Your first session is about understanding your strengths and challenges. A tutor will likely review your practice test results, discuss which math topics feel most difficult, and assess your pacing and test-taking habits. This helps create a personalized study plan focused on the areas where you'll gain the most points.

Pacing is one of the biggest challenges on ACT Math—you have about 60 seconds per question. Tutors help by teaching you to identify which questions to tackle first, which to skip strategically, and how to avoid getting stuck. Practice with timed drills and full practice tests helps you build speed without sacrificing accuracy.

Students in Allentown and across the country often struggle with trigonometry, sequences and series, and complex algebraic word problems. Many also find the geometry questions tricky because they require visual reasoning under time pressure. A tutor can help you master these specific topics and develop strategies to recognize and solve them quickly.

Most students benefit from taking 4-6 full practice tests under timed conditions before their actual ACT. This builds stamina and helps you identify patterns in where you lose points. Between full tests, targeted practice on specific topics is more efficient than random problem-solving. A tutor can guide you on which practice materials to use and how to review your mistakes effectively.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about question formats. Working with a tutor builds confidence by ensuring you understand the material deeply and have practiced similar problems many times. Tutors also teach breathing techniques and mental strategies to stay calm under pressure, so you can focus on solving problems rather than worrying.

Look for tutors who have strong math backgrounds and specific experience preparing students for the ACT. Ideally, they've scored well on the ACT themselves or have a track record of helping students improve. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who understand the unique demands of ACT Math and can teach both content and test-taking strategy.

If you're starting 8-12 weeks before your test, aim for 3-5 hours per week of focused ACT Math prep. For students closer to test day, more intensive study may help. Your tutor can create a customized schedule based on your current score, target score, and available time. Consistency matters more than cramming—regular practice helps concepts stick.