Most students struggle with pacing because they try to read every word carefully, which leaves insufficient time for all four passages. Effective strategies include skimming the passage first, reading the questions before diving into the text, and prioritizing passages by difficulty. A tutor can help you find your optimal approach—some students do better reading actively, while others benefit from strategic skimming—and practice timing with real ACT passages until it becomes automatic.

The most frequent errors are misreading questions (especially "EXCEPT" or "NOT" questions), making assumptions beyond what the passage states, and rushing through answer choices without eliminating clearly wrong options. Many students also struggle with inference questions that require reading between the lines, or they get stuck on difficult vocabulary in context. Identifying which of these mistakes you're making is the first step—a tutor can review your practice tests to spot patterns and address them systematically.

The best way is to take a full practice test under timed conditions, then review every question you missed or guessed on—not just wrong answers, but also ones you weren't confident about. Track whether you're struggling with specific question types (inference, vocabulary in context, main idea), particular passage genres (prose fiction, humanities, social science, natural science), or simply pacing. Sharing this analysis with a tutor helps them create a focused study plan instead of reviewing material you already understand.

Consistent practice 3-4 times per week, with at least one full practice test every 1-2 weeks, typically yields the best results. Quality matters more than quantity—focused practice on weak areas beats mindless drilling. Between tutoring sessions, you might spend 30-45 minutes on targeted drills (like practicing inference questions or timing one passage), then review your mistakes to understand why you missed them rather than just moving on.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or panicking when you encounter a difficult passage. Building confidence through repeated practice with real ACT passages—especially under timed conditions—helps normalize the test format and reduces surprises on test day. Tutors can also teach calming strategies like taking a few deep breaths before starting, skipping a tough passage and returning to it later, and reminding yourself that you don't need to understand every word to answer questions correctly.

Your first session typically focuses on understanding where you stand—you'll likely take a diagnostic test or review your recent practice test results to identify your biggest challenges, whether that's pacing, specific question types, or particular passage genres. The tutor will ask about your target score, timeline, and learning style to create a personalized plan. This foundation helps ensure every future session targets your specific needs rather than generic test prep.

Look for tutors with strong ACT Reading scores themselves (ideally 33+), proven experience helping students improve their scores, and familiarity with the test's specific question types and strategies. It's also valuable if they understand the differences between ACT and SAT Reading, can explain their reasoning for answer choices, and stay current with any ACT format changes. When you connect with a tutor through Varsity Tutors, you can review their background and experience before your first session.