Award-Winning ACT Reading Tutors
serving Colorado Springs, CO
Award-Winning
ACT Reading
Tutors in Colorado Springs
Private 1-on-1 tutoring, weekly live classes for academic support, test prep & enrichment, practice tests and diagnostics, and more to elevate grades and test scores.
Based on 3.4M Learner Ratings
UniversitiesSchools & Universities
DeliveredHours Delivered
ProficiencyGrowth in Proficiency
Who needs tutoring?
No obligation. Takes ~1 minute.

I am a current student at the Colorado School of Mines, studying to double major in Applied Mathematics and Engineering Physics. I have been tutoring students professionally for one year, but also through my schools for 5 years now. I tutor most kinds of Math and Science, and love doing so; being able to help spread understanding of a difficult concept never fails to bring me joy. As a current student, I understand how lecturing is often not the most effective (or interesting) way to learn, so I like to be very interactive and ask a lot of questions in my teaching, almost like a conversation between the student and myself.

I am a neuroscience and psychology double major from CU Boulder working to go to PA school down the road. I am originally from the East coast, but definitely prefer the hiking here. I was a learning assistant (basically student focused teacher aid) at CU, and took a course to learn more effective pedagogy. Afterwards, I was asked to be a mentor, and continued trying to help as much as I can.
I am a student at the Georgia Institute of Technology studying Chemical Engineering. For the past several years, I have worked with students extensively. Through hosting events for younger kids to learn about STEM and for older teens to practice empathetic design, I know the importance of teaching students in ways that engage them rather than frustrate them, which I apply to my teaching. I have tutored high school students in a drop-in resource center in various subjects including math of all levels, chemistry, and English, making me adequately equipped in a variety of topics. I have also tutored several students long-term. Establishing relationships with students and exploring their unique learning styles is my favorite part of tutoring. I prioritize helping students discover HOW to learn in a manner that is the most effective for them, so they can begin to use those skills on their own throughout their education. Learning is a lifelong skill that requires practice for improvement; I strive to help my students gain confidence in their ability to learn.
The ACT Reading section rewards speed and strategy more than deep literary analysis — it's about locating evidence quickly and eliminating wrong answers with confidence. Christian scored a 34 composite and teaches students a systematic passage-attack method that prioritizes time management across the four passage types. Rated 5.0 by students, he breaks down how to handle the dual-passage comparison questions that trip up most test-takers.
The ACT Reading section rewards a specific kind of speed — not skimming, but knowing exactly what to extract from each passage type. Oliver, who scored a 33 composite, teaches students to attack the paired-passage and prose fiction sections with targeted annotation strategies that cut re-reading time in half.
I am a lifelong learner, and I would love to be your next tutor!
I am an incoming first year medical student at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, Colorado. I graduated from the University of Virginia with a BS in Biomedical Engineering. Through the course of my undergraduate career, I served as a teaching assistant for Cell & Molecular Biology and both undergraduate and graduate versions of Introduction to MATLAB. I also have experience volunteering as a tutor from elementary to high school levels. In addition to teaching, I have personal experience with the ACT, SAT, AP, IB, and MCAT exams. I would like to now use my teaching experience to help local students in the subjects I encountered during my undergraduate career. I love teaching and work to make learning as easy as possible by employing games, shortcuts, and gradual build-up so that my students can improve to their desired performance levels.
The ACT Reading section rewards a specific kind of speed — not skimming, but knowing where to look and how to eliminate answer choices that sound right but aren't supported by the passage. Graham, an avid reader studying astrophysics and chemistry at CU Boulder, breaks down each passage type (prose fiction, social science, humanities, natural science) so students know what to expect before the clock starts. His 33 ACT composite backs up the approach.
Speed is the real enemy on ACT Reading: four passages, forty questions, thirty-five minutes. Rohith teaches a deliberate approach to each passage type — prose fiction, social science, humanities, natural science — showing students how to locate evidence quickly and eliminate answer choices without second-guessing themselves.
I am a undergraduate student who is willing to help other students in subjects that they may be experiencing difficulties in.
The ACT Reading section isn't really about reading — it's about efficiently locating evidence across four dense passages in 35 minutes. Austin teaches a strategic approach to passage ordering and question triage that keeps students from burning time on the hardest literary narrative while leaving easy social science points on the table. His 33 ACT composite and 5.0 tutoring rating speak to how well this method translates to real score gains.
