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Whether your student is preparing to take the ACT for the first time or attempting to build upon an existing score, Varsity Tutors offers a few different ACT prep options to help them as they pursue their academic goals. If you've been searching for "ACT test prep near me," look no further than Varsity Tutors.
The ACT is the standardized college entrance exam most commonly taken by high school juniors and seniors across the country. The results are used for both admissions and college placement decisions. Additionally, there is a career planning component to the ACT. Your student's ACT prep instructor can help them research the schools they are interested in attending to find out what their requirements are regarding ACT scores.
While all post-secondary institutions in the country accept your student's ACT score as part of their application process, some have expressly stated score requirements for admittance, some have general guidelines and preferences, and others take the ACT score into consideration without specific requirements. In addition, some schools require applicants to complete the optional Writing section, depending on which program they are applying for. Working with ACT test preparation professionals through Varsity Tutors can help make this less confusing, and can help your student use the information to set their ACT score goals, which can then guide their ACT course study schedule.
Since the ACT exam could have a huge impact on your student's future, determining where they're admitted to college and even if they get a scholarship, formal ACT test prep could prove to be a solid investment. If you feel that your student could benefit from an ACT course, ACT tutoring, or a combination of ACT test preparation services, contact Varsity Tutors today to learn more about any of our ACT prep assistance options.
All high school juniors and seniors in the country are eligible to take the ACT exam, and more and more high schools are offering the exam at no cost to the students' families. Your student's ACT prep instructor can help them gather the few application requirements, such as their preferred test date and location, career choices, and a list of the colleges and universities they'll be applying to, along with a few other simple items.
One of the first components that will be addressed in your student's ACT class is an overview of what they can expect to face on exam day. The following table details each of the five sections on the test:
ACT Sections |
Required |
Score Range |
Math |
Yes |
1-36 |
Reading |
Yes |
1-36 |
Science |
Yes |
1-36 |
English |
Yes |
1-36 |
Writing |
No |
2-12 |
Clearly, your student will have no shortage of academic material to cover during their ACT test prep. One of the greatest benefits of ACT tutoring is the flexibility allowed in preparing each ACT prep session. Even in the small group ACT courses, ACT tutors can make sure to spend as much time focused on subjects that each student needs to work on to reach a proficiency level that allows them to feel confident going into the test.
How can ACT classes near me provide comprehensive coverage of ACT test material?
Varsity Tutors provides ACT test prep by connecting your student with knowledgeable ACT tutors who are familiar with the entire content of the ACT, including the Writing section. To begin with, the English section has 75 questions and allows students 45 minutes to complete them. Their ACT test prep can help them review grammar, punctuation, style, transitions, sentence structure, and the rest of the topics that could come up when they take the actual ACT exam.
The Math section provides 60 minutes for students to complete 60 math problems. The ACT is designed to assess how well students have learned subjects in high school, so during your student's ACT preparation, they'll mostly be reviewing material they have already studied at some point. For the Math section, ACT test prep can include as much time as your student needs refreshing their knowledge of pre-algebra, algebra, intermediate algebra, plane geometry, coordinate geometry, and elementary trigonometry.
The Reading and Science sections have 40 questions each, and both provide 35 minutes for completion. The sections are also similar in how questions are presented. Students read passages and then answer questions following each passage. ACT classes can cover skills in craft and structure, key ideas and details, and integration of knowledge and ideas for the Reading section. For the Science section, your student's ACT test prep instructor can go over the best way to understand and respond to passages involving data representation, conflicting viewpoints, and research summary.
Finally, ACT prep tutors can help your student develop effective writing skills to answer the prompt on the ACT Writing section in the 40 minutes allotted for the essay. Prompts cover broad social issues, and require your student to analyze three separate perspectives given in the prompt, and then demonstrate how their opinion relates to these perspectives. The essays are scored based on the how well your student uses ideas and analysis, development and support, language use and conventions, and organization in their final written piece. One method frequently used by ACT prep tutors is to offer numerous practice essay prompts, and work closely with your student to develop the skills necessary to earn their best possible score.
