Edward

Bachelor's
Edward's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus AB
College Algebra
Multivariable Calculus
Trigonometry

Chemical engineering at Michigan means Edward spends his semesters deep in the math and science that dominate half the ACT — but his literature, essay editing, and grammar tutoring keep the English and Reading sections just as locked in, giving him genuine coverage across all four. His perfect 36 co...

Education

University

Bachelor's

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1520
ACT
36

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Emily

Bachelor in Arts, Computational Biology
Emily's other Tutor Subjects
AP Statistics
Pre-Algebra
Statistics
Pre-Calculus

A 36 composite on the ACT means Emily didn't just do well on one section — she maxed out every part of the test, from the science data interpretation to the reading passage pacing to the math's pre-calc concepts. She breaks the exam into learnable systems, teaching students how to manage time across...

Education

Cornell University

Bachelor in Arts, Computational Biology

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1590
ACT
36

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Edward

MBA
Edward's other Tutor Subjects
ACT Reading
ACT

As both a student and an employee, I have been involved in higher education for over twenty years. I earned my bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago (English-Writing), my master's degree from Regis University (Nonprofit Management), and currently hold a college administrative ...

Education

Regis University

MBA

University of Illinois at Chicago

MBA

Test Scores
ACT
35

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Sugi

Bachelor's degree in Cognitive Science and Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Sugi's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
College Algebra
Middle School Math
Geometry

Medical school admissions committees at both Rice and Baylor trusted Sugi to evaluate candidates — that same ability to spot exactly where someone's reasoning breaks down is what she brings to ACT prep, section by section. Her 36 composite and dual background in cognitive science and biochemistry me...

Education

Rice University

Bachelor's degree in Cognitive Science and Biochemistry & Cell Biology

Baylor College of Medicine

Doctor of Medicine, Ophthalmic Technology

Test Scores
Perfect Score
ACT
36

Certified Tutor

8+ years

Jiatian

AB
Jiatian's other Tutor Subjects
Middle School Math
ACT English
ACT Math
ACT

Scoring well on the ACT is less about mastering five separate subjects and more about learning one skill: how to attack timed, multiple-choice questions with a plan. Jiatian builds individualized study schedules that target each student's weakest sections first, setting concrete score milestones alo...

Education

Rice University

AB

Test Scores
ACT
35

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Edward

AP Calculus AB Tutor • +31 Subjects

Chemical engineering at Michigan means Edward spends his semesters deep in the math and science that dominate half the ACT — but his literature, essay editing, and grammar tutoring keep the English and Reading sections just as locked in, giving him genuine coverage across all four. His perfect 36 composite isn't decorative; he uses it to show students exactly how each section rewards different reading speeds and elimination habits, especially on the Science passages where most prep falls short. Rated 4.8 by students.

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Emily

AP Statistics Tutor • +34 Subjects

A 36 composite on the ACT means Emily didn't just do well on one section — she maxed out every part of the test, from the science data interpretation to the reading passage pacing to the math's pre-calc concepts. She breaks the exam into learnable systems, teaching students how to manage time across sections and recognize the specific question patterns the ACT repeats. Rated 4.9 by students.

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Edward

ACT Reading Tutor • +1 Subjects

As both a student and an employee, I have been involved in higher education for over twenty years. I earned my bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago (English-Writing), my master's degree from Regis University (Nonprofit Management), and currently hold a college administrative position by day. For a number of years now, I have enjoyed tutoring students in middle school, high school, and college on test preparation (primarily the verbal/reading/writing sections for ACT, SAT, PSAT, HSPT), as well as essay and speech writing. I have a passion for the written word because I feel it is often times the best way to communicate - a way to express our thoughts and feelings in an organized and structured manner, in our own voice and within our control.

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Sugi

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +54 Subjects

Medical school admissions committees at both Rice and Baylor trusted Sugi to evaluate candidates — that same ability to spot exactly where someone's reasoning breaks down is what she brings to ACT prep, section by section. Her 36 composite and dual background in cognitive science and biochemistry mean there's no weak link across Math, Science, English, or Reading; she knows the content cold and teaches the decision-making layer on top of it. Rated 5.0 by students.

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Jiatian

Middle School Math Tutor • +5 Subjects

Scoring well on the ACT is less about mastering five separate subjects and more about learning one skill: how to attack timed, multiple-choice questions with a plan. Jiatian builds individualized study schedules that target each student's weakest sections first, setting concrete score milestones along the way. A Rice University graduate currently finishing medical school, she's taken enough high-stakes exams to know exactly what disciplined, strategic prep looks like in practice.

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John

AP Calculus AB Tutor • +88 Subjects

An English and drama background might not scream ACT prep, but John's 36 composite — a perfect score — means he's mastered every section of the test, and his theater training makes him unusually good at close reading the rhetorical and narrative passages that stall most students on Reading and English. He also tutors calculus, physics, and chemistry, so the Math and Science sections aren't secondary skills he's faking his way through. Rated 4.9 by students.

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Jason

PSAT Tutor • +2 Subjects

Hello! I am Jason Min, a recent college graduate looking to do some tutoring over the summer. Please feel free to ask me questions!