Most students treat ACT Reading like a comprehension quiz, but it's really a speed-and-evidence game — four passages, forty questions, thirty-five minutes. Paige, who scored a 32 composite and reads analytically by training as a philosophy major, teaches students to locate textual evidence fast and eliminate answer choices that sound right but aren't supported. Her 5.0 rating speaks to how well that approach clicks with students.
Reading four dense passages in 35 minutes requires a method, not just speed. John breaks the ACT Reading section into a decision-making process: how to skim for structure, when to go back to the text versus trusting your first read, and how to eliminate answer choices that sound right but distort the passage. His 36 composite and background in literature make him especially sharp on the prose fiction and humanities passages.
Most students treat ACT Reading as a speed test, but Ilesh reframes it as a precision exercise: knowing what the question actually asks before hunting for evidence in the passage. His 36 composite came partly from a disciplined passage-mapping strategy that he now teaches students to replicate across all four prose genres the section throws at them.
I am currently a resident physician at Northwestern Hospital.
Medical school at the University of Arizona means Alex reads hundreds of pages of dense, unfamiliar material every week — the same core skill the ACT Reading section tests under a 35-minute clock. With a perfect 36 ACT composite, he teaches students to attack the paired viewpoints and natural science passages by isolating each author's claim before looking at answer choices, which eliminates the subtle scope-shift traps that cost most test-takers points. Rated 4.8 by students.
After scoring a perfect 36 ACT composite, Anna developed a question-first approach to the Reading section — previewing what each question demands before touching the passage, so every line read serves a purpose. Her medical education background means she's used to processing dense, unfamiliar material quickly and extracting exactly what matters, a skill that translates directly to the natural science and social science passages. Rated 5.0 by students.
Most ACT Reading mistakes come from time pressure, not comprehension — students understand passages but can't consistently answer 40 questions in 35 minutes. Elliot teaches a triage strategy: how to identify question types, when to skim versus close-read, and how to eliminate answer choices that paraphrase the passage just enough to seem right. Rated 5.0 by students.
Reading four dense passages in 35 minutes forces a different kind of reading than most students are used to. Sugi's cognitive science training at Rice gives her a framework for teaching active reading strategies — how to map an argument's structure on a first pass so that inference and tone questions become straightforward rather than agonizing. She holds a perfect 36 ACT composite and a 5.0 tutoring rating.
I am a Neuroscience and Behavior major at Columbia University. Although my major is centered in the STEM field, I am also passionate about human rights work, global engagement, and local outreach. While my future plans are subject to change, I see myself continuing in academia, going to medical school, and becoming a physician.
Most ACT Reading mistakes come from spending too long on one passage or second-guessing answers that felt right the first time. Edward teaches a timing strategy that allocates minutes by passage type — prose fiction, social science, humanities, natural science — and shows students how to locate textual evidence quickly instead of re-reading entire paragraphs. His 36 composite reflects command of every section, not just the math side.
Most ACT Reading mistakes come from spending too long on passages and rushing through questions — or the reverse. Logan, who earned a 36 composite, teaches a deliberate passage-mapping technique that lets students locate evidence for inference and detail questions without rereading entire paragraphs. His communication background also sharpens how students interpret tone and author's-purpose questions.
The ACT Reading section isn't really about comprehension — it's about extracting specific evidence under a brutal time constraint. Benjamin scored a 36 composite and applies the close-reading skills from his Columbia English program to teach students how to identify what each question is actually asking, locate proof in the passage quickly, and eliminate trap answers with confidence.
Reading dense, unfamiliar passages under time pressure is where most ACT Reading scores stall out. Austin's background in Classics and Philosophy means he spent years doing exactly that — pulling arguments from ancient texts and evaluating how authors build their claims. He teaches students to map passage structure before touching the questions, turning a 35-minute sprint into a manageable process.
I am available to tutor a range of middle school and high school subjects, but I am most excited about tutoring test prep. I remember how stressful preparing for college can be and I am eager to do my part in helping students fulfill their college goals. I believe that learning is a collaborative process and I am committed to being as actively involved in the student's learning as I can. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, going to the movies (I try to see each Oscar nominee before the ceremony every year.), and am a huge Michigan sports fan.
Mechanical engineering coursework at Harvard means Christopher reads the way the ACT Reading section rewards — extracting key claims from dense technical material fast and ignoring everything that doesn't answer the question in front of him. He applies that same efficiency to all four passage types, teaching students to map an author's argument structure in the first read so that inference and detail questions become quick lookups rather than guesswork. His 35 ACT composite and 4.8 student rating back up the approach.
