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ACT Tutoring


Contact Us

Nurturing Wisdom has helped thousands of students prepare for the ACT through customized, 1:1 tutoring. The benefits extend well beyond test scores!

The Nurturing Wisdom Approach

When we meet students where they are, we have the best chance of getting them where they want to be! This approach enables us to work with students with a wide variety of needs and goals.

Here’s how we keep our in-person and online tutoring dynamic and engaging!

We start with a diagnostic ACT pre-test and consultation

Both help us understand your child and how they learn: their strengths and weaknesses, school experience, personality, interests, talents, and schedule. This is key information for making a strong tutor match.

Our team develops a customized tutoring plan

The plan is based on your child’s starting point and goals. It includes a recommended number of sessions and dates for practice and real tests. 

Your tutor tailors lessons to your child's needs

Your tutor adjusts instruction based on how your child does in session, on homework, and on practice tests. Lessons incorporate test-taking strategies and test-related academic skills, as well as timing practice and test anxiety reduction strategies as needed. If your child is approved for accommodations, we teach how to apply them.

Your director guides you through the entire process

We’re also responsive to your needs as a parent! Your tutoring director checks in regularly, answers any questions along the way, and shares reminders and test-related information.

Getting Started

To get started with ACT tutoring in Chicago or elsewhere, you can either contact us to learn more or dive right in with a diagnostic pre-test. 

Contact Us

When you contact Nurturing Wisdom, you'll connect with a tutoring director. Even if you're not sure when your child will take the ACT, reach out! It's better to be early than late when it comes to test prep.

Diagnostic Pre-Test

We offer several options for taking a diagnostic ACT pre-test, including with a proctor. If your child has already taken a real ACT, we might be able to use it instead of our pre-test.

Students who complete our ACT tutoring program achieve an average increase of 5.5 points from their pre-test to their final test!

The ACT

The ACT is available in both digital and paper-and-pencil formats. We strongly recommend the paper-and-pencil version. 

Test Sections

In a sort of “choose-your-own-adventure” approach, four iterations of the ACT are available to students. 

  • The “core” ACT with English, math, and reading sections
  • The core sections plus science
  • The core sections plus writing
  • The core sections plus science and writing

We recommend taking the science section since college admission requirements vary.

Timing

The core test takes 2 hours and 5 minutes for 131 questions; add time and questions for optional sections

  • English: 35 minutes for 50 questions
  • Math: 50 minutes for 45 questions 
  • Reading: 40 minutes for 36 questions
  • Optional Science: 40 minutes for 40 questions
  • Optional Essay: 40 minutes for 1 prompt

Find information about extended time accommodations on the ACT website. 

Scoring

  • The composite score for the ACT is the average of just the English, math, and reading section scores.
  • If your child takes the science and/or writing sections, those scores will be reported separately from the composite score.
  • The scale is 1-36 for both section and composite scores.
  • Many colleges super score when a student has taken the ACT more than once.

Find out how the ACT compares with the SAT! 

Registration Information

Timely and accurate registration for the real test is important! Familiarize yourself not only with the deadlines, but also test locations and tech requirements if your child will take the digital version.

Real Test Dates

(& Registration Deadlines)

2026

  • September 19 (August 14)
  • October 17 (September 11)
  • December 12 (November 6)

2027

  • February 27 (January 22)
  • April 10 (March 5)
  • Additional April date TBD for Illinois public schools only
  • June 12 (May 7)
  • July 10 (June 4)

Real Test Registration

Visit the ACT website for more info about registration, including test centers and additional deadlines.

We strongly recommend registering for the ACT as soon as you’re certain about the test date. Some test centers fill up quickly!

Testing Accommodations

Plan well ahead of time with a designated school official about securing accommodations for your child. It's a detailed, multi-step process with strict deadlines.

If accommodations are denied, talk with your school official about appealing the decision.

