The three most common struggles are pacing (finishing all four passages and 40 questions in 35 minutes), understanding the nuances of inference questions, and managing test anxiety. Many students also struggle with vocabulary in context and identifying the main idea across dense passages. A tutor can help you develop a personalized pacing strategy, teach you how to quickly identify what each question type is asking, and build confidence through targeted practice with real ACT passages.

Your first session focuses on understanding where you stand and what you need. A tutor will review your practice test results (or administer a diagnostic), identify patterns in the questions you're missing, and discuss your timeline and goals. You'll also learn about the ACT Reading format, question types, and get a preview of the strategies you'll use going forward. This foundation helps create a personalized plan tailored to your specific challenges.

Effective strategies include active reading techniques (annotating key ideas rather than passively reading), learning to quickly categorize question types, and using process of elimination strategically. Many tutors teach the "big picture first" approach—understanding the passage's main idea and tone before diving into detail questions. Practice testing with timed conditions is essential; spaced repetition of challenging question types helps build automaticity so you can work faster without sacrificing accuracy.

Most students benefit from 3-4 hours of focused practice per week over 8-12 weeks, combined with 1-2 tutoring sessions weekly. This typically includes full-length practice tests (to build stamina and pacing), section-specific drills (to master question types), and review of mistakes (to identify patterns). Your tutor will help you build an efficient study schedule that fits your timeline and gradually increases difficulty, avoiding burnout while building real progress.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about strategies, which tutoring directly addresses. Building confidence through repeated practice with real passages, mastering a consistent approach to each question type, and developing a pre-test routine all reduce anxiety significantly. Your tutor can also teach you mental strategies like breathing techniques and how to manage the pressure of the 35-minute time limit, so you can focus on the content rather than the clock.

Look for tutors with strong ACT Reading scores themselves, proven experience teaching test prep, and familiarity with current ACT formats and question types. They should be able to explain not just the right answers, but why wrong answers are traps—and teach you to recognize those patterns. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who have demonstrated mastery of ACT Reading and the ability to translate that into personalized instruction that matches your learning style.

Varsity Tutors connects students in Memphis with tutors who offer flexible scheduling to fit your needs—whether you need intensive prep before test day or steady progress over several months. With personalized 1-on-1 instruction, you can work around your school schedule, extracurriculars, and other commitments. Your tutor can also adjust pacing and focus based on how you're progressing, so you're not locked into a rigid curriculum.