I am a Yale graduate with over 8 years experience tutoring students from a variety of backgrounds. I recently graduated from the Yale School of Public Health with a MPH concentrating in Epidemiology and Global Health. I also received my B.S. from Yale with a double major in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and French. I have experience both leading group classes and working with students one on one. I will respond to a student's strengths, weaknesses, and learning style in order to help them succeed and make the most of our time together. I earned a perfect score of 36 on the ACT, 2280 on the SAT, and qualified as a National Merit Scholar on the PSAT. I look forward to working with you!
Most ACT Reading mistakes come from running out of time, not from lack of comprehension. Sydney, who scored a 35 composite, teaches a passage-attack strategy that prioritizes skimming for structure before diving into questions — so students spend their minutes on the questions that actually earn points. Her literary training at Carnegie Mellon makes her especially sharp on the prose fiction and humanities passages that often feel trickiest.
I am an undergraduate at Washington University in St. Louis majoring in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology on the Premed track. I have two years worth of experience peer tutoring. I feel the most confident tutoring ACT preparation. During my time as a high school student, I worked from an ACT score of 25 to a 36 and developed many effective strategies that I will tailor to the students I tutor and understand the ins and outs of the test. In addition to working with high school peers, I have also enjoyed teaching private piano and violin lessons for elementary students. Helping people knock down their roadblocks is a passion of mine. Standardized tests and basic education may feel removed from our passions, but developing those foundations are essential for opening up opportunities and becoming capable of taking on our pursuits.
Scoring a 36 ACT composite means Vivian didn't just read the passages — she learned to dismantle them, distinguishing between what the author states explicitly and what's merely implied. Her approach to the Reading section zeroes in on how to handle the dual-passage comparisons and inference questions that trip up even strong readers. Rated 4.9 by students.
Most ACT Reading mistakes come from running out of time, not from a lack of comprehension. Sharan, who earned a 36 composite, teaches a passage-attack strategy that prioritizes locating evidence over re-reading entire paragraphs. She walks through each question type — main idea, inference, vocabulary in context — so students know exactly what the test is asking before they even look at the answer choices.
I am most excited about helping other students achieve their dreams of going to medical school by helping them study for the MCAT. Besides MCAT tutoring, my favorite subjects are chemistry, biology, and math which are all subjects I have tutored in before. I believe that every student can learn the material they hope to with the right guidance and effort. I hope that I can help students realize their full potential and grow in confidence as a learner. Outside of teaching, I like to perform in musicals, most recently I have been in local productions of Mamma Mia and Footloose, as well spend time with friends.
Tracy's strategy for ACT Reading starts with the dual-passage comparison questions, which she considers the section's biggest point opportunities once students learn to read structurally. Instead of re-reading entire passages, she teaches a targeted annotation method — marking tone shifts, key claims, and concession language on the first pass so answers come faster on the second. Her 36 composite reflects how well this approach scales across all four passage types.
Most ACT Reading mistakes happen not because students misunderstand the passage but because they misread what the question is actually asking — "main idea" vs. "the author suggests" require completely different retrieval strategies. Eileen, a Vanderbilt neuroscience major who scored a 36 composite, walks students through a passage-mapping technique that cuts rereading time dramatically and keeps evidence-based answers distinct from inference questions.
I am currently a student at Duke University studying Biomedical Engineering and Economics. Just a little bit about me and some of my interests. Some of my favorite academic interests include memoirs and modern classics. I think Catcher in the Rye is still one of my all time favorite books but Percy Jackson, a modern classic, is up there too. Beyond academics, I take great guilty pleasure in watching TV shows such as Westworld, Sherlock, How I Met Your Mother, and even The Bachelorette when I'm at a low point.
Scoring a 36 ACT composite means Talia knows exactly how the Reading section tries to trip students up — from conflicting-viewpoints passages to inference questions that hinge on a single word. She teaches a pacing strategy that prioritizes passage types based on each student's strengths, so no one runs out of time on the questions they'd otherwise get right. Rated 5.0 by students.
I'm referring to math, of course, but I didn't always like the subject. Until about age 16, I thought of math as a boring, mind-numbing process of blindly memorizing formulas and then forgetting them after the test, but a series of wonderful teachers showed me the truth. I had thought that everything in math was invented arbitrarily just to torture students, but actually it all made sense in a deep way. When I caught a glimpse of what math really was, I found it irresistible and I ended up majoring in math in college at UChicago. I'm currently a Master's student in Computer Science at NYU.
