Luke the Tutor - SAT & ACT Expert

If your student's ACT Math score isn't improving, it's usually not because they need to work harder.

It's because they're studying the wrong way.

Here's the 4-step process I recommend:

1️⃣ Take a practice test to identify weaknesses.

A practice test is not studying. It's a tool to show students what they need to work on.

2️⃣ Learn the concept behind the question.

Don't memorize one problem.

Learn the topic itself.

Examples:

• Probability

• Percentages

• Sine, cosine, and tangent

3️⃣ Practice multiple versions of that concept.

Students should learn how to solve it in different ways so they can recognize it no matter how it appears on test day.

4️⃣ Review those concepts consistently.

One of the biggest mistakes students make is learning something once and then never revisiting it.

The goal isn't to memorize answers.

The goal is to build skills that show up every time they take the ACT.

Students improve the fastest when they stop studying random problems and start mastering the concepts behind them.

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Taking more ACT practice tests is NOT the same thing as studying.

In fact, taking too many practice tests without changing your approach can actually keep students stuck.

Here's the trap most students fall into:

❌ Take a practice test

❌ Check their score

❌ Quickly review mistakes

❌ Take another practice test

❌ Get the same score

Instead, every practice test should become a roadmap.

For every missed question, ask:

• What was this question testing?

• Why did I get it wrong?

• What concept do I need to learn so I never miss this again?

Students don't improve by memorizing answers.

They improve by learning the concepts behind the questions.

The students who see the biggest score jumps are the ones who use practice tests to identify weaknesses, spend time learning those skills, and then retest themselves.

Practice tests are an assessment tool, not the study plan itself.

Share this with your student before they take their next ACT.

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At some point, studying harder stops being the answer.

Here are 3 signs your student's ACT self-studying may not be working anymore:

🚩 Their official ACT score has barely moved.

If they've been studying for weeks or months and have only improved 1–2 points, it's usually a sign that something in their process needs to change.

🚩 Their practice test scores have plateaued.

If they're getting the same score over and over again, they're probably struggling to learn from their mistakes or don't know what's actually holding them back.

🚩 They're still 3–6+ points away from their goal.

Especially if they're trying to get into a competitive school or unlock scholarships and deadlines are approaching.

The students who improve the fastest aren't always the ones who study the most.

They're the ones who can quickly identify what's going wrong and build a plan to fix it.

Comment "accelerator" and I'll send you my free ACT Accelerator guide that walks through the exact system I've used to score a 36 three years in a row and help over 900 students raise their scores.

Should your student apply test optional or submit their ACT/SAT score?

Don't guess. Use these 3 questions to make the decision.

1️⃣ Is their score within the school's middle 50% range?

If their score is in the middle — or even better, near the top — they should absolutely submit it because it makes them a stronger applicant.

2️⃣ How does their GPA compare?

Ask yourself:
• Is their GPA above average?
• Are they taking AP or Honors classes?
• Is their course rigor competitive?

A strong GPA can help, but it doesn't automatically mean students should skip submitting a score.

3️⃣ Will test scores impact scholarships?

This is the step many families miss.

Some schools require ACT or SAT scores for merit scholarships, while others award scholarships based primarily on GPA.

Before making a decision, check the school's financial aid page and see what they require.

Test optional is a strategy, not an automatic choice.

The goal is to maximize both admissions opportunities **and** scholarship opportunities.

Save this and discuss it with your student before submitting college applications.

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Is your student balancing sports, practices, games, travel, and school... while also trying to prepare for the ACT?

They do NOT need to study 3 hours a day.

They need to study smarter.

Here's the approach I recommend:

🏈 Take a practice test and identify the topics causing the most problems.

🏈 Focus on the highest-impact weaknesses first.

Examples:
• Punctuation
• Geometry
• Main idea questions
• Common grammar rules

🏈 Study 45 minutes a day, 3–4 days per week.

🏈 Focus on ONE topic at a time until it's no longer a weakness.

Most busy students don't have a time problem.

They have a prioritization problem.

The fastest score improvements come from focusing on the topics that cost the most points—not trying to study everything at once.

That's how students can make significant progress on the ACT even during a busy sports season.

