Private ACT Tutoring — NYC, San Diego & Online
Expert one-on-one ACT preparation with Dr. Stuart Donnelly, Oxford Ph.D. A proven approach to raising your composite score.
ACT Tutoring with Dr. Stuart Donnelly
The ACT is accepted by every four-year college and university in the United States, and for many students it is the better fit compared to the SAT. At Tutors of Oxford, Dr. Stuart Donnelly provides private, one-on-one ACT tutoring that addresses every section of the enhanced ACT — English, Math, and Reading, plus the optional Science and Writing tests.
With a Ph.D. from the University of Oxford and more than two decades of professional tutoring experience, Dr. Donnelly brings deep content expertise across every tested subject. His approach is diagnostic and data-driven: each student receives a customized study plan built around their specific strengths, weaknesses, and score goals.
Sessions are available in person in New York City and San Diego, or online via Zoom from anywhere in the world.
What Makes Our ACT Tutoring Different
A structured, personalized program designed to maximize your composite ACT score.
Personalized Approach
Every program starts with a full-length diagnostic ACT to identify your strengths and weaknesses across every section. Dr. Donnelly uses these results to build a study plan that focuses your time where it will have the greatest impact on your composite score.
All Sections Covered
English, Math, and Reading — plus the optional Science and Writing tests. Dr. Donnelly teaches every section of the ACT, so you do not need to coordinate multiple tutors. One expert covers the entire exam from start to finish.
Proven Score Gains
On average, students who complete a full tutoring program with Dr. Donnelly raise their composite ACT score by 4 to 8 points. Regular practice tests, targeted content review, and strategic test-taking techniques drive measurable improvement.
Flexible Format
Meet in person at our NYC or San Diego offices, or connect online via Zoom from anywhere. Switch between formats freely with no penalty — many students alternate based on their weekly schedule.
About the ACT
A clear understanding of the ACT's structure and scoring helps students prepare with purpose.
The ACT is a standardized college admissions exam administered by ACT, Inc. and accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the United States. The enhanced ACT (national online tests from April 2025, paper tests from September 2025) is shorter, makes Science optional, and is linear (non-adaptive).
Test Structure
The enhanced ACT has three core sections plus two optional tests:
- English (50 questions, 35 minutes) — Grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, rhetorical skills, and organization.
- Math (45 questions, 50 minutes) — Algebra, functions, geometry, statistics and probability, and trigonometry. Calculator permitted on all questions.
- Reading (36 questions, 40 minutes) — Literary and informational passages testing comprehension, craft, and reasoning.
- Science (optional; 40 questions, 40 minutes) — Data interpretation, research summaries, and conflicting viewpoints across biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science. Reported separately along with a STEM score.
- Writing (optional, 40 minutes) — One essay prompt requiring analysis of multiple perspectives on a given issue.
Key Facts
- Composite Score Range: 1–36, the average of English, Math, and Reading only (Science no longer counts toward the Composite)
- Test Length: 131 questions in 2 hours 5 minutes for the core test (171 questions in 2 hours 45 minutes with Science), plus 40 minutes for optional Writing
- Format: Linear (not adaptive); paper, online at a test center, or bring-your-own-device, depending on the test center
- Current ACT fees (2026–27): $70 core test; $75 with Science; $95 with Writing; $100 with both
Upcoming ACT National Test Dates (2026–27)
- December 12, 2026 — register by November 6, 2026
- February 27, 2027 — register by January 22, 2027
- April 10, 2027 — register by March 5, 2027
- June 12, 2027 — register by May 7, 2027
- July 10, 2027 — register by June 4, 2027
U.S. national dates from ACT’s 2026–27 calendar; late registration (extra fee) runs for a few more weeks. Always confirm dates and fees at act.org.
Our ACT Tutoring Approach
Dr. Donnelly's method addresses each ACT section with targeted strategies and deep content instruction.
English
The ACT English section rewards students who know the rules. Dr. Donnelly covers every tested grammar convention — comma usage, sentence boundaries, verb tense, pronoun agreement, and rhetorical effectiveness — and drills students until the patterns become automatic. Speed and accuracy are developed in parallel so students can complete all 50 questions in 35 minutes with confidence.