I am a junior at Purdue University studying Aerospace Engineering and am part of the Air Force ROTC program. I have 6 years of tutoring experience at places including Kumon, Mathnasium, and Purdue University. I have worked with kids of all ages from kindergarten to sophomores in college, each with their own set of unique strengths, and tutored a variety of subjects, including calculus, trigonometry, geometry, thermodynamics, chemistry, and physics. Like many of my previous students, I struggled to understand concepts that I was being taught and was a terrible test taker. However, I found ways to overcome my obstacles and develop an better intuition for what I was learning. I believe that it is only this intuition and understanding that helps overcome these obstacles. My least favorite thing to see people be discouraged, so with a little bit of guidance and reassurance, I want to show people that they are capable of anything they put their mind to.
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 writing and editing thought provoking essays. During high school, I spent time tutoring for the National Honor Society. My approach to tutoring is to teach the concepts in a simplistic manner and reinforcing the concepts while adding difficulty through effective practice problems. In my free time, I have recently found myself reading, working out, drawing, and spending time with my siblings.
Ryne earned a perfect 36 ACT composite, which means he knows firsthand how to handle the Reading section's brutal pacing — 40 questions in 35 minutes with no room for second-guessing. His political science training built a habit of quickly dissecting competing claims in dense texts, and he applies that to teaching students how dual passages and paired questions try to blur the line between an author's actual position and a tempting distortion. Rated 4.9 by students.
Testimonials
Because the right ACT Reading tutor makes all the difference.
Average Session Rating – Based on 3.4M Learner Ratings
Practice ACT Reading
Free practice tests, flashcards, and AI tutoring for ACT Reading
Nearby ACT Reading Tutors
Other Colorado Springs Tutors
Related Test Prep Tutors in Colorado Springs
Frequently Asked Questions
Score improvement depends on your starting point and commitment level, but most students see meaningful gains within 4-8 weeks of consistent practice. Students who work with tutors typically improve by 2-4 points on the ACT Reading section, though some see larger jumps by addressing specific weak areas like vocabulary in context or inference questions. The key is identifying exactly which question types are costing you points and developing targeted strategies to tackle them.
The ACT Reading section gives you 35 minutes to read 4 passages and answer 40 questions—that's roughly 8-9 minutes per passage. Many students struggle with pacing because they spend too long reading the full passage before seeing the questions. Expert tutors recommend skimming the passage first, then referring back to specific lines as you answer questions, which saves time and improves accuracy. Practicing with timed drills helps you find the rhythm that works best for your reading speed.
Students in Colorado Springs and beyond typically struggle with three main areas: vocabulary-in-context questions (which require understanding word meaning from surrounding sentences), inference and detail questions (distinguishing between what's directly stated vs. implied), and managing time while maintaining comprehension. Many students also find the social science and natural science passages harder because they contain unfamiliar terminology. A tutor can help you develop strategies specific to each question type and build confidence with difficult passages.
Practice tests are essential—they help you identify weak areas, get comfortable with the test format, and build stamina for the full section. Taking full-length timed practice tests every 1-2 weeks lets you track progress and pinpoint whether you're struggling with specific passage types or question formats. Between full tests, focused drills on individual question types help reinforce strategies without overwhelming yourself. Tutors use practice test results to create a personalized study plan that targets your biggest opportunities for improvement.
It depends on your strengths—some students find Reading harder because it requires sustained focus and quick comprehension, while others struggle more with Math's problem-solving. The good news is that ACT Reading is learnable through strategy and practice; you're not trying to memorize formulas, just develop consistent approaches to different question types. Many students improve their Reading score faster than their Math score because targeted reading strategies yield quick results.
Test anxiety on Reading often stems from feeling rushed or unsure about your approach. Building confidence through repeated practice with the same strategies helps—when you know exactly how you'll tackle each question type, you're less likely to panic. Tutors teach breathing and pacing techniques to keep you calm, plus they help you develop a pre-test routine that sets you up mentally. Taking practice tests under timed conditions also desensitizes you to the pressure of test day.
Your first session focuses on understanding where you stand and what to work on. You'll likely take a diagnostic practice test or review a recent ACT Reading attempt so the tutor can identify your specific weak areas—whether that's inference questions, pacing, or particular passage types. From there, you'll develop a personalized study plan with a timeline and concrete goals. This initial assessment ensures your tutoring is targeted and efficient.
Look for tutors with strong ACT Reading scores themselves (typically 33+), experience teaching test-taking strategies, and familiarity with the specific question formats and timing challenges of the section. It's also valuable if they've worked with students at your current score level and understand how to progress from there. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in Colorado Springs who have proven track records helping students improve their ACT Reading scores.
Let’s find your perfect tutor
Answer a few quick questions. We’ll recommend the right plan and match you with a top 5% tutor.