Award-Winning ACT Writing Tutors serving Columbia, SC

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Award-Winning ACT Writing Tutors serving Columbia, SC

Ilesh

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Ilesh

Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering
Ilesh's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Statistics
Calculus
Algebra

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 from Columbus, OH, but chose to come down to Atlanta after getting a full-ride scholarship from Geor...

Education

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering

Test Scores
Perfect Score
ACT
36
Max

Certified Tutor

Max

Bachelors, Biology, General
Max's other Tutor Subjects
AP Statistics
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra

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 the next several months.

Education

Ball State University

Bachelors, Biology, General

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1580
ACT
36
Rahul

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Rahul

B.S. in Chemical Engineering
Rahul's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Multivariable Calculus
Pre-Calculus
Geometry

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 backgrounds and experiences tutoring thermodynamics (my personal favorite), chemistry, and math. I have a...

Education

Cornell University

B.S. in Chemical Engineering

Test Scores
Perfect Score
ACT
36
Ishan

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Ishan

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Ishan's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Pre-Calculus
Middle School Math
Calculus

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. My favorite subjects in school are Chemistry, Biology, and Math, but I also enjoy the process of writ...

Education

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General

Albany Medical College

Doctor of Medicine, Premedicine

Test Scores
ACT
35
Arthur

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Arthur

Bachelor in Arts, Economics
Arthur's other Tutor Subjects
Statistics
Middle School Math
Geometry
Calculus

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.

Education

Middlebury College

Bachelor in Arts, Economics

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1490
ACT
36
Emily

Certified Tutor

8+ years

Emily

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Emily's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Calculus
Algebra
AP Biology

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 minors in Mathematics and Chemistry. While at IU, I worked for the Department of Mathematics and Depart...

Education

Indiana University-Bloomington

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General

Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis

Doctor of Medicine, Community Health and Preventive Medicine

Test Scores
SAT
1480
ACT
35
Rhea

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Rhea

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Rhea's other Tutor Subjects
AP Statistics
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra

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 I have several years of experience tutoring students in my high school's learning center in various...

Education

University of Chicago

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1550
ACT
36
John

Certified Tutor

16+ years

John

Bachelor of Fine Arts, English/Drama
John's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus AB
College Algebra
Middle School Math
Geometry

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

Education

University of St Thomas

Bachelor of Fine Arts, English/Drama

American Academy of Dramatic Arts

Associates, Acting

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1420
ACT
36
Vansh

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Vansh

Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering
Vansh's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Calculus
Algebra
IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches

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 informal experience tutoring high school physics, but am most passionate about tutoring students for the...

Education

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1520
ACT
36
Benjamin

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Benjamin

Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics (minor: Innovation and Entrepreneurship)
Benjamin's other Tutor Subjects
AP Statistics
Trigonometry
Middle School Math
Calculus

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 enjoy the intuitiveness of the former and the real-world potential of the latter. During classes in midd...

Education

University of Notre Dame

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

Test Scores
Perfect Score
ACT
36

Practice ACT Writing

Free practice tests, flashcards, and AI tutoring for ACT Writing

ACT Writing Practice Hub
Practice tests, flashcards, AI tutor & more

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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