Timing is one of the biggest challenges on ACT Math—you have 60 minutes for 60 questions. Expert tutors help you develop strategies like identifying which questions to tackle first, when to skip and return to harder problems, and how to work efficiently without sacrificing accuracy. They'll also help you practice under timed conditions so the pace feels natural on test day rather than stressful.

The best starting point is taking a full practice test and analyzing your results by content area—algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and functions are the main categories tested. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who review your practice tests to pinpoint exactly where you're losing points, whether it's conceptual gaps, careless errors, or strategy issues. This targeted approach is much more efficient than generic test prep.

ACT Math questions test both content knowledge and test-taking strategy—they often require you to work backwards from answer choices, recognize patterns quickly, or apply concepts in unfamiliar contexts. Tutors help you understand the specific question formats you'll encounter and teach you strategies like plugging in numbers, testing answer choices, or drawing diagrams to visualize problems. Familiarity with these formats dramatically reduces test anxiety and improves your speed.

Your first session focuses on understanding where you are and where you want to be. If you haven't taken a practice test yet, your tutor may have you take one to identify your baseline score and specific weak areas. If you have recent scores, you'll review them together to create a personalized study plan that targets your biggest opportunities for improvement before test day.

Practice tests are essential—they're the most realistic way to identify pacing issues, content gaps, and test anxiety. Taking full practice tests under timed conditions helps you build stamina and get comfortable with the actual test format. Most students benefit from taking 3-5 practice tests throughout their prep, with tutors reviewing each one to track progress and adjust your study focus based on what's working.

Absolutely—much of test anxiety comes from feeling unprepared or unsure about question formats and timing. As you build confidence through targeted practice with a tutor, work through challenging problems, and develop reliable strategies, anxiety naturally decreases. Tutors also teach specific techniques like managing your time strategically so you're not rushed, which helps you stay calm and focused on test day.

Yes—Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who understand South Carolina's educational standards and the students in Greenville's 80 schools across our 2 school districts. They're familiar with how ACT Math aligns with what you're learning in your regular math classes, so they can bridge any gaps between classroom instruction and test-specific strategies you need for success.