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 exam — English, Math, Reading, Science, and the optional Writing test.
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 all four tested subjects. 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 all four sections. 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, Reading, and Science — plus optional Writing. 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
Students who complete a full tutoring program with Dr. Donnelly consistently 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. It is accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the United States. Unlike the SAT, the ACT includes a dedicated Science section and tests four subject areas in a linear (non-adaptive) format.
Test Structure
The ACT consists of four required sections plus one optional section:
- English (75 questions, 45 minutes) — Grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, rhetorical skills, and organization.
- Math (60 questions, 60 minutes) — Pre-algebra