How can ACT tutoring near me prepare me for the exam in addition to reviewing content?
There is more to quality ACT test preparation than just going over the subjects presented on the exam. It's important to spend time during ACT classes focusing on the format and structure of the exam, as well as strategies to overcome potential obstacles. A lot of testing anxiety comes from students not knowing what to expect when they sit down at the testing location and open the test material. ACT tutoring can help avoid this in a number of ways.
You probably noticed that each section provides a specific, limited time frame for students to answer all the questions presented. If your student tends to work quickly, that should be no problem. If not, spending ACT test prep time working on pacing and time management could be valuable. Often, this type of ACT prep is provided through practice test sections. Your student's instructor can present timed ACT practice sections that simulate the actual ACT testing situation. Their tutor can observe how your student answers questions, and offer strategies that could help them improve their pacing. One such strategy may be first answering those questions they find easy and then going back to work on the more challenging ones. In the end, it's important to answer all the questions because there is no penalty for a wrong answer, but they will be marked down for providing no answer.
Another strategy your student may work on during their ACT test prep involves increasing the likelihood they can answer a question correctly even when they don't know the answer. Similarly, the strategy can be used to answer some questions on the Math section without spending the time to fully work out the problem. ACT tutors can encourage your student to trust their first instinct, and use that to narrow down the choices. Often your student can eliminate all but two answers just by using common sense. Then re-reading the question and analyzing what specifically it's asking for, which is definitely something they can cover during their ACT preparation classes, should make the answer obvious. If necessary on a math question, your student can learn to work just enough of the problem to be able to determine which of the two possible answers is correct.
These are just a few examples of the types of strategies students can learn with the help of ACT prep provided through Varsity Tutors. There are plenty more, and ACT test prep instructors can decide which ones would be most beneficial to your student based on their individual strengths. Some strategies work better than others for different students, and because Varsity Tutors offers either one-on-one or small-group ACT prep options, tutors have the opportunity to get to know your student well enough to know which strategies may be most useful for them. This allows them to provide your student with customized practice problems to get familiar with using each technique.
Can ACT courses near me provide tutoring customized to meet my needs?
If your student is more confident in their knowledge or one or two sections than the others, a private ACT class may be tailored to their unique needs. For instance, a mathematics wizard may spend less of their ACT prep time going over the Math section in order to focus more time and effort improving their active reading and vocab skills. Even within a small-group setting, all ACT classes can provide one-on-one instruction, so your student never needs to leave a topic behind until they are fully confident in their ability to successfully answer those questions on the ACT exam.
As mentioned above, Varsity Tutors can provide students with either one-on-one or small-group ACT test prep. Some students may benefit more from the complete flexibility of private study sessions and the precise customization allowed. Other students may perform best in a more collaborative learning environment. Varsity Tutors offers ACT courses for both kinds of students. Small-group classes allow a handful of students to share an online classroom, where they're free to help and encourage one another as they study so everyone can work toward their academic potential. If your student is involved in a small-group ACT class, they always have the option to request as much one-on-one instruction time with the instructor in addition to the regular class time. We offer these options so that your student is able to make the most of the resources available to them.
You may find the following list helpful if you or your student are curious about the specific topics that might be discussed during an ACT course:
- Algebra
- Exponents
- Scientific Notation
- Geometry
- Interpreting Graphs and Charts
- Summarizing Scientific Findings
- Drawing Conclusions from Provided Data
- Interpreting Reading Passages
- Comparisons and Analogies
- Grammar/Spelling/Punctuation
- Sentence Structure
What other benefits can ACT test prep near me provide?
Students spend their years in school continually being evaluated, whether through standardized tests, final exams, quizzes during class, or some other method. It would be great if they could leave all this assessment behind when they graduate high school or even college. But that's pretty unlikely. No matter what career your student goes into, they can expect to face an evaluation of one sort or another. This isn't always presented as an official test, but sometimes it is. Therefore, their time spent in their ACT preparation class could provide them with the unexpected benefit of learning how to prepare for tests.
