You found the right resource if you've been searching for terms like "ACT Reading tutoring near me" because Varsity Tutors can help you connect with an experienced ACT Reading tutor who can help your child prepare for their upcoming exam. Working with an ACT Reading tutor could give your child the boost they need to take their ACT test preparation to the next level. ACT Reading tutoring can help your child refresh their content area knowledge, provide useful techniques they can use during their exam, and help them improve their skills in reading comprehension. There's no reason for your child to study alone. Let Varsity Tutors help you connect them with an experienced ACT Reading tutor who can guide them and help them leverage their ACT preparation study time is efficiently and effectively as possible.
What is the ACT?
The ACT is one of the most universally recognized exams in high school education. The test is comprised of four required sections; English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science. There is an optional section for Writing which is not included in the composite score. The ACT composite score is what universities look at as part of the admissions process.The exam is given seven times each year throughout the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico on Saturdays during February, April, June, July, September, October, and December.
The reading portion of the ACT exam will ask your child to derive meaning from selected texts by referring to what is explicitly stated within the text and use reason to discover implicit meaning. The exam is comprised of four individual sections. Three sections have long passages and one section contains two shorter passages. All reading passages are reflective of the types of text your child are likely to encounter during their first year at a university.
In the section which contains two reading passages your child may be asked to answer questions which pull from both passages. However, none of the questions found in the ACT Reading exam require students recall facts found outside of the reading material provided.
Below are some of the topics covered in the exam which you may have wanted an "ACT Reading tutor near me" to help your child with in advance of their upcoming ACT Reading exam.
ACT Reading Topics (Non Comprehensive)
- Summarize information Accurately
- Read and Understand Text
- Draw Logical Conclusions From Information
- Understand Word and Phrase Meanings
- Understanding Author's Claims
- Use Evidence to Connect Text to the Topic
- Evaluate Reasoning And Evidence from Various Sources
It's important to note that your child's private ACT Reading tutor is not limited to the topics outlined in the above list. Also, unlike other standardized exams, the ACT Reading test cannot be prepared for by memorizing facts or formulas. It is more appropriate to think of ACT Reading tutoring as a chance for your child to build and reinforce the skills of reading comprehension. While you may have originally been searching specifically for "ACT Reading tutoring near me," what your child will actually receive is far more valuable than preparation for a single test.
You see, ACT Reading tutoring can help your child with their reading in all subject areas. This has the potential to help their academic performance across the board. When a student reads a syllabus, textbook, test, or instructions they fall back on their foundational reading skills regardless of the topic. If your child struggles to know how to differentiate between the truly important material and background information in a reading passage or textbook, then the time they spend working independently with ACT Reading tutors will pay dividends far beyond test day.
Preparing for the ACT Reading Exam
ACT Reading tutors understand how different content areas are weighted in the reading portion of the ACT. This allows them to naturally gravitate towards those topics which more heavily influence the total grade. Below you will see a table of the worth of each content area.
ACT Reading Content Areas
- Key Ideas and Details
- 55-60%
- Craft and Structure
- 25-30%
- Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
- 13-18%
While having a general understanding of how the score for the reading portion of the ACT is derived, it is not the only factor taken into consideration when your child's ACT Reading tutor develops a personalized plan of instruction. The personal ACT Reading tutor working with your child will also take into account your child's academic strengths and weaknesses as well as their individual learning style to create a custom learning plan designed to efficiently and effectively help your child prepare for the ACT Reading exam.
ACT Reading tutors can also help your child prepare to face a high pressure timed testing situation. Time management skills are going to be part of what can help your student tackle this section of the exam effectively. Please see the chart below for more information on the structure of the exam.
ACT Reading Exam Overview
- 35 Minutes
- 40 Questions
- Test Tips
- Read every passage carefully
- Read and consider all Answers
- Refer Passages when Answering
- Scoring Range
- 1-36
Your child's ACT Reading tutor can help your child prepare for taking a standardized exam by working with them to become better at implementing the tips outlined above. They may also work with your child on time management techniques to make the best use of the limited time allotted for each question in the exam.
Why Work With a Tutor?
It would be nice if all students were able to master all of the information they are exposed to throughout the course of their academic career. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. At some point, most children need a little extra help in one or more areas of study. This can be due to a busy schedule, illness, family issues, learning disabilities, or a learning style which is incompatible with an instructor's teaching style. Regardless of the reason your child is struggling with their reading skills, an ACT Reading tutor can work with them to help give them the tools and academic support they need to move forward.
Reading is one of those subjects that gets a lot of attention during early elementary school years and progressively less attention as your child advances into high school. While technically all subjects should be improving your child's reading skills with the work which is required of them, there is very little instructional time specifically devoted to reading once the basic skills associated with reading have been mastered. However, the ways in which your child reads and evaluates information should continue to evolve and grow if your child is going to maximize their learning opportunities in all subject areas.
Working with an independent ACT Reading tutor gives your child the space and guidance they may need to become more accomplished readers. Your child's personal tutor may help select reading material which your child finds interesting to make them more receptive and even excited about the prospect of spending time reading and improving their reading skills. The magical thing about working with a tutor is no two lessons are exactly the same. Each one is based on your child's individual needs which will change each week as they gain competency in one area and prepare to move on to the next.
Are ACT Reading Tutors Near Me the Right Solution?
You may be wondering, does my child really need an "ACT Reading tutor near me?" If your child is not reading at or above grade level, the answer is probably yes. If your child is anxious about their upcoming exam, ACT Reading tutoring may give them the boost in confidence they need to do their best on the exam. But does this mean that your child needs to work with their tutor in the same room? Probably not.
ACT Reading tutoring is more accessible than ever thanks to online learning platforms such as those provided by Varsity Tutors. The key to impactful tutoring is the individualized instruction rather than the physical proximity of the instructor and student.
One of the most powerful benefits of choosing to work face-to-face with an ACT Reading tutor in a virtual environment is the flexibility of scheduling sessions. With tutors located all over the country, you are more likely to find one who is able to accommodate your schedule rather than having to struggle to accommodate your schedule to that of the tutor's availability. You will also have a more diverse pool of candidates from which to choose when you look beyond what tutors are available locally.
What Do the ACT Scores Mean?
The ACT Reading exam is scored on a scale of 1-36. The average score for this section of the exam is 21, however, most universities require students score significantly higher. Some top colleges require students have a composite score in the 30s. This means your child likely needs to score significantly higher than average to have access to the best college opportunities.
If you're curious about the average scores on the ACT Reading exam for recent years, please see the table below.
ACT Reading Exam Score Average
| Year | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
| Score | 21.3 | 21.1 | 21.3 | 21.4 | 21.3 | 21.4 |
Most parents want to believe that a solid high school education is enough to prepare their child for the ACT and college for for many students this is simply untrue. Fortunately, working with a private ACT Reading tutor can help your child prepare more fully for their upcoming exam.
Working with an online ACT Reading tutoring in a face-to-face digital environment offers your child the same benefits associated with traditional in person tutoring with greater scheduling flexibility and variety of tutors. If you found us by searching for "ACT Reading tutors near me," you are already feeling the urge to give your child more help than what they are receiving at their school. We would love to be given the opportunity to help you connect with a highly qualified ACT Reading tutor who meets your child's specific academic needs. If you're ready to get started, contact Varsity Tutors today.
