You have 40 minutes to complete the entire Writing section—including reading the prompt and perspectives, planning your response, and writing your essay. This tight timeframe is one of the biggest challenges students face, as it requires both quick comprehension and efficient writing. Personalized tutoring can help you develop strategies to manage your time effectively, such as speed-reading techniques and outlining methods that work within the 40-minute window.

Score improvement depends on your starting point and how consistently you practice, but most students see meaningful gains—typically 1-3 points on the ACT scale—within 4-8 weeks of focused preparation. Students who struggle with essay organization or argument analysis often see the most dramatic improvements once they learn a structured approach to planning and writing under pressure. Tutors can identify your specific weak areas (whether it's understanding opposing viewpoints, supporting claims with evidence, or managing time) and target those directly.

The biggest mistakes include: failing to analyze all three perspectives provided, writing a one-sided essay without acknowledging counterarguments, running out of time and submitting incomplete essays, and not directly addressing the prompt's specific question. Many students also struggle with distinguishing between their personal opinion and a well-reasoned analysis—the section rewards critical thinking over passion. A tutor can help you practice recognizing these patterns in your own writing and develop habits that prevent them under test conditions.

Your first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment—either a full practice essay or a review of past essays you've written—so a tutor can understand your current strengths and specific challenges. You'll discuss your target score, timeline, and any test anxiety concerns, then work through one complete ACT Writing prompt together to establish a baseline and identify which skills need the most work. This foundation helps your tutor create a personalized study plan tailored to your needs.

Most students benefit from completing 4-6 full practice essays under timed conditions—ideally spread over several weeks rather than all at once—to build stamina and reinforce your strategy. However, quality matters more than quantity; one carefully reviewed essay where you identify mistakes is more valuable than rushing through five without reflection. A tutor can help you select high-quality practice materials, review your essays for patterns in errors, and adjust your approach based on what's actually holding your score back.

Test anxiety during Writing often stems from feeling rushed or uncertain about whether you're answering the prompt correctly. Building confidence through repeated practice under timed conditions helps normalize the pressure, while having a clear, practiced strategy (like a specific outlining method or essay structure) gives you something concrete to focus on instead of worrying. Tutors can also teach you breathing and grounding techniques to use during the test, and help you reframe the 40-minute challenge as a manageable task you've trained for.

Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who specialize in ACT Writing and understand the specific challenges students in Salt Lake City schools face. You can share your goals and preferred learning style, and we'll match you with a tutor whose expertise and teaching approach fit your needs. Whether you need help with essay structure, time management, or building confidence, you'll work with someone experienced in helping students improve their Writing scores.