Taking a test and preparing for a test are not the same thing. Some people are naturally good at preparing for and taking tests. The rest of us can definitely benefit from learning a logical, realistic, structured method to prepare for important exams. If your child faces certification exams during the course of their career, they'll be able to recall the test prep methods they learned from their ACT tutoring. Therefore, ACT test prep provided through Varsity Tutors can actually benefit your student for the rest of their life.
Varsity Tutors professionals understand how busy high school students and their parents can get, so we strive to make all of our ACT test prep services as convenient as possible. Tutoring takes place in our Live Learning Platform, providing students with the same benefits as they would if they were meeting in person, but without the hassle of having to drive to even more activities than you already do. We also offer new ACT courses every week, and you may choose if you prefer a two-week or four-week course. In short, Varsity Tutors does everything possible to make ACT prep more convenient.
If you would like more information about how ACT test prep through Varsity Tutors can help your student as they work towards achieving their goals, or if you're ready to enroll your student in one of our ACT test prep services now, please contact us using the information provided below. Expert Educational Directors are standing by to help with any questions you may have. We're excited to help your student with their ACT preparation right away.
Courtney: ACT test prep instructor
...is the summer I spent teaching English to adults as a certified ESL assistant at the International Education Center in downtown Minneapolis. All these experiences have helped me develop a variety of strategies to adapt to different learners needs and learning styles. I tutor a wide range of subjects, such as ACT prep, math, writing, Spanish, and Latin. Whether the math section of the ACT is making you nervous or you need some extra help...
Education & Certification
- Augsburg College - Bachelors, Sociology w/minor in Spanish
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- CLEP
- Advanced Placement
- SAT
- +122 subjects
Jacob: ACT test prep instructor
...in center city Philadelphia, where I learned to love learning, particularly math and science classes. I began tutoring my younger siblings in these subjects when they had trouble themselves. I even began attending Biology review sessions to help my teacher explain topics to other students and review material with them. I always enjoyed teaching simply because I enjoyed and was passionate about the material itself. But I enjoyed it even more when I heard about...
Education & Certification
- Brown University - Current Undergrad, Biology and German
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- ISEE
- Trigonometry
- Algebra
- +21 subjects
Kaitlin: ACT test prep instructor
...of my life. I have always taken my studies pretty seriously, but I took a greater interest in them during high school. I attended a private school where I was given the opportunity to discover a large range of topics I had never thought about pursuing, such as engineering and biomedical sciences. In college, I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics, while minoring in Arabic and gaining a certificate in Middle Eastern and...
Education & Certification
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee - Bachelors, Linguistics
- University of Chicago - Current Grad Student, Middle Eastern Studies
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- ACT Reading
- Test Prep
- College Essays
- +29 subjects
Austin: ACT test prep instructor
...is to help students become independent, comfortable, and confident in the fields they are studying. I love helping people get to the "aha" moment when they really understand what's being taught. In my experience, one of the most important parts of tutoring is setting clear expectations at the beginning and working toward a common goal. Given the right goals and assistance, I truly believe that anyone can master any of the subjects I teach.
Education & Certification
- Brigham Young University-Provo - Current Undergrad, Computer Science: Bioinformatics
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- SAT
- Advanced Placement
- Geometry
- +63 subjects
Aman: ACT test prep instructor
...and I was accepted into very good colleges and programs. That was my goal. I couldn't reach that goal without my mentor. My mentor taught me more than just English, Writing, ACT/SAT, he taught me humility, determination, and confidence. For these reasons, I am still in contact with him today. As a tutor-- mentor-- I will help my mentee achieve their goals (academic and mental). I will work with them hour by hour to the...
Education & Certification
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Current Undergrad, Biology, General
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- SAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- Advanced Placement
- +42 subjects
Haley: ACT test prep instructor
...that I realized this passion and strength were driving me towards education. Since then, I've enjoyed working with students of all ages and abilities to further their math skills. I believe that everyone has mathematical abilities and I enjoying working and watching these abilities grow and improve in students. In my free time, I enjoy running with my Border Collie/Lab mix, Sadya, and swimming laps. I tend to spend my evenings knitting or reading.