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Michael

IB Physics Tutor • +2 Subjects

A 36 composite score means Michael didn't just do well on the ACT — he maxed it out across every section, from the science data interpretation to the English rhetorical skills questions. That range mirrors his own academic background spanning fine arts, languages, and quantitative subjects, so he can pinpoint exactly where a student is losing points and rebuild that specific skill. Rated 4.9 by students.

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Chelain

Calculus Tutor • +14 Subjects

Scoring a 33 on the ACT while juggling a dual PhD/MD track gave Chelain a firsthand appreciation for efficient test strategy — knowing when to skip, when to guess, and how to manage the clock across all four sections. As a radiation oncology resident at Northwestern, she brings the same analytical precision to breaking down Science and Math passages that she uses in clinical problem-solving. Rated 5.0 by students.

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Elliot

Statistics Graduate Level Tutor • +88 Subjects

Elliot's neuroscience PhD means he's spent years designing experiments, interpreting data, and writing precisely — the exact skill set the ACT tests across all four sections, from Science passage analysis to the grammar logic underlying English questions. He earned a perfect 36 composite and uses that full-score perspective to show students where the test rewards careful reading over rushing, especially on the Reading and Science sections where most timing mistakes happen. Rated 5.0 by students.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The ACT Science section tests data interpretation and scientific reasoning—not memorized science facts. You'll encounter 40 questions in 35 minutes across three question types: data representation (charts, graphs, tables), research summaries (experimental design), and conflicting viewpoints (competing scientific theories). The key challenge is extracting information quickly from unfamiliar data and applying logic, not recalling biology or chemistry content. Many students struggle here because it requires speed and comfort reading scientific formats under time pressure, which is very different from typical science classes.

The ACT isn't necessarily harder, but it's significantly faster-paced. You have 2 hours 55 minutes for four sections with roughly 1.5-2 minutes per question, while the SAT gives you more time per question. The ACT Math section also covers more advanced topics like trigonometry and matrices, which the SAT doesn't test. Many students find the ACT's speed more challenging than difficulty—you need strong time management and can't afford to linger on tough problems. Pacing strategy is critical: knowing when to skip and come back later can mean the difference between a 26 and a 30.

Most students see 2-4 point improvements with structured tutoring and practice, though improvement varies based on starting score and effort. Students starting at 19-22 often see larger gains (4-6 points) because foundational gaps are easier to close; students already at 28+ typically see smaller gains (1-2 points) since they're targeting elite scores. The national average is 21, so moving from 21 to 25-27 (top 25%) is very achievable with 8-12 weeks of focused work. Realistic improvement depends on identifying your specific weak sections—whether that's pacing on Reading, trig on Math, or data interpretation on Science.

Time management looks different for each section. On English (45 min, 75 questions), aim for roughly 30 seconds per question—it's fast but straightforward. Math (60 min, 60 questions) deserves a minute per question; skip hard ones early and return later rather than getting stuck. Reading (35 min, 40 questions) is the tightest constraint; many students benefit from reading the questions first, then skimming passages for specific answers rather than reading fully. Science (35 min, 40 questions) rewards quick data extraction—don't overthink; focus on what the graphs/tables show. A tutor can help you identify which sections drain your time and teach you pacing techniques specific to your strengths.

Most colleges do NOT superscore the ACT—they use your highest single test date composite score. This is different from the SAT, where many schools superscore individual sections. Because of this, your strategy should focus on achieving your target score on one test date rather than spreading attempts across multiple dates hoping to mix-and-match sections. However, you can retake the full ACT multiple times and submit your best composite. This means if you score 28 on one date and 29 on another, colleges see the 29—not a blended score. Check your target schools' policies, but plan your prep assuming they'll use your single best attempt.

Most students should skip the optional Writing section. Only about 2% of colleges require it, and most don't even look at it. The Writing test adds 40 minutes and doesn't boost your composite score—it's scored separately on a 2-12 scale. Unless a specific school you're targeting explicitly requires or recommends it, your time is better spent perfecting the four main sections. If you do take Writing, it requires strong essay skills under time pressure (40 minutes for one prompt), which is a different skill than the rest of the ACT. Check your target schools' websites first—if they don't mention it, leave it off.

Trigonometry appears on roughly 7-10% of the ACT Math section—usually 3-4 questions out of 60. The challenge isn't volume; it's that many students haven't seen trig since geometry or precalculus, so it feels unfamiliar under pressure. ACT trig questions typically test basic concepts: SOHCAHTOA, unit circle values, and simple trig identities. The bigger issue is that trig questions often appear late in the section when students are tired or rushed. A strong ACT Math tutor will help you refresh trig basics and teach you to recognize when a problem is actually a trig problem disguised in a word problem—that pattern recognition saves time.

The ACT Reading section gives you 35 minutes for 40 questions across 4 passages—roughly 8-9 minutes per passage. Many students try to read the full passage first, but this burns time. A more effective strategy: read the questions first to know what you're looking for, then skim the passage for specific information rather than trying to understand every detail. Some students do better skimming the passage first (1-2 minutes) to get tone and structure, then answering questions by returning to specific lines. The key is finding YOUR rhythm through practice. Tutors can help you test different approaches and identify which sections (fiction, social science, natural science, humanities) give you the most trouble—you might need different strategies for each.

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