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Award-Winning ACT Writing Tutors serving Columbia, SC

Ilesh

Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering
6+ years of tutoring

I am a recent grad from Georgia Tech, majoring in Industrial and Systems Engineering (an intersection of math, computer science, and business) and minoring in Business and Technology. I am originally ...

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Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering

ACT Scores

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Max

Bachelors, Biology, General
1+ years of tutoring

I am in the process now of applying for PhD programs in Computational Biology. I have done research in the field of freshwater ecology and am anticipating the publication of a paper I co-authored in t...

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Ball State University

Bachelors, Biology, General

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Rahul

B.S. in Chemical Engineering
6+ years of tutoring

I am a recent graduate of Cornell University, where I received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and graduated Magna Cum Laude. Over the past several years, I have worked with students from diverse backg...

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Cornell University

B.S. in Chemical Engineering

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Ishan

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
5+ years of tutoring

I am a current sophomore at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where I am majoring in Biology as part of the 7 Year Accelerated Medical Program. I am also minoring in Healthcare Economics and Policy. M...

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General

Albany Medical College

Doctor of Medicine, Premedicine

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Arthur

Bachelor in Arts, Economics
5+ years of tutoring

I am available to tutor in a broad range of subjects, though I am most passionate about Economics, History, and Civics. Please feel free to contact me and I would be happy to arrange a session.

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Middlebury College

Bachelor in Arts, Economics

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Emily

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
8+ years of tutoring

I am currently a fourth year medical student in Indianapolis. I completed my undergraduate education at Indiana University Bloomington, where I majored in Biology and Spanish. I also completed two min...

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Indiana University-Bloomington

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General

Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis

Doctor of Medicine, Community Health and Preventive Medicine

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Rhea

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
6+ years of tutoring

I am a current student at the University of Chicago. I am working towards a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, and I am on the pre-medical track. I am extremely passionate about tutoring, and...

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University of Chicago

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General

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John

Bachelor of Fine Arts, English/Drama
16+ years of tutoring

I'm a huge Red Sox fan and love watching detective shows when I have free time.

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University of St Thomas

Bachelor of Fine Arts, English/Drama

American Academy of Dramatic Arts

Associates, Acting

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Vansh

Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering
9+ years of tutoring

I am currently pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. I am also a graduate of the high school International Baccalaureate Program. I have info...

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Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering

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Benjamin

Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics (minor: Innovation and Entrepreneurship)
5+ years of tutoring

I am a 2023 graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a Finance/Economics major and a minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. I am a passionate student in the math and business realms, as I enjo...

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University of Notre Dame

Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics (minor: Innovation and Entrepreneurship)

ACT Scores

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Practice ACT Writing

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Nearby ACT Writing Tutors

Frequently Asked Questions

The ACT Writing section (also called the optional essay) evaluates your ability to understand and respond to a prompt, develop a position, and support it with reasoning and examples. You'll read a brief passage presenting multiple perspectives on an issue, then write an essay explaining your own viewpoint and how it relates to the perspectives given. The section lasts 40 minutes and is scored on a scale of 2-12.

Many students struggle with time management—40 minutes goes quickly when you need to read the prompt, understand opposing viewpoints, plan your essay, and write it all out. Others find it difficult to develop a clear, nuanced position or to explain how their viewpoint compares to the given perspectives. Some students also underestimate the importance of organization and clarity, focusing too much on length rather than the quality of their argument.

Score improvement depends on your starting point and how much you practice, but most students see meaningful gains with focused instruction and regular practice. Tutors help you understand the scoring rubric, develop a consistent essay structure, and practice time management—all of which directly impact your score. Working with a tutor typically allows you to identify and fix specific weaknesses (like weak thesis statements or underdeveloped reasoning) much faster than studying alone.

Your first session focuses on understanding where you stand. You'll likely take a practice essay or discuss your previous ACT attempts, and the tutor will assess your strengths and areas for improvement—whether that's thesis clarity, argument development, time management, or essay structure. From there, you'll create a personalized study plan that targets your specific needs and fits your timeline before test day.

Practice tests are essential because they simulate real test conditions and help you build stamina and timing skills. Taking full practice essays under timed conditions reveals exactly where you lose time and what patterns appear in your writing. A tutor can review your practice essays, point out recurring issues, and help you refine your approach—making each practice attempt more valuable than the last.

Most successful writers spend about 3-5 minutes reading and understanding the prompt and perspectives, 5-7 minutes planning their essay and thesis, and 25-30 minutes writing. The key is not to spend too long planning or revising—aim for a solid first draft that clearly addresses the prompt. Tutors can help you practice this breakdown repeatedly so it becomes automatic on test day, reducing anxiety and improving consistency.

No—they're very different. The English section tests grammar, punctuation, and rhetorical skills across short passages, while the Writing section is a single 40-minute essay that evaluates your ability to develop and support an argument. You can be strong in one and weaker in the other, so many students benefit from targeted tutoring for whichever section needs the most work.

Look for tutors who have strong ACT Writing scores themselves, understand the current scoring rubric, and have experience helping students improve their essays. Ideally, they should be able to explain not just what makes a good essay, but why—so you understand the reasoning behind feedback rather than just following rules. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in Columbia who specialize in ACT Writing and can provide personalized instruction tailored to your goals.

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