Comment "accelerator" and I'll send you my free ACT Accelerator guide with the same system I've used to help hundreds of students raise their scores.

What happens when a student has a 4.0 GPA but a low ACT score?

Colleges don't automatically reject them.

But they do start asking questions.

A GPA and an ACT score measure different things:

📚 GPA shows:
• Consistency
• Work ethic
• Classroom performance
• Long-term academic success

📝 ACT shows:
• Standardized academic readiness
• Performance under pressure
• How a student compares to applicants from different schools

When there's a large gap between the two, admissions offices naturally become curious.

They may wonder:
• Is the student a poor test taker?
• Were the classes less rigorous?
• Is the GPA unusually inflated?
• Is the ACT score an outlier?

That's why it's important to research the schools your student is applying to and compare both their GPA and ACT score to the school's typical admitted student profile.

The strongest applications tell a consistent story.

A strong GPA is a huge advantage. A strong ACT score can reinforce that story and help students become even more competitive for admissions and scholarships.

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Does your student's ACT practice score look great... but their official ACT score comes back lower?

There is usually a reason.

The ACT isn't just testing knowledge.
It's testing whether students can perform under pressure on a Saturday morning in an unfamiliar environment.

That's why some students score differently on test day than they do at home.

Two things that can help:

✅ Learn the question types

Students who can quickly recognize:
• Transition questions
• Geometry questions
• Main idea questions

Have a much easier time knowing exactly how to approach the problem.

✅ Warm up before the test

One of my favorite strategies is having students do a few practice questions from each section before they leave for the testing center.

The goal isn't to learn anything new.

It's to get their brain into "ACT mode" before the clock starts.

The students who perform best on test day aren't always the ones who know the most.

They're often the ones who are the most prepared for the testing environment.

Comment "accelerator" and I'll send you my free ACT Accelerator guide with the same strategies I've used to score a 36 three years in a row and help hundreds of students raise their scores.

One of the biggest questions parents ask me is: "How much can my student realistically improve on the ACT?"

The answer depends on two things:

✅ How much time they have
✅ How consistently they study

As a general rule:

📈 1 month of focused prep
Most students see a 1–3 point improvement.

📈 2 months of focused prep
Many students see a 2–4 point improvement.

📈 3 months of focused prep
This is where I typically see the biggest gains, with many students improving 4–7 points or more.

Of course, every student is different.

Some students improve faster.
Some students need more time.

But one thing is almost always true:

Students who consistently identify their weaknesses, learn from their mistakes, and study with a plan improve far more than students who simply take practice tests and hope for the best.

If your student is planning their next ACT, use this as a guide to determine when they should start studying.

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One of the most common questions I get from parents is:

**"When should my student take their first ACT or SAT?"**

My answer depends on one thing: their math track.

📚 If your student is in advanced math:
I usually recommend taking their first ACT and SAT after sophomore year.

Why?
Because they've already seen more of the content that appears on both exams.

📚 If your student is in regular math:
I typically recommend taking their first test during junior year, after they've had more exposure to Algebra 2 and other key concepts.

The goal of the first test is NOT to get a perfect score.

The goal is to:
✅ Establish a baseline
✅ Compare ACT vs. SAT performance
✅ Figure out which test fits them best
✅ Build a plan from there

Students who start with a baseline score tend to make much better decisions about where to focus their time and energy.

Save this and discuss it with your student if you're just starting the college planning process.

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One of the biggest mistakes families make is retaking the ACT without a clear reason.

Before signing up for another test, ask these 2 questions:

1️⃣ Is my student's score high enough for their target schools?

Look up the school's ACT middle 50% range.

As a general rule:
• Bottom of the range = less competitive
• Middle of the range = solid position
• Top of the range = very competitive applicant

2️⃣ Is my student's score high enough for the scholarships we're targeting?

Search:
• School Name + Scholarships
• School Name + Merit Scholarships

Many colleges publish scholarship requirements directly on their websites.

If your student's score is already competitive for admissions and scholarships, they may be done with the ACT.

But if a few more points could improve admissions chances or unlock significant scholarship money, a retake may be well worth it.

The goal isn't to get the highest score possible.

The goal is to get the score your student actually needs.

Save this and discuss it with your student before deciding whether to retake the ACT.

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