You have roughly 8-9 minutes per passage on the ACT Reading section, which is tight. Effective strategies include: reading the passage first for overall understanding rather than getting bogged down in details, tackling easier passages before harder ones, and practicing active marking to stay focused. A tutor can help you identify whether you're a slow reader, getting distracted by difficult vocabulary, or spending too much time on complex questions—and develop a pacing strategy that works for your reading style.

Many students struggle with inference questions, which require you to draw conclusions beyond what's explicitly stated. Others find the dense, academic passages on science and humanities topics challenging, especially if that subject matter is unfamiliar. Additionally, the time pressure can cause students to rush through questions and miss important context clues. Working with a tutor helps you build stamina for longer passages, develop strategies for different question types, and learn how to manage anxiety during timed practice.

Start with 1-2 full practice tests per week during your prep period, using official ACT tests to get the most accurate difficulty level. However, quality matters more than quantity—review every question you miss, not just your score. Between full tests, focus on targeted practice with specific passage types or question formats where you're struggling. A tutor can help you analyze your practice test results to identify patterns in your mistakes and adjust your study focus accordingly.

The ACT Reading section doesn't test vocabulary in isolation like the old SAT did, but strong vocabulary still helps you understand passages more quickly and tackle inference questions confidently. Rather than memorizing endless lists, focus on learning academic and literary vocabulary in context—words you'll encounter in science, history, and literature passages. Your tutor can help you build vocabulary strategically through passage analysis and review, so you're learning words you'll actually see on test day.

The ACT Reading section tests several distinct skills: detail recognition, inference, tone/purpose, vocabulary in context, and main idea questions. Each requires a slightly different approach. For example, detail questions reward careful reading, while inference questions require you to think beyond the text. Practice tests help you identify which types trip you up most, and a tutor can teach you specific strategies for each—like how to spot wrong answers on inference questions or how to quickly locate supporting evidence for detail questions.

Test anxiety often leads to rushed reading, misread questions, or panic on difficult passages—all of which tank scores. Building confidence through timed practice is essential; the more familiar you are with the format and pacing, the calmer you'll feel. A tutor can help you develop a pre-test routine, teach you breathing techniques for when you feel anxious, and create a personalized test-day strategy that plays to your strengths. Knowing exactly how you'll approach each passage removes a lot of uncertainty and worry.