The biggest obstacles are pacing (finishing all four passages in 35 minutes), distinguishing between similar answer choices, and understanding what questions are really asking. Many students also struggle with vocabulary-in-context questions and inference questions that require reading between the lines. A tutor can help you develop a personalized pacing strategy and teach you how to spot trap answers before they slow you down.

Your first session focuses on understanding your current strengths and weak spots. You'll likely take a practice passage or diagnostic to see where you're losing points—whether it's timing, comprehension, or question interpretation. From there, a tutor can create a personalized study plan that targets your specific challenges and fits your timeline before test day.

Effective strategies include active annotation (marking key details as you read), previewing questions before reading the passage, and using process of elimination to narrow down answer choices. Different students benefit from different approaches—some read the full passage first, others skim and refer back. A tutor can help you test various strategies on practice passages to find what works best for your reading style and speed.

Practice tests are essential—they help you build stamina, identify patterns in your mistakes, and get comfortable with the question formats under timed conditions. The ACT Reading section has consistent question types across tests, so practicing with real ACT materials (not just generic reading comprehension) is crucial. A tutor can review your practice test results to pinpoint whether you're missing questions due to time pressure, comprehension gaps, or misunderstanding what the question asks.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or unsure of your strategy. Working with a tutor builds confidence through repeated practice with real passages, mastering time management techniques, and understanding exactly what to expect on test day. When you know your approach and have practiced it dozens of times, the test itself feels much less intimidating.

Most students benefit from 4-8 weeks of focused preparation, with 3-5 hours per week of study and practice. If you're starting further out or have significant gaps to close, you might extend that timeline. A tutor can help you create a realistic study schedule that fits your other commitments and builds momentum toward test day without burning out.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in ACT Reading and understand the specific challenges of the section. You'll provide information about your goals, current score, and availability, and we'll match you with a tutor who fits your learning style and schedule. Most students start with a consultation to discuss strategy and goals before diving into practice and skill-building.