Most students see meaningful improvement within 4-8 weeks of focused preparation. Typical gains range from 2-4 points, though students who struggle with pacing or question interpretation often see larger improvements once they develop targeted strategies. The key is identifying your specific weaknesses—whether that's vocabulary, inference questions, or time management—and addressing them systematically with practice tests and expert guidance.

Timing is the #1 challenge students face on this section. Many readers try to understand every detail, which wastes precious minutes. Expert tutors help you develop a strategic approach: previewing questions first, identifying what you actually need to find in the passage, and practicing active reading techniques that boost both speed and accuracy. With consistent practice, you can learn to complete all four passages with time to review.

Students typically struggle with inference questions (where you must draw conclusions not directly stated), vocabulary-in-context questions, and understanding the author's tone or purpose. Many also miss questions about supporting details because they skim too quickly. A tutor can pinpoint which question types trip you up most and teach you specific strategies to tackle each one, then reinforce these skills through targeted practice.

Practice tests are essential—they're the best way to build stamina, identify patterns in your mistakes, and get comfortable with the real test format. Most students benefit from taking full practice tests under timed conditions, then reviewing every missed question with a tutor to understand why you got it wrong. This cycle of testing, analysis, and targeted skill-building is what drives real score improvement.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or unsure about your approach. When you work with a tutor, you build genuine confidence through repeated practice, mastery of proven strategies, and understanding exactly what to expect on test day. Knowing that you've successfully completed dozens of practice passages under timed conditions—and improved your score—is far more powerful than any relaxation technique alone.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in Pittsburgh who specialize in ACT Reading preparation. You can share your current score, goals, and availability, and we'll match you with a tutor who fits your learning style and schedule. Many students work with tutors for 1-2 sessions per week leading up to test day, adjusting frequency based on their progress and timeline.

Your first session focuses on assessment and goal-setting. A tutor will review your current score (if you have one), ask about your target score, and identify your specific challenges—whether that's pacing, question types, or passage comprehension. From there, you'll develop a personalized study plan that might include diagnostic practice, strategy instruction, and a timeline for improvement before your test date.