Score improvement depends on your starting point, effort, and how much time you dedicate to practice. Students typically see meaningful gains—often 2-4 points on the 1-36 scale—within 4-8 weeks of focused tutoring, though some improve faster. The key is identifying your specific weaknesses (whether it's vocabulary, inference questions, or time management) and practicing with real ACT passages. A tutor can accelerate this process by helping you avoid common mistakes and build confidence in your approach.

Timing is one of the biggest obstacles in ACT Reading. Many students try to read every word carefully, which leaves them rushed at the end. Effective strategies include previewing questions before reading the passage, skimming for main ideas rather than memorizing details, and knowing which question types require close reading versus quick reference. Tutors can teach you how to adapt your reading speed based on passage type and question difficulty, and help you practice until these strategies become automatic.

A solid study schedule includes full practice tests every 1-2 weeks, with targeted practice on individual passages between tests. This approach lets you track progress, identify patterns in your mistakes, and build stamina for test day. However, quality matters more than quantity—reviewing each practice test thoroughly to understand why you missed questions is crucial. Tutors can guide you through this process, helping you extract maximum learning from each practice attempt rather than just taking tests repeatedly.

ACT Reading includes several question types: main idea and purpose questions, detail questions that require you to locate specific information, inference questions that ask what's implied, vocabulary-in-context questions, and function questions about why an author included certain details. Each type requires a slightly different approach. Main idea questions benefit from skimming; detail questions need careful passage reference; inference questions demand logical reasoning. A tutor can teach you to recognize each type quickly and apply the right strategy, so you're not wasting time on the wrong approach.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or losing confidence mid-section. Building confidence comes from practice and knowing you have a solid strategy. Tutors help you develop a routine—a consistent approach to each passage—that you can rely on even when nervous. They also teach breathing and pacing techniques to keep you calm, and help you practice under timed conditions so test day feels familiar rather than overwhelming. Many students find that understanding exactly what to expect removes a lot of anxiety.

Look for tutors who have strong ACT Reading scores themselves and experience teaching the specific strategies that work—not just general reading skills. They should be able to diagnose your particular weaknesses quickly, whether that's vocabulary, inference skills, or time management, and tailor their approach accordingly. It's also helpful if they're familiar with the New Haven school system and understand the academic level of local students. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in ACT Reading and can create a personalized plan based on your goals and timeline.

Your first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment to understand your current strengths and weaknesses—often a timed practice section or review of past test results. The tutor will ask about your target score, timeline, and any specific challenges you've noticed. From there, they'll outline a personalized study plan that might include strategy instruction, targeted practice on weak question types, and a timeline for progress checks. This foundation helps ensure your tutoring is focused and efficient from day one.