Your child’s ACT score came back lower than expected. Maybe it was their first attempt, maybe it was a retake that did not move the needle. Either way, you are here because you know improvement is possible and you want to know how to make it happen.
This guide is written for parents, not students. It covers what actually drives ACT score improvement, how to build a preparation plan that works, which sections to prioritize, and when to bring in expert help. By the end, you will have a clear action plan you can start using this week.
Step 1: Understand Why the Score Is Where It Is
Before doing anything else, you need to understand what is holding the composite score down. The ACT composite is the average of four section scores: English, Math, Reading, and Science. A weak performance in one section can significantly lower the composite even if the other three sections are strong.
The first thing to do is pull up your child’s score report. The ACT provides a breakdown by section and by subscores within each section. Look for the following:
- Which section has the lowest score? That section is your highest priority.
- Is the gap between sections large or small? A student with a 22 English, 18 Math, 21 Reading, and 19 Science has a clear Math and Science problem. A student with 18 across the board has a preparation problem that applies to everything.
- Within each section, which subscores are lowest? The ACT breaks down each section further. In Math, for example, subscores cover pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, and statistics separately. Knowing which subscore is weakest tells you exactly what to study.
Once you know which sections are dragging the composite down, you have a target. Improvement becomes a matter of closing specific gaps rather than redoing everything from scratch.
Step 2: Set a Realistic Target Score
Improvement without a target is unfocused. Before beginning any preparation, set a specific composite score goal based on your child’s college list.
Look up the ACT middle 50% range for the colleges your child is most interested in. If your child currently scores a 22 and their target school expects a 27 to 31, you have a 5-point improvement goal. That is significant but achievable with the right preparation over the right timeline.
Here is a general guide to realistic improvement ranges based on preparation effort:
| Score Gap to Close | Realistic Timeline | Recommended Approach |
| 1 to 2 points | 4 to 6 weeks | Focused self-study. Practice tests plus targeted review of weak areas. |
| 3 to 4 points | 8 to 10 weeks | Structured prep program or individual tutoring with weekly sessions. |
| 5 to 6 points | 12 to 16 weeks | Intensive tutoring with section-by-section curriculum and regular practice tests. |
| 7 or more points | 16 to 24 weeks | Comprehensive program starting with diagnostic. Best results with 1-on-1 certified tutor. |
Step 3: Build a Section-by-Section Improvement Plan
Each ACT section responds to different preparation strategies. Here is what parents need to know about improving each one:
English (Grammar and Writing)
The English section tests grammar rules, punctuation, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills. It is one of the most coachable sections on the test because the rules it tests are finite and consistent.
- The most commonly tested rules are: comma usage, apostrophes, subject-verb agreement, pronoun agreement, and sentence transitions.
- Students who read the questions carefully and apply the rules they have studied consistently improve in this section faster than almost any other.
- Aim for 75 questions in 45 minutes, which means no more than 36 seconds per question. Pacing is a major factor here.
Math
The ACT Math section covers pre-algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, coordinate geometry, plane geometry, and trigonometry. Most of the questions test material from Grades 7 through 10, with a smaller number from advanced topics.
- Students who are below a 20 in Math almost always have gaps in foundational algebra. Fixing these gaps produces fast score gains.
- Students scoring in the 20 to 25 range typically struggle with coordinate geometry and intermediate algebra. Targeted practice on these topics moves the score.
- Students scoring 25 and above often lose points on trigonometry and advanced geometry. These topics need specific attention to break into the 30s.
- The calculator is permitted throughout. Students should practice using their calculator efficiently rather than doing calculations by hand.
Reading
The Reading section includes four passages: literary narrative, social science, humanities, and natural science. Students have 35 minutes for 40 questions, which means roughly 8 to 9 minutes per passage.
- The biggest issue for most students is time, not comprehension. Practice pacing with a timer before worrying about content strategies.
- Students should read the questions before reading the passage. This tells them what to look for and prevents re-reading.
- The correct answer is always supported by specific text in the passage. Training students to go back and find evidence rather than answering from memory improves accuracy significantly.
Science
The Science section does not test science facts. It tests the ability to read and interpret graphs, charts, tables, and research summaries. A student who never took advanced science classes can score well in this section if they understand the format.
- Most questions ask students to read a value from a graph or identify a trend in data. These require careful attention to labels and axes, not memorized science content.
