A typical 4-week program focuses on one major section per week—English, Math, Reading, and Science—with each week combining strategy instruction, practice problems, and timed drills. You'll also take full-length practice tests to track progress and identify patterns in your mistakes, which helps tutors pinpoint exactly where to focus your effort in the final weeks.

Timing issues usually come from either unfamiliar question formats or trying to solve every problem perfectly. Working with a tutor, you'll learn which questions to prioritize, when to skip and return, and how to recognize question types quickly so you can allocate your 36 minutes per section more strategically. Timed practice drills are essential—they build the muscle memory you need to pace yourself confidently on test day.

Reading and Science tend to be the toughest for many students because they require both content knowledge and fast comprehension under pressure. Math challenges vary—some students struggle with specific topics like trigonometry, while others know the content but run out of time. A personalized approach helps identify whether your issue is content gaps, strategy, or pacing so you can focus your prep efficiently.

Aim for at least 2-3 full-length practice tests during your 4 weeks—ideally one at the start to establish a baseline, one midway to track progress, and one near the end under test-day conditions. Between full tests, focus on section-specific drills and timed practice sets to build confidence in weak areas without burning out on full exams.

Test anxiety often stems from unfamiliar question formats or feeling unprepared—both things that targeted practice directly addresses. Working through timed drills and full practice tests in your prep program helps normalize the test experience, and learning specific strategies (like how to approach difficult passages or when to guess) builds the confidence that reduces anxiety on test day.

Varsity Tutors connects students in Harrisburg with expert tutors who specialize in ACT prep and understand the specific challenges you're facing. You can get matched with a tutor who fits your schedule and learning style, whether you need intensive 4-week prep or ongoing support leading up to test day.

Start by taking a diagnostic practice test to see which sections need the most work, then prioritize based on impact—improving your lowest score usually boosts your composite the most. In a 4-week program, you can make meaningful progress in 2-3 sections if you focus strategically; if you need deeper work across all areas, your tutor can help you create a longer-term plan that extends beyond 4 weeks.