Award-Winning ACT Reading Tutors
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Award-Winning ACT Reading Tutors serving Buffalo, NY

Certified Tutor
6+ years
Sharan
Most ACT Reading mistakes come from running out of time, not from a lack of comprehension. Sharan, who earned a 36 composite, teaches a passage-attack strategy that prioritizes locating evidence over re-reading entire paragraphs. She walks through each question type — main idea, inference, vocabular...
Cornell University
Bachelor of Science, Human Biology

Certified Tutor
Daniel
I am a 3rd year undergrad at the University at Buffalo, working toward my Mathematics BS with a computer science concentration. I find math exceptionally fascinating; I not only aim to teach an understanding of math but also an appreciation. I have taken courses in Algebra, Pre-Calculus, Calculus (I...
University at Buffalo
Bachelors, Math
Certified Tutor
I am licensed to practice pharmacy in the state of New York. Subjects that I am the most comfortable teaching are math (up to Algebra 2), science (Biology, Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics, etc), and certain languages (Korean, Japanese, French) at the beginner level. While dabbling in a few "teaching"...
University at Buffalo
PHD, Pharmacy
University at Buffalo
Bachelors, Pre-Pharmacy
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Deana
The ACT Reading section punishes students who read every passage the same way, whether it's a dense humanities excerpt or a straightforward natural science article. Deana teaches a triage approach: how to identify passage type, adjust reading speed, and locate evidence for inference questions withou...
University at Buffalo
Bachelor of Science, Neuroscience
Certified Tutor
4+ years
I am a Neuroscience and Behavior major at Columbia University. Although my major is centered in the STEM field, I am also passionate about human rights work, global engagement, and local outreach. While my future plans are subject to change, I see myself continuing in academia, going to medical scho...
Columbia University in the City of New York
Bachelor in Arts, Neuroscience
Certified Tutor
14+ years
William
I'm not tutoring, I love walking through New York for design inspiration and taking carpentry, metalworking, and illustration classes.
Boston University
Bachelor in Arts, English
Certified Tutor
5+ years
Vivian
Scoring a 36 ACT composite means Vivian didn't just read the passages — she learned to dismantle them, distinguishing between what the author states explicitly and what's merely implied. Her approach to the Reading section zeroes in on how to handle the dual-passage comparisons and inference questio...
Yale University
Bachelor in Arts
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Justin
I am an aspiring applied mathematician, with particular interest in image processing and climate science. I graduated in May 2017 from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor's in physics and mathematics, and am beginning a PhD program in September 2017 at the University of Chicago in Com...
Washington University in St. Louis
Bachelor's in Physics and Mathematics
University of Chicago
Doctor of Philosophy, Computational Mathematics
Certified Tutor
Liz
The ACT Reading section rewards students who can quickly identify an author's purpose, trace argument structure, and distinguish between what a passage states and what it implies. Liz scored a 34 ACT composite and draws on her history and humanities training at Washington University in St. Louis to ...
Simmons College
Masters, Special Education: Mild to Moderate Disabilities 5-12
Washington University in St. Louis
Bachelor of Arts in History (minors in Humanities and Anthropology)
Certified Tutor
Richard
A government major at Harvard, Richard spent his coursework doing exactly what the ACT Reading section rewards: rapidly digesting competing political arguments, identifying an author's central claim, and distinguishing stated evidence from implied conclusions — skills that map directly onto the soci...
Harvard University
Bachelor in Arts, Government
Certified Tutor
Dana
Reading four dense passages in 35 minutes requires a method, not just strong reading skills. Dana's policy studies trained her to extract arguments and evidence from complex texts fast — exactly the skill the ACT Reading section rewards, especially on the social science and humanities passages. Her ...
Brown University
Bachelor in Arts, Public Policy and American Institutions
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Charles
I am currently interviewing for medical school for matriculation in August 2017.
University of Cambridge
Masters, Biochemistry
Amherst College
Bachelors, Neuroscience
Certified Tutor
Michelle
The ACT Reading section gives students just 35 minutes for four dense passages, which means most score gains come from learning how to read strategically rather than thoroughly. Michelle teaches a passage-mapping approach — identifying the author's argument, tone shifts, and key evidence before touc...
Yale University
Bachelor in Arts
Certified Tutor
5+ years
Aaron
The ACT Reading section punishes students who read every passage the same way; a science excerpt and a humanities narrative require different strategies for locating evidence under time pressure. Aaron, who earned a 36 composite, walks students through passage-mapping techniques that cut re-reading ...
Columbia University in the City of New York
Bachelor in Arts, Biochemistry
Certified Tutor
8+ years
Solange
I'm Solange - a recent graduate from Harvard where I studied Sociology & Women's Studies. I've been tutoring for eight years now, and have worked with a wide range of ages and in a wide range of subjects. Some of my specialties are college prep/test taking II worked in the admissions office on campu...
Harvard University
Bachelor in Arts (Sociology & Women's Studies)
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Frequently Asked Questions
ACT Reading tests comprehension and speed—students often struggle with pacing through five passages in 35 minutes, distinguishing between similar answer choices, and identifying an author's tone or purpose. Many students also find it difficult to balance reading carefully enough to understand the passage while moving quickly enough to finish on time. Working with a tutor can help you develop strategies to tackle these specific challenges and build confidence in the section.
Score improvement depends on your starting point and how consistently you apply strategies, but many students see 2-4 point increases after focused work on pacing, question-type recognition, and passage annotation techniques. The key is identifying your specific weak areas—whether that's vocabulary in context, inference questions, or time management—and targeting those directly. A tutor can assess your current performance and create a personalized plan to address your biggest obstacles.
Your first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment—either a full practice test section or targeted questions—to identify your strengths and specific areas for improvement. The tutor will discuss your current score, target score, and timeline, then outline a customized study plan that fits your needs. You'll also learn about the test format, question types, and initial strategies you can start using right away.
Effective strategies include active annotation (underlining main ideas and marking question clues as you read), previewing questions before reading the passage, and practicing the "big picture" approach to understand overall themes rather than getting stuck on details. Many students also benefit from skipping difficult questions initially and returning to them after completing easier ones. A tutor can teach you which strategies work best for your reading style and help you practice them under timed conditions.
Practice tests are essential—they help you build stamina, identify patterns in your mistakes, and practice pacing in real test conditions. Most students need 4-6 full-length practice tests spread throughout their study period to see meaningful improvement. Between practice tests, targeted drills on specific question types (inference, vocabulary in context, author's purpose) help reinforce weak areas. A tutor can guide you through practice test results, showing you exactly why you missed questions and how to avoid similar mistakes.
Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of focused preparation, meeting with a tutor 1-2 times per week, combined with independent practice. If you're starting further from your goal score or have limited time before test day, more intensive sessions may help you progress faster. Your tutor can create a realistic timeline based on your current score, target score, and how much time you can dedicate to studying each week.
Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or unsure about strategies—practicing under timed conditions with a tutor helps build confidence and familiarity with the test format. Techniques like deep breathing, positive self-talk, and having a clear game plan for each passage can reduce stress on test day. Your tutor can also help you identify which question types trigger anxiety and give you targeted practice to turn those into strengths.
Look for tutors with strong ACT Reading scores themselves, experience teaching test-taking strategies (not just general reading skills), and a track record of helping students improve their scores. They should understand the nuances of each question type and be able to explain why certain answers are correct or incorrect. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in Buffalo who specialize in ACT Reading and can provide personalized instruction tailored to your needs.
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