  • Heather, parent of a junior
    Her score went up by 6 points which was amazing, but more importantly was how our tutor did it. He was patient and positive throughout. He was always available for questions and support. He focused on my daughter, but kept in contact with me as well.
    Heather, parent of a junior
  • Susan, parent of an 11th grader
    Our tutoring director was so helpful in guiding us to plan a timeline for our son's prepping and taking the ACT. Since he's our oldest we have no experience with when to ideally take, tutor, and retake the ACT to maximize performance. She has helped us to alter our plans as the ACT test dates continue to change in order to develop the best plan moving forward for our son.
    Susan, parent of an 11th grader
  • Sarah, parent of high schoolers
    Our tutor has been a pleasure, and we appreciate his expertise in helping to prepare our son for the ACT. His calm demeanor is a welcome element in this otherwise stressful point in time. He's been highly responsive and supportive in everything from scheduling logistics to answering questions about test strategy and content. We value him so much that he's now working with our other high school student on geometry.
    Sarah, parent of high schoolers
  • Paige, 11th grader
    I had a great experience with my tutor! She was extremely nice and helpful, and she always kept me on track. I also really appreciated how quick she was to respond to any questions I had over text. I have absolutely no complaints. My overall experience was great. I love how organized the company is and how structured it is to fit any student of any level.
    Paige, 11th grader
  • Courtney, parent of an 11th grader
    Our tutor has been wonderful. She tutored our daughter for her ACT and has been helping with college essays. Our daughter's ACT score went up 5 points, so we think she knows what she is doing! We have been SO happy that we came across Nurturing Wisdom. The emails we get are spot on, the services offered are extremely professional and applicable for our high schoolers, and we will not hesitate to engage with them as needed for our other two girls.
    Courtney, parent of an 11th grader
  • Casey, parent of a 10th grader
    Our tutoring director was very professional, very on point. She followed up immediately with all aspects of my daughter’s tutoring. The pre-test results are the most fascinating part of this whole “project.” Being able to distill the ACT down by subject/question/content makes the entire test achievable.
    Casey, parent of a 10th grader
  • Cynthia and Jim Patti, parents of high schoolers
    We continue to be really pleased with Nurturing Wisdom Tutoring. We have used NW tutors now for our two oldest children and have been very impressed with the tutors we’ve been matched with and the resulting ACT scores. The process, from initial introduction and tutor assignment to practice tests and scheduling, was very seamless and customer-focused. In our case, both children raised their scores significantly. We believe in the program and will definitely be back to Nurturing Wisdom when it is time for our third child to prepare for the ACT.
    Cynthia and Jim Patti, parents of high schoolers
  • Darla, parent of an 11th grader
    Our tutor was very encouraging to my daughter and motivated her to try hard. She never said anything negative and always gave my daughter hope that she could get a really good ACT score. She seemed very excited about what she was doing which gave my daughter more motivation, too. She used their time very well, and their sessions always went until the last minute. She helped my daughter raise her ACT score quite a bit! I will pursue additional tutoring with my son because of the great experience with my daughter.
    Darla, parent of an 11th grader
  • Aunt of a 12th grader
    After our experiences, I would recommend Nurturing Wisdom to anyone. We appreciate our tutor’s excellent work with Rahul. He has learned study skills and gained confidence in his abilities that will serve him well in college. And he's already been accepted to some colleges with generous merit and need-based financial offers!
    Aunt of a 12th grader
  • Kelly, Parent of an Online Tutoring Student
    We could not have been more pleased with the tutoring at Nurturing Wisdom. From the pre-tutoring interview to learn what type of student/learner my daughter is to the tutoring itself, this program is top-notch. Although we were a little nervous to use a tutor online, that aspect was a non-issue. Overall, my daughter was so prepared for the ACT, and her score showed that preparedness. Nurturing Wisdom knows what they are doing and we highly recommend them!  
    Kelly, Parent of an Online Tutoring Student
  • Michelle, parent of a 12th grader
    Our tutor was fabulous! He taught Kevin more about grammar, punctuation, and writing than at least his three years in junior high! He also is unbelievably patient with a fantastic sense of humor. He helped with both ACT prep as well as college essays. My son really enjoyed working with his tutor.
    Michelle, parent of a 12th grader
  • Parent of a junior
    I want to let you know how you and your tutors changed the lives of my children. You were crucial in helping my daughter study for the ACT. Due to a chronic illness, she missed six weeks of school in her junior year and needed some extra help. She raised her ACT score from a 24 to a 30 and was able to get into her #1 college!
    Parent of a junior
  • Parent of a senior
    Our daughter's improvement on the ACT increased her scholarship money by $4,000 per year! I am already "prepping" my high school freshman to expect ACT tutoring from Nurturing Wisdom! Your approach works! Thanks so much for everything. We appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts.
    Parent of a senior