Math
ACT Math covers a broad range of topics from basic arithmetic through trigonometry. Dr. Donnelly identifies the specific content gaps holding each student back and fills them with clear instruction and targeted practice. Strategic approaches for the hardest questions — where most points are won or lost — are a central focus of every session.
Reading
With 36 questions in 40 minutes, pacing is critical. Dr. Donnelly teaches active reading strategies, passage prioritization, and evidence-location techniques that help students answer questions efficiently without sacrificing accuracy. Each passage type, literary and informational, is practised individually.
Science
The optional ACT Science section is less about memorizing facts and more about interpreting data, charts, and experimental designs. Dr. Donnelly trains students to extract information quickly from graphs and tables, compare experimental setups, and evaluate conflicting scientific viewpoints — skills that translate directly into higher scores regardless of science background. We help you decide whether Science (and the STEM score) is worth taking for your target colleges.
Pacing is everything on the ACT. Unlike the adaptive SAT, every ACT question carries equal weight. Dr. Donnelly teaches time-management strategies for each section so students can answer every question and avoid leaving points on the table.
Weighing the ACT against the digital SAT? Compare formats on our private SAT tutoring page, build skills with math tutoring, or book a free consultation for a personal recommendation.
What Our ACT Students Say
“I want to start with saying that you are an amazing tutor! My composite went from a 29 the last two times I took the ACT to a 33! You helped me achieve an 11 point jump on my science section, and a full 4 points on my composite in the two months you tutored me! Thank you so much, I will recommend you to all my friends, and hopefully in a few years be back in your office for help on the MCAT's. Thank you again”
“Stuart Donnelly gave my daughter amazing guidance in her SAT / ACT prep which resulted in a top score. We had worked with him for SHSAT prep as well and he is a reliable and professional tutor and gave her the prep she needed to excel. I highly recommend Stuart and his service, top quality!”
“Dr. Donnelly is patient and supportive and is clear when explaining questions that were challenging to me. He also urged me to work out questions on my own, which was extremely helpful. He created an atmosphere in which I looked forward to the challenge of each section on the practice tests, and I definitely felt more confident taking the test. If I need to prepare for another standardized test, I will definitely contact Dr. Donnelly.”
ACT Tutoring FAQs
The enhanced ACT has three core sections (English, Math, Reading), an optional Science section, and an optional Writing essay; the 1–36 Composite averages English, Math, and Reading. It is linear and allows a calculator on all math questions. The digital SAT has two sections (Reading and Writing, Math), is adaptive, allows a calculator on the entire Math section, and is scored 400–1600. Dr. Donnelly can help you decide which test best suits your strengths during a free consultation.
Most students work with Dr. Donnelly for 10 to 20 sessions over 2 to 4 months. The exact number depends on your starting score, target score, and how much independent practice you complete between sessions. Dr. Donnelly will create a detailed study plan during your free consultation based on your diagnostic results.
Yes. All ACT tutoring sessions are available online via Zoom with screen sharing and a digital whiteboard. Many students use a hybrid format, alternating between in-person and online sessions as their schedule requires. There is no price difference between formats, and you can switch at any time.
Most colleges no longer require or recommend the ACT Writing section, but a small number of competitive programs still consider it. Dr. Donnelly will advise you based on your target schools. If you do choose to take Writing, preparation for it is included in your tutoring program at no additional charge.
Results vary by student, but most students who complete a full tutoring program with Dr. Donnelly improve their composite ACT score by 4 to 8 points. Students who combine tutoring with consistent practice between sessions tend to see the strongest gains. Specific targets are set during your initial diagnostic assessment based on your starting score and timeline.
No. On the enhanced ACT, Science is optional. If you take it, it is reported separately on the 1–36 scale along with a STEM score, but it no longer counts toward the Composite, which averages English, Math, and Reading. The core test is 131 questions in 2 hours 5 minutes, and the current fee is $70 ($75 with Science).