- The Conflicting Viewpoints passage asks students to compare two scientific perspectives. This passage is usually best tackled last.
- Improving Science score is often about improving data-reading speed and accuracy, not studying science content.
Step 4: Choose the Right Preparation Format
Not all ACT preparation formats produce the same results. The right format depends on how much time your child has before their test date, how large the score gap is, and how well your child learns independently.
Self-Study
Works best for students with a gap of 1 to 3 points who are disciplined enough to follow a study schedule without external accountability. Requires quality materials including official ACT practice tests, a reliable prep book, and a consistent schedule of at least 5 hours per week.
Group Prep Classes
Work well for students who benefit from structured instruction and peer accountability. Group classes cover the full ACT curriculum in a scheduled format. They are a cost-effective option for students with a score gap of 2 to 4 points and a timeline of 8 to 12 weeks. Blackmon Tutoring’s ACT Group Program keeps group sizes small to ensure individual attention alongside the group structure.
Individual Hourly Tutoring
Best for students who need flexibility in scheduling or want to target specific sections without committing to a full structured program. Sessions can be booked as needed and focused on whichever sections need the most work. Our ACT Individual Hourly Program is a good option for students who want expert guidance without a long-term commitment.
Full 1-on-1 Tutoring Program
Produces the best results for students with a gap of 4 or more points. A certified tutor works through a structured curriculum, tracks progress between sessions, and adjusts the plan based on what is and is not working. Our ACT Full Program includes 30 one-on-one sessions with a certified ACT tutor, starting with a diagnostic to identify exactly where the points are being lost.
Accelerated Prep
For students who have a test date coming up in 4 to 6 weeks and do not have time for a full program, an accelerated approach focuses preparation on the highest-impact areas only. Our ACT Accelerated Program is built for exactly this situation.
Step 5: Build a Weekly Practice Schedule
Consistent, structured practice produces better results than cramming. Here is a realistic weekly schedule based on different preparation timelines:
| Timeline | Hours Per Week | Weekly Structure |
| 4 to 6 weeks | 8 to 10 hours | 2 sessions of section-specific practice (90 min each). 1 timed full practice test on the weekend. Review all missed questions before the next session. |
| 8 to 12 weeks | 6 to 8 hours | 2 sessions of targeted content review (60 min each). 1 partial practice test (2 sections). Weekly review of errors and patterns. |
| 12 to 16 weeks | 4 to 6 hours | 2 content review sessions (60 min each). 1 full practice test every 3 weeks. Regular tutor or program check-ins to track progress. |
One of the most important habits to build is reviewing every missed question after a practice test. Students who simply retake tests without understanding why they got questions wrong make very little progress. The review session is where the actual learning happens.
Step 6: Use Official Practice Tests
The single best preparation resource for the ACT is official ACT practice tests. These are real tests from past administrations and reflect the exact difficulty, format, and question style your child will face on test day.
Here is how to use practice tests effectively:
- Always take practice tests under real conditions: timed, in one sitting, with no phone or distractions.
- Use a real answer sheet and bubble in responses, exactly as your child will on test day.
- Score the test immediately after completing it and go through every missed question the same day.
- Track scores across tests over time. A score that is not improving after 3 to 4 weeks of preparation signals that the preparation strategy needs to change.
- Take at least one full practice test before the real test date, ideally two to three weeks beforehand. This confirms the score is where it needs to be and identifies any last adjustments.
Step 7: Address Test Anxiety and Pacing
Two factors that consistently lower ACT scores independently of academic ability are test anxiety and poor pacing. Both are fixable with the right approach.
Test Anxiety
Students who know the material but freeze during the test are often experiencing anxiety that is not addressed by content preparation alone. Signs include leaving questions blank, rushing through sections, or performing significantly worse on timed tests than on untimed practice.
The most effective way to reduce test anxiety is familiarity. The more test-like conditions your child practices in, the less unfamiliar and threatening the real test feels. Taking 4 to 6 full practice tests before the real exam significantly reduces anxiety for most students.
Pacing
Pacing errors are one of the most common causes of preventable score loss on the ACT. The time per question varies by section:
- English: 36 seconds per question
- Math: 60 seconds per question
- Reading: approximately 8 to 9 minutes per passage
- Science: approximately 5 minutes per passage
Students should practice skipping questions they cannot answer quickly and returning to them if time allows. Spending 3 minutes on one hard question while 10 easier questions go unanswered is one of the most common and costly pacing mistakes on the ACT.
