Timing is one of the biggest challenges on ACT Math—you have 60 minutes for 60 questions. A tutor can help you develop strategies like identifying which questions to tackle first, when to skip and return to harder problems, and how to work efficiently without sacrificing accuracy. Practice with full-length tests under timed conditions, combined with personalized feedback on your approach, builds the confidence and speed you need.

The best way is to take a full practice ACT and analyze your results by topic—algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and data analysis each appear regularly. When you connect with a tutor, they'll review your practice tests to identify patterns in the questions you're missing, whether it's conceptual gaps or careless mistakes. This targeted approach means you spend study time on what actually moves your score, not reviewing topics you've already mastered.

Your first session is about understanding where you're starting from and what you want to achieve. A tutor will typically review your practice test results, discuss your target score and timeline, and assess which math concepts are solid versus which need work. From there, you'll develop a personalized study plan that focuses on your specific challenges and fits your schedule.

Yes. Test anxiety often comes from feeling unprepared or unsure about how to approach problems. Working with a tutor builds genuine confidence by helping you master the material and develop reliable test-taking strategies. Practicing full-length sections, learning how to manage your time, and understanding exactly what to expect on test day all reduce anxiety and help you perform closer to your actual ability.

ACT Math questions test your ability to apply concepts quickly and often include word problems that require multiple steps to solve. The format is different from traditional textbook problems, and the pacing is faster. A tutor familiar with the ACT can teach you to recognize question types, decode what's being asked, and apply efficient strategies specific to how the test is structured—skills that go beyond your regular math class.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of focused preparation, with tutoring sessions 1-2 times per week plus independent practice. If you're starting further from your target score, you might need longer. A tutor can help you create a realistic study schedule based on your current score, target score, and test date—and adjust it as you progress.

Look for someone with strong math knowledge and specific experience preparing students for the ACT—not just general math tutoring. They should be able to explain concepts clearly, give you honest feedback about your progress, and adjust their teaching based on how you learn best. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who have proven success helping students improve their ACT Math scores.