Score improvement depends on your starting point and effort level, but students typically see meaningful gains within 4-8 weeks of focused preparation. If you're struggling with test-taking strategy or specific question types, personalized 1-on-1 instruction can help you identify weak areas and build confidence quickly. Many students find that targeted practice on timing and question formats yields the fastest improvements.

The top challenge is pacing—35 minutes for 40 questions leaves only about 50 seconds per question, which feels rushed when you're reading dense scientific passages. Students also struggle with interpreting unfamiliar graphs and tables, and deciding whether to read the passage first or jump straight to questions. Finally, the conflicting viewpoints passage trips up many students because it requires careful comparison rather than just data extraction.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who assess your current strengths and weaknesses, then create a personalized study plan. Your tutor will teach you efficient test-taking strategies, walk you through practice questions, and help you build speed without sacrificing accuracy. Most students benefit from weekly sessions combined with guided practice between appointments to reinforce what you've learned.

Practice tests are essential—they help you get comfortable with the format, identify which question types slow you down, and build stamina for the full 35-minute section. Taking full-length practice tests under timed conditions shows you where to focus your effort, whether that's data interpretation, reading speed, or strategy adjustments. Your tutor can review your practice test results to pinpoint exactly which concepts or skills need the most work.

Most students benefit from previewing the questions first, then reading the passage strategically—this helps you know what information to look for. For data representation passages, you can often answer questions by reading only the relevant graph or table. The key is finding your rhythm through practice; some students spend 5-6 minutes per passage while others work faster. A tutor can help you experiment with different approaches to find what works best for your pace and accuracy.

The best way is to take a full-length practice test and analyze your results by question type and topic—you'll quickly see whether you're missing more data interpretation questions, struggling with biology concepts, or getting tripped up by the conflicting viewpoints format. Your tutor can help you categorize your mistakes to distinguish between content gaps and strategy problems. Once you know your weak spots, you can target practice and study time where it matters most.

Your first session focuses on assessment and planning. Your tutor will likely review your current ACT score (if you have one), discuss your target score, and understand your strengths and challenges. You might work through a few practice questions together to see your approach in action. By the end, you'll have a clear picture of what to work on and a personalized roadmap for improvement.