Education & Certification
- University of Northern Iowa - Bachelor in Arts, Mathematics Teaching
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- ACT Science
- Algebra 2
- AP Calculus AB
- +14 subjects
Will: ACT test prep instructor
...after graduating cum laude from Northwestern University Law School this May. I studied at St. Ignatius College Prep and graduated summa cum laude from Villanova University (including a two-term stint at Cambridge University). Between Villanova and Northwestern I worked at an academic non-profit organization and evaluated hundreds of fellowship candidates' writing and academic work. I will work with each student to craft a personalized plan of study and improvement based on the student's strengths and...
Education & Certification
- Villanova University - Bachelor in Arts, Humanities & Political Science
- Northwestern University - Juris Doctor, Law
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- SAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- AP US History
- +22 subjects
Audrey: ACT test prep instructor
...with a specialty in critical reading and writing skills. I have prior experience working at my school's writing center to assist first-year students with college-level essays. I have also captained an award-winning collegiate mock trial team for several years, which involves mentoring younger students in oral and written communication skills. In addition to my experience, standardized testing has always been a forte of mine. I am enthusiastic about sharing the skills and strategies that I...
Education & Certification
- Pomona College - Bachelor in Arts, Political Science and Government
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- PSAT
- SAT
- PSAT Writing Skills
- +36 subjects
Sarah: ACT test prep instructor
...the University of Virginia, where I plan to study Business, and I graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in 2015. I have extensive volunteer tutoring experience, having worked with kindergarten and second grade students as a reading tutor and middle school students as a math tutor. I am passionate about tutoring because of my own life long love of learning, and because I believe that all children are capable of accomplishing...
Education & Certification
- University of Virginia-Main Campus - Current Undergrad, Undeclared
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- Advanced Placement
- Math
- Languages
- +39 subjects
Alyssa: ACT test prep instructor
...a double-major in English Literature and Psychology from the University of Notre Dame in May 2014. After graduating, I served as an Augustinian Volunteer for a year in Chulucanas, Peru, where I worked as a computer teacher at a technical institute called CETPRO Betania. I have previously tutored a broad range of subjects and age groups, and I have especially enjoyed working with students to develop their writing skills. I tutor ACT Test prep and...
Education & Certification
- University of Notre Dame - Bachelor in Arts, English, Psychology
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- SAT
- Reading
- College Essays
- +17 subjects
David: ACT test prep instructor
...I have found that students may learn in different ways and all can excel. I like to present material in an engaging and relevant manner so that we can all learn and achieve success. One-on-one tutoring is an effective technique, particularly for explaining and modeling math, and I enjoy seeing students attitudes toward school brighten when they see immediate progress in their work. As a writing tutor, I like to focus on helping students find...
Education & Certification
- Drake University - Bachelor of Science, Education, History
- State Certified Teacher
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- PSAT
- ASPIRE
- ISAT
- +37 subjects
Gus: ACT test prep instructor
...animator, and plant enthusiast recently transplanted to the bustling city of Seattle. I grew up in the coulee region in Wisconsin and attended three colleges in the area: the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, and, my alma mater, the University of Wisconsin - Stout. My scenic route through college was the product of indecision and confusion regarding my future because I couldn't find a way to mesh...
Education & Certification
- University of Wisconsin-Stout - Bachelors, Entertainment Design - Digital Cinema
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- English Grammar and Syntax
- Science
- ACT Reading
- +48 subjects
Lee: ACT test prep instructor
...Engineering at Northwestern University. I am staying in the Chicago area because I truly love the city and envision staying here for a long time. As a tutor, I have had students ranging from sophomores in high school to adults transitioning into a new career. My Engineering curriculum at Northwestern was heavily centered around Math, Chemistry, Biology and Physics, so I can work with a student on more than one class at a time. I...
