You can absolutely focus on the sections where you need the most improvement. Many students find that targeting weak areas—whether that's ACT Reading comprehension, Math pacing, or English grammar rules—yields faster score gains than spreading effort across all sections equally. A tutor can help you diagnose which sections will give you the biggest score boost and create a strategic 4-week plan around your priorities.

Most students benefit from taking 3-4 full-length practice tests during a 4-week prep period—typically one every 1-2 weeks. This gives you enough data to identify patterns in your mistakes, track score trends, and practice pacing without burning out. Between practice tests, you'll focus on targeted drills in weak areas and learning specific strategies for question types that consistently trip you up.

Building confidence through repeated practice is the best antidote to test anxiety. By taking multiple full-length practice tests in your 4-week prep, you'll become familiar with the test format, timing, and question types—which significantly reduces anxiety on test day. A tutor can also teach you specific stress-management techniques like strategic breathing, time-management tactics to avoid rushing, and mental strategies to refocus when you hit a difficult question.

Reading pacing is one of the most common ACT challenges, and it's very fixable with the right strategy. Rather than reading the entire passage first, many students find success with targeted reading strategies—like skimming for structure or reading questions before the passage—that fit their reading speed. A tutor can help you test different approaches during practice, time yourself on various strategies, and find the method that works best for your brain so you can answer questions accurately without running out of time.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in ACT prep and understand the specific challenges students face. You can get matched with a tutor who fits your schedule and learning style, then work together on a customized 4-week plan targeting your score goals. Whether you need help with one section or a comprehensive review, tutors can adapt instruction to your pace and priorities.

Taking a full-length practice ACT is the best diagnostic tool—it shows you exactly which sections and question types are giving you trouble and where you're losing points. Many students are surprised to find their weak area isn't where they thought it was. Once you have that data, a tutor can help you analyze your mistakes to understand whether you're struggling with content knowledge, test strategy, pacing, or careless errors—then build a targeted plan to address the root cause.

Score improvement depends on your starting point and how focused your prep is. Students who work intensively on weak areas often see gains of 2-4 points on the composite score, with larger improvements in specific sections. The key is identifying exactly where you're losing points and using your 4 weeks strategically rather than trying to improve everything at once. A tutor can help you set realistic goals based on your baseline score and create a plan designed to hit them.