Most students benefit from 5-7 hours of focused study per week during a 4-week prep period—combining tutoring sessions with independent practice. A typical schedule might include 2-3 hours of personalized instruction weekly, plus 3-4 hours of practice tests, targeted drills, and homework. The exact time depends on your current score and goals, but consistency matters more than cramming. Your tutor can help you create a realistic schedule that fits around school and extracurriculars.

Pacing is one of the biggest challenges on the ACT, especially in the Reading and Math sections. Effective strategies include: practicing with a timer from day one (not just untimed practice), learning which question types to tackle first versus which to save for last, and knowing when to skip a difficult question and come back. A personalized approach works best—some students benefit from spending extra time on harder questions, while others move faster and come back to difficult ones. Your tutor can identify your personal pacing style through practice tests and help you develop section-specific timing strategies.

Taking a full-length practice ACT is the best starting point. This gives you baseline scores in English, Math, Reading, and Science—and more importantly, shows which specific question types and topics are causing problems. When you connect with a tutor, they'll analyze your practice test results to spot patterns: Are you missing inference questions? Struggling with algebra? Rushing through the Science section? This diagnostic approach means your 4 weeks focuses on meaningful improvement rather than reviewing material you already know well.

The Science section often surprises students because it's not primarily about science knowledge—it's about reading data, interpreting graphs, and understanding experimental design quickly. Many students struggle with pacing here because they try to read each passage carefully. The key is learning to skim for the main idea and use tables/graphs to answer questions directly. With only 4 weeks, your tutor will focus on the specific question types that appear repeatedly (conflicting viewpoints, data interpretation, etc.) and teach you efficient reading strategies rather than trying to master chemistry or physics content.

Most students benefit from 2-3 full-length practice tests during a 4-week prep period—one at the beginning (to identify weaknesses), one midway (to track progress), and one at the end (to build test-day confidence). Beyond full tests, you'll do targeted practice on specific sections and question types. The goal isn't quantity; it's quality analysis. After each practice test, spend time understanding why you missed questions, not just checking answers. Your tutor will guide you through this process to ensure practice tests actually improve your performance.

Test anxiety often shows up as rushing, freezing on hard questions, or second-guessing yourself. Building confidence through consistent practice is the strongest antidote—familiarity with question formats and timing reduces panic. Your tutor can help you develop specific strategies like deep breathing between sections, positive self-talk, and decision-making rules (like when to skip a question). Taking several timed practice tests in realistic conditions also helps normalize the exam experience. By test day, you'll have practiced the full exam multiple times, which dramatically reduces anxiety for most students.