Pacing is the #1 struggle for most students—you have 35 minutes to read 4 passages and answer 40 questions, which feels rushed. Many students either read too slowly and run out of time, or skim too quickly and miss key details. A tutor can teach you strategic reading techniques, help you identify which passages to tackle first based on difficulty, and build your speed through targeted practice without sacrificing comprehension.

Your first session focuses on understanding where you are right now. Varsity Tutors will connect you with a tutor who'll review your practice test results, identify patterns in the questions you're missing (inference, detail, tone, structure, etc.), and discuss your timeline and goals. From there, your tutor creates a personalized plan targeting your specific challenges rather than generic test prep.

Practice tests are essential—they're how you build stamina, get comfortable with timing, and identify your exact weak spots. Rather than doing full tests repeatedly, many students benefit from targeted practice on specific question types or passages. Your tutor can guide you on which practice tests to use, when to take full timed tests versus focusing on specific sections, and how to review your results productively to avoid repeating mistakes.

ACT Reading questions fall into a few categories: detail/fact questions (what does the passage say?), inference questions (what can you conclude?), vocabulary-in-context questions, and questions about author's tone, purpose, or structure. Each type requires a slightly different strategy—detail questions reward careful reading, while inference questions need you to read between the lines. A tutor helps you recognize each type quickly and apply the right approach, which saves crucial time during the test.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about what to expect. Working with a tutor builds confidence through repeated, successful practice with the actual test format and timing. You'll take practice tests under real conditions, review them with your tutor to see what you're doing well, and develop a personalized strategy that feels manageable. This combination of preparation and strategy reduces anxiety significantly.

Most students benefit from 1-2 sessions per week over 8-12 weeks, though this depends on your starting score and test date. Between sessions, you'll do focused practice on the strategies you're learning. Your tutor helps you balance quality practice (working deeply on weak areas) with quantity (building speed and stamina), so you're making the most of your study time rather than grinding through endless practice tests.

Look for tutors with strong ACT scores themselves (typically 33+ on Reading), proven experience teaching test prep, and a track record of helping students improve. Beyond credentials, you want someone who understands the specific strategies that work for ACT Reading—not just general reading comprehension. When you connect with a tutor through Varsity Tutors, they'll have expertise in the test format, question types, and timing strategies that actually move scores.