Education & Certification
- Northwestern University - Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Engineering
- Northwestern University - Master of Science, Biomedical Engineering
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- SAT
- PSAT
- ASPIRE
- +41 subjects
Valerie: ACT test prep instructor
I am currently a student at Ithaca College pursuing a degree in physics. I am very passionate about math and science especially, and I have found that teaching students is another passion. I have experience tutoring high school students in areas including algebra, algebra 2 and AP Physics 1. I love working with students to help them achieve their goals, and finding exactly what teaching style works best for which students.
Education & Certification
- Ithaca College - Current Undergrad, Physics-engineering 3-2
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- UK A Level
- SAT
- 4th Grade Science
- +35 subjects
Mihir: ACT test prep instructor
...tutor the sciences and can cover all science topics up to advanced college-level chemistry and biology. As a science major and experienced tutor, I understand that the sciences pose unique and varied challenges to students. One of my primary goals is to meet students where they are, understand their specific needs, and develop an individualized plan that challenges them and helps them succeed. To this end, I do not follow a specific formula during sessions...
Education & Certification
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Current Undergrad, Chemistry - Biochemistry Track
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- SAT Subject Tests
- SAT
- Advanced Placement
- +57 subjects
Alison: ACT test prep instructor
...of Dallas studying towards a double major in Business and Mathematics with a French Language and Literature Concentration. I achieved near-perfect scores on both the ACT and SAT, and I am passionate about helping students score well on these exams to pursue their higher education goals. I have always been a high-achieving student, and I was my high school's valedictorian, a National Merit Commended Scholar, and a Presidential Scholar Qualifier. I have over 3 years...
Education & Certification
- University of Dallas - Current Undergrad, Double-Major in Mathematics and Business with a French Language and Literature Concentration
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- PSAT
- SAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +64 subjects
Mark: ACT test prep instructor
...This way we can become excited about the subjects which makes learning that much easier. Mostly I am interested in tutoring math and math-related subjects including economics. Throughout sessions I will always try to convey exactly how important it is to learn the information, because like it or not, even if the student is not interested in learning, I want to convey that in life we often are forced into tasks that are not always...
Education & Certification
- University of Illinois at Chicago - Current Undergrad, Bioengineering
- University of Illinois at Chicago - Current Grad Student, Bioengineering
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- Macroeconomics
- Middle School Math
- Test Prep
- +37 subjects
Ruthie: ACT test prep instructor
...success my students have achieved on their state tests, ACT, and AP Biology exam. It is important to me that my students are engaged because from that engagement, we can build investment in the material and skills they need to learn. I like to incorporate labs, hands-on experience, competitions, games, videos, and compelling activities (for example, writing letters to the government about harmful algal blooms to a graphing project on the abundance of the invasive...
Education & Certification
- University of Pennsylvania - Bachelors, Biological Basis of Behavior
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- SAT Subject Tests
- AP Biology
- SAT Reading
- +22 subjects
Cameron: ACT test prep instructor
...to do with the body, so I would be very excited to assist with biology or other topics in that area. In addition to general coursework, I'm more than happy to help with exam prep for the math, science, and writing sections of the SAT/ACT (no critical reading/reasoning...not a huge fan of that stuff!). Outside of school, I really enjoy traveling to other countries during breaks or whenever I get the chance. I love experiencing...
Education & Certification
- University of Southern California - Bachelor in Arts, Biological Sciences
- University of Southern California - Doctor of Medicine, Medicine
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- SAT
- College Algebra
- Pre-Algebra
- +24 subjects
Akhil: ACT test prep instructor
...diehard sports fan, and currently work as a sports journalist. My favorite sport is football, but I watch almost every major sport around the world. I'm also an avid fan of professional wrestling. I also enjoy reading, writing, and playing video games in my spare time, and I love working out and playing sports when the weather is nice. I also love watching stand-up comedy, specifically comedians like Kevin Hart and Jim Gaffigan.... I believe in making sure that a student learns the material and doesn't just memorize it. That requires working at the student's pace, not the pace that I want. I also believe in trying to use real-world examples, or relatable examples to teach more complex concepts.
Education & Certification
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor - Current Undergrad, English and Political Science
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- Literature
- AP Human Geography
- High School Level American History
- +27 subjects