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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.

Audrey: ACT test prep instructor
...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 have picked up along my way. If you are seeking a patient, energetic, and...
Education & Certification
- Pomona College - Bachelor in Arts, Political Science and Government
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- SAT
- PSAT
- Middle School Math
- +36 subjects

Akhil: ACT test prep instructor
...true knowledge is in understanding the process of answering a question, and just knowing the answer is not enough. I work with students to recognize errors, and to help students be able to answer questions by themselves. I have a similar approach in English subjects, where it is very important to develop a thought process when thinking analytically about a piece of writing. Students will learn to recognize grammatical structure and parts of speech, as...
Education & Certification
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor - Current Undergrad, English and Political Science
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- Math
- AP Human Geography
- Comparative Literature
- +27 subjects

Kelsey: ACT test prep instructor
...tutoring and editing background; she had worked as a lead tutor at a math-focused center for students ages 5 to 18, had individually tutored numerous students on college entrance exam preparation, and has worked professionally as an editorial assistant for research institutions. Her personal goal is to help students build a foundation of solid study skills that they can rely on throughout their education so that they have the confidence to perform their best in...
Education & Certification
- Cornell University - Bachelor in Arts, Psychology
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- SAT
- GED
- SSAT
- +79 subjects

Allison: ACT test prep instructor
...emphasize on creating a curriculum and plan that will suit your own individualized goals, whatever they may be. I take a personalized approach to tutoring, knowing that everyone learns differently and tailoring counseling to the personal abilities and objectives of my students. I believe 'smart' is just another word for 'hard-working' and that goals can be achieved with a good plan of action. Setting - I am happy to open up my home in Roseville,...
Education & Certification
- Dartmouth College - Bachelor in Arts, Computer Science
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- SAT Subject Tests
- ACT Math
- ACT English
- +13 subjects

Chloe: ACT test prep instructor
...work, curiosity and an open mind are the keys to lifelong learning. Often the journey to academic success is not a solo one, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share what I know in a way that inspires and educates students. My passion for education stems from a desire to become more aware of the world around me and to help others do the same, whether in the form of writing a paper,...
Education & Certification
- Univeristy of Montana - Bachelors, Ecology and Organismal Biology
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- AP Biology
- College Essays
- Anatomy
- +28 subjects

Sarah: ACT test prep instructor
...knowledge in a wide variety of subjects, such as calculus courses, physics, chemistry, programming (python), french, and writing courses. Additionally, I took many AP classes throughout high school which enabled me to enter college with over 30 credits already completed. I have spent two years tutoring in the past and have gained experience learning how to work best with struggling students. I enjoy teaching and helping others learn, be it for a specific subject, test...
Education & Certification
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities - Current Undergrad, Undecided
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- Advanced Placement
- Algebra
- Essay Editing
- +38 subjects

David: ACT test prep instructor
...pace. If I can make a student interested in a topic and engage with their learning style, learning happens much faster and more effectively, and doesn't feel like work. I endeavor to interest students in any topic (but especially math) by giving them a sense of a larger context. In particular, I love to bring college-level math concepts to students in a way anyone can understand, which often demonstrates WHY the math they're doing matters....
Education & Certification
- Oberlin College - Bachelors, Mathematics
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- SAT Subject Tests
- SAT
- PSAT
- +43 subjects

Max: ACT test prep instructor
...taking two semesters off from school to sing and travel the entire world with the Yale Whiffenpoofs, America's oldest collegiate a cappella singing group. Apart from singing, I'm is passionate about education, particularly in helping high school students achieve their academic goals as they work their way towards college. I volunteer in New Haven as a math teacher and coach at a public middle school (my team of 7th graders just won the 2016 New...
Education & Certification
- Yale University - Current Undergrad, Economics
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- SAT Subject Tests
- PSAT
- SSAT
- +104 subjects

David: ACT test prep instructor
...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 their authentic voice. Essays succeed when students strip away the extraneous material and present...
Education & Certification
- Drake University - Bachelor of Science, Education, History
- State Certified Teacher
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- ISAT
- HSPT
- PSAT
- +37 subjects

Matt: ACT test prep instructor
...While I was there I also received a math minor, which helps me understand math at a more basic level. In high school I worked as a tutor and enjoyed helping those students. I loved the subjects I studied in college and my hope is to share my knowledge of math and physics with those who need extra help. Above all, I want to spread my knowledge to people who may need it.... My philosophy is to build from the ground up. When there's a disconnect, it usually doesn't appear out of nowhere. It's very important to cover the basics and make sure that those are solid, then we can start to resolve issues.
Education & Certification
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Bachelors, Aerospace Engineering
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- ACT Math
- Math
- Calculus 3
- +22 subjects

Alexandra: ACT test prep instructor
...both with the Comprehensive Honors award. During my time at UW, I taught public health and safety to groups of twenty to two hundred students twice a week for three years. I have over 150 hours of teacher training and countless hours in the classroom. Furthermore, I was the editor of our student newspaper, The Daily Cardinal, and have extensive writing-coaching skills in addition to a strong grasp on the English language. I am currently...
Education & Certification
- University of Wisconsin-Madison - Bachelors, History and Journalism
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- SSAT
- ISEE
- GED
- +23 subjects

Kacey: ACT test prep instructor
...my experience as a math tutor. I am invested in each of my students' success and work hard to help them succeed. Consequently, each of my past tutoring clients has seen significant improvement. I am a big believer in catering to students' learning styles. I pay attention to whether they are an audio, visual, or kinesthetic learner, and then I tutor accordingly. I am currently a junior at Brigham Young University. I am an Applied...
Education & Certification
- Brigham Young University-Provo - Current Undergrad, Applied and Computational Mathematics
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- PSAT
- GED
- SAT
- +43 subjects

Jessica: ACT test prep instructor
...and have extensive tutoring and editing experience. While a student, I became a certified writing tutor through the Critical Writing Department. Since I completed my writing requirement at the University prior to matriculating, I was the first freshman tutor to be accepted into this selective program. The tutoring program involved a preliminary peer-tutor training course prior to beginning tutoring, in order to certify that I had the appropriate background to provide professional feedback to fellow...
Education & Certification
- University of Pennsylvania - Bachelors, History
- Nova Southeastern University - PHD, Medicine
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- SAT
- PSAT
- SSAT
- +81 subjects

Sarah: ACT test prep instructor
...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 amazing things if they have a committed support system. I tutor reading, writing, math,...
Education & Certification
- University of Virginia-Main Campus - Current Undergrad, Undeclared
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- Advanced Placement
- AP Economics
- Business
- +39 subjects

Tessa: ACT test prep instructor
...I've run more 5ks and 10ks than I can count, but the validation of completing a long race is nothing like the satisfying moment of writing "Q.E.D." on a difficult proof. I'm a scholar of the Western canon, greatly influenced by great thinkers and writers of the past such as Plato, Virgil, Aquinas, and Anselm. I love to read and to discuss what I've read, and I heartily appreciate a good philosophical argument. Extracurricularly, I...
Education & Certification
- Yale University - Current Undergrad, Mathematics and History
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- SAT Subject Tests
- PSAT
- SAT
- +106 subjects

John: ACT test prep instructor
I graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC in 2008, the oldest English speaking acting conservatory in the world. I graduated Summa from University of St Thomas with a BA in English, and just wrapped up a MS in Data Science from Northwestern. I'm a huge Red Sox fan and love watching detective shows when I have free time.... Positivity. Always. I believe that if a student is given positive tools and is allowed to understand the material rather than be lectured at, they're more likely to do well in the future.
Education & Certification
- American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Associates, Acting
- University of St. Thomas - Bachelor of Fine Arts, English/Drama
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- ISEE
- SAT
- HSPT
- +110 subjects

Max: ACT test prep instructor
...Concentration in Chemical Principles. I am also minoring in Creative Writing. Throughout my schooling, I have thrived in all subjects. However, my favorites are Science and Writing/English. I find that the two have similar way in promoting creativity. Not surprisingly, I will be tutoring Physics, Chemistry and Writing. Additionally, I will be tutoring for ACT prep. I took the test officially three times and was successful each time and believe that I can share effective...
Education & Certification
- University of Pennsylvania - Current Undergrad, Physics with Concentration in Chemical Principles
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- Test Prep
- ACT Writing
- AP Physics 2
- +18 subjects

Jaimie: ACT test prep instructor
...Engineering. I am currently working in the lab of Professor Robert Langer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology working on novel drug delivery systems for the gastrointestinal tract. I am hoping to attend medical school in pursuit of becoming a physician. I am currently interested in pediatrics and psychiatry but I am looking forward to exploring a range of available disciplines. I enjoy tutoring because I find it to be an engaging and dynamic process--I...
Education & Certification
- Northeastern University - Bachelors, Chemical Engineering
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- SAT Subject Tests
- TOEFL
- SSAT
- +93 subjects

Xiaowen : ACT test prep instructor
...Physics (1st) from University College London, an M.Phil in Micro and Nanotechnology Enterprise from the University of Cambridge, and a PhD in Experimental Condensed Matter Physics, also from University College London. I have worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oregon and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a scientist at Diamond Light Source, and a Senior Research Associate at New Mexico State University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. My google scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=HcjsfhAAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra
Education & Certification
- University College London - Bachelor, Physics
- University of Cambridge - Master's/Graduate, Materials Sciences and Nanotechnology
- University college London - Doctorate (PhD), Physics
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- UK A Level
- Statics
- Pre-Calculus
- +33 subjects

Ruth: ACT test prep instructor
...English teacher, currently working primarily with 10th grade students. I have previously worked at middle and elementary schools as well. I graduated from the University of Chicago in 2016 with a B.A. in English and Theatre. I then got my M.S.Ed from Northwestern. I have worked with children of all ages in various capacities, including teaching, and I find that the best way for students to learn is to have fun and engage them.... Learning is most effective when the student is having fun, and the best way to learn is to teach.
Education & Certification
- University of Chicago - Bachelor in Arts, English Lang./Lit. and Theatre and Performance Studies
Subject Expertise
- ACT
- SAT
- PSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +43 subjects