The ACT Math section gives you 60 minutes for 60 questions, which means you need to work quickly without sacrificing accuracy. Many students struggle with the later questions, which tend to be harder and more complex. A tutor can help you develop a pacing strategy—like spending less time on straightforward problems and knowing when to skip and return to a question—plus teach you shortcuts and pattern recognition to solve problems faster.

The best way is to take a full practice test under timed conditions and review your results by topic—algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and functions are the main areas tested. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who can analyze your practice test results to pinpoint exactly where you're losing points, whether it's conceptual gaps or careless mistakes. This diagnostic work is crucial because it saves you from wasting time studying topics you already know well.

Aim for 3-4 focused study sessions per week, with each session lasting 45-90 minutes depending on your timeline. Consistency matters more than cramming—spaced practice over weeks helps you retain concepts better than marathon sessions. A tutor can help you build a realistic study plan based on your current score, target score, and test date, then adjust it as you progress through practice tests.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or unfamiliar with question formats, so personalized tutoring builds confidence through targeted practice and strategy. Working through problems with a tutor in a low-pressure setting helps you develop problem-solving skills and learn to manage your time, which reduces the panic you might feel on test day. Many students also benefit from learning relaxation techniques and mental strategies that a tutor can introduce during your sessions.

Yes—word problems, geometry diagrams, and multi-step algebra questions tend to trip up students most because they require reading comprehension plus math skills. The ACT also includes some trigonometry and coordinate geometry that many students haven't practiced much in school. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can walk you through each question type, show you how to extract the key information, and teach you the most efficient solving methods for each format.

Your first session is focused on assessment and planning. A tutor will review your current ACT Math score (or have you take a practice test), discuss your target score and timeline, and identify your strongest and weakest areas. From there, they'll create a personalized study plan that prioritizes the topics and question types where you'll get the biggest score gains, so your tutoring time is spent efficiently.

Worcester's public schools and libraries often have ACT prep materials and testing information available, and many offer practice test opportunities. Connecting with a tutor through Varsity Tutors gives you personalized guidance tailored to your needs, which you can combine with school resources and official ACT practice materials for a comprehensive prep approach. Your tutor can recommend which practice tests and resources will be most valuable for your specific goals.