The English section gives you 45 minutes to answer 75 questions—roughly 36 seconds per question. Most students benefit from reading each passage quickly without over-analyzing, then answering questions at a steady pace rather than getting stuck. The key is recognizing that many questions test straightforward grammar rules, so you can often eliminate 2-3 answers immediately.

A tutor can help you practice pacing strategies specific to your reading speed and the question types that slow you down most. Many students find it helpful to mark questions they're unsure about and return to them if time allows, rather than spending 2+ minutes on a single question early on.

The most frequent errors involve comma splices, subject-verb agreement, pronoun reference, and misplaced modifiers. Students often also struggle with recognizing wordiness and choosing the most concise correct answer—the test rewards clarity and precision. Another common trap is overthinking; students sometimes choose an answer that sounds good but violates a grammar rule.

For students in Chicago preparing for the ACT, a tutor can help you create a personal error log by tracking which question types and grammar concepts trip you up most. Once you see the pattern, targeted practice on those specific skills produces faster improvement than generic review.

You don't need to memorize every grammar rule in the English language. The ACT tests a specific set of skills: punctuation (commas, apostrophes, semicolons), sentence structure (fragments, run-ons, parallel construction), agreement (subject-verb, pronoun-antecedent), verb tense, and modifier placement. Focusing on these core concepts is much more efficient than broad grammar review.

Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who know exactly which rules appear on the ACT and which don't. A tutor can assess your baseline, skip topics you've mastered, and concentrate time on your actual weak spots—whether that's comma rules or parallel structure.

Most students benefit from taking 3-5 full-length practice ACTs (or at least the English section multiple times) before test day. The first practice test establishes your baseline and helps identify patterns in your mistakes. Subsequent tests let you measure progress and build familiarity with the format and pacing.

More important than the number is what you do after each test: review every question you missed or guessed on, understand why the correct answer is right, and identify whether your mistakes stem from careless reading, weak grammar knowledge, or timing pressure. A tutor can guide this review process and help you create a study schedule that spaces practice strategically—research shows spaced practice helps retention better than cramming.

Test anxiety often stems from uncertainty about what you know. Confidence builds through repeated, successful practice with real ACT questions under timed conditions. When you've practiced the same question types dozens of times and seen yourself answer them correctly, test day feels less intimidating.

Working with a tutor also helps because someone can reassure you when anxiety is distorting your thinking (e.g., convincing you that you don't know something you actually do). Tutors can teach breathing techniques during practice, help you develop a pre-test routine, and remind you that the English section has no trick questions—just straightforward grammar and rhetorical skills. Many students in Chicago find that 4-6 weeks of consistent, structured preparation significantly reduces anxiety by test day.

Look for tutors with proven experience teaching ACT English specifically—general writing tutors aren't always familiar with the test's format and question types. You want someone who can diagnose your weak areas quickly, teach efficient strategies (not just rules), and adjust pacing based on your learning style.

Varsity Tutors matches you with expert tutors experienced in ACT preparation for students in Chicago. In your first session, a good tutor will assess where you stand, discuss your target score and timeline, and create a personalized study plan. They'll also explain their teaching approach so you can decide if it's a good fit. Most students benefit from tutoring starting 6-8 weeks before test day, meeting 1-2 times per week.