Score improvement depends on your starting point and consistency with practice. Students typically see 2-4 point improvements with focused tutoring over 8-12 weeks, though some see larger gains by addressing specific weak areas like comma usage or sentence combining. The key is identifying which grammar concepts and question types trip you up, then building targeted practice around those areas.

Many students struggle with pacing—rushing through passages and missing errors they'd catch with more time. Others find rhetorical questions (about style, tone, and organization) harder than grammar questions because they require deeper reading comprehension. Comma rules, pronoun agreement, and sentence structure problems are also frequent trouble spots that tutors help clarify with targeted practice.

During an initial session, a tutor will assess your current ACT English skills by reviewing a practice section or recent test results, identifying which grammar concepts and question types need work. You'll discuss your target score, timeline, and learning style, then create a personalized study plan that focuses on your specific weak areas rather than reviewing material you already know well.

A typical schedule includes one full-length practice test every 2-3 weeks to track progress and identify emerging patterns. Between tests, focus on targeted practice with individual question types and timed drills on specific grammar concepts. This approach gives you measurable feedback while allowing time to master skills before testing again.

Effective pacing strategies include reading the full sentence before answering (not just the underlined portion), skipping difficult questions and returning to them, and practicing with a timer to build speed without sacrificing accuracy. Tutors help you find the right balance—some students benefit from reading passages twice quickly, while others do better reading once carefully. Practice drills focused on your optimal pace make a real difference.

Comma usage, subject-verb agreement, pronoun reference, verb tense, and sentence structure are tested most frequently. Tutors prioritize these high-impact topics first, then move to less common concepts like parallel structure and modifier placement. Focusing on the 60-70% of rules that appear regularly is much more efficient than trying to memorize every grammar exception.

Varsity Tutors connects students in Staten Island with expert tutors who have deep knowledge of ACT English content and test-taking strategies. Tutors typically have strong backgrounds in English, education, or test prep, and understand how to break down grammar concepts clearly and build student confidence on this time-pressured section.