Step 8: Plan the Test Date Timeline
A preparation plan without a target test date is just wishful thinking. Here is how to work backward from the test date to set up the preparation timeline:
- Identify the latest test date that still allows scores to be submitted before college application deadlines. For most students applying in fall of senior year, this is the October or November test date.
- Count backward from that test date to set the preparation start date based on the timeline in Step 2.
- Build in one buffer test date in case the first attempt does not reach the target. For example, if the October date is the deadline, plan to take the ACT in September with preparation starting in June or July.
- Register for the ACT early. Test centers fill up, particularly in Texas metros where demand is high. Late registration incurs a fee and limits test center availability.
If you are unsure which test date works best for your child’s school schedule and college timeline, our team at Blackmon Tutoring can help you map it out. You can explore our ACT tutoring programs or get a quote to find the right program for your child’s specific situation.
When to Bring in a Professional ACT Tutor
Self-study works for some students. For many, it does not produce the improvement needed because it lacks the diagnostic precision, accountability, and expert feedback that a qualified tutor provides.
Consider bringing in a certified ACT tutor if any of the following apply:
- Your child has taken the ACT twice without meaningful improvement.
- The score gap between the current composite and the target is 4 or more points.
- Your child’s test date is within 8 weeks and the score is not yet in the target range.
- Your child struggles with self-discipline or maintaining a consistent study schedule independently.
- One section is significantly lower than the others and self-study has not moved it.
A certified tutor starts with a diagnostic to pinpoint exactly where points are being lost, builds a session plan around those specific gaps, and tracks progress through every stage of preparation. Our ACT Full Program covers all four sections across 30 personalized sessions. For students with a specific upcoming test date, our ACT Accelerated Program delivers targeted preparation in a compressed timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can my child realistically improve their ACT score?
Most students who prepare properly improve by 2 to 6 points. Students with a large gap between their untrained score and their academic capability often see the largest gains. Improvements of 6 or more points are possible with intensive preparation over 12 to 20 weeks.
How long does it take to improve an ACT score?
It depends on the size of the gap and the intensity of preparation. A 2 to 3 point improvement typically takes 6 to 8 weeks of structured prep. A 5 to 6 point improvement usually requires 12 to 16 weeks with expert guidance.
Which ACT section is easiest to improve?
English is typically the fastest section to improve because the grammar rules it tests are finite and learnable. Science is also highly improvable because it tests data reading skills rather than memorized content. Math improvement depends on which skill gaps exist.
Should my child retake the ACT?
In most cases, yes. Most colleges superscore the ACT, meaning they take the highest section scores across multiple test dates. A targeted retake after focused preparation on weak sections can significantly improve the superscored composite.
How many times should my child take the ACT?
Most students benefit from taking the ACT two to three times. The first attempt provides a real baseline. The second attempt, after structured preparation, typically shows meaningful improvement. A third attempt is useful if one or two sections still have room to grow.
Can my child improve their ACT score on their own?
Yes, if the gap is small and they are disciplined. For gaps of 4 or more points, or for students who have already attempted self-study without results, a structured program with a certified tutor produces significantly better outcomes.
What is the best way to prepare for the ACT Math section?
Start by identifying which math topics are causing the most missed questions. Focus first on foundational algebra if scores are below 20, then on geometry and intermediate algebra for scores in the 20 to 25 range, and on trigonometry and advanced topics for scores above 25.
How do I know if my child needs a tutor or just more practice?
If your child has completed 3 or more full practice tests and scores have not improved meaningfully, the preparation approach needs to change. A tutor can identify what self-study is missing and provide the feedback and accountability that independent practice cannot.
Ready to Build Your Child’s ACT Improvement Plan?
At Blackmon Tutoring, our certified ACT tutors work one-on-one with your child to identify exactly where points are being lost and build a session-by-session plan to close the gap. We serve students in Texas, Georgia, California, Florida, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and New York, with both in-home and online options available.
Explore our ACT tutoring programs, view our ACT Full Program, or get a quote to find the right program for your child’s goals and test date.
Every point of improvement opens a new door. The plan starts here.
