The ACT English section (75 questions in 45 minutes) tests two main skill areas: Usage/Mechanics (punctuation, grammar, sentence structure) and Rhetorical Skills (style, organization, strategy). You'll encounter passages with underlined portions where you choose the best revision, plus questions about overall passage organization and effectiveness. Understanding which question type you're facing—and what skill it's really testing—is crucial for both accuracy and pacing.

With 75 questions in 45 minutes, you have roughly 36 seconds per question—but not all questions take equal time. The strategy is to move quickly through straightforward grammar questions while spending a bit more time on rhetorical skills questions that require understanding the passage context. A tutor can help you identify which question types you naturally handle faster and which ones trip you up, so you can develop a personalized pacing strategy that maximizes your score.

The best way is to take a full practice test under timed conditions, then review every single question you missed or guessed on—not just to see the right answer, but to understand why you got it wrong. Were you unsure of the grammar rule? Did you misread the question? Did you run out of time? Tracking patterns across multiple practice tests reveals your real weak spots. A tutor can accelerate this process by analyzing your practice tests and pinpointing the specific grammar rules, question formats, or strategic mistakes that are holding back your score.

The most frequently tested rules include subject-verb agreement, pronoun clarity, comma usage, verb tense consistency, and modifier placement. ACT also heavily tests rhetorical skills like word choice precision and sentence combining for style and clarity. Rather than memorizing every grammar rule, focus on the ones that appear repeatedly in practice tests—that's where your score gains live. A tutor can help you master the high-frequency rules first so you see faster improvement.

Your first session typically focuses on assessment and strategy. You'll likely take a practice test or review recent ones to identify your specific weak areas, discuss your target score and timeline, and learn how the tutor will personalize your preparation. From there, you'll develop a study plan that targets your gaps—whether that's drilling grammar rules, practicing passage-based questions, or building test-taking stamina. The goal is to move from general ACT English prep into a focused plan that actually moves your score.

Most students benefit from taking 3-5 full practice tests under timed conditions, spaced throughout their preparation period. This gives you enough data to spot patterns in your mistakes and build test-day stamina without burning out on repetition. Between full tests, targeted practice on specific question types or grammar rules is more efficient than endless drilling. Your tutor can recommend a practice schedule based on your timeline and how quickly you're improving.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who understand ACT English inside and out and can personalize their approach to your learning style and goals. Whether you're aiming to break 30 or push toward 35+, you'll get matched with someone who has proven success helping students improve their scores. The right tutor will focus on your specific weak areas rather than generic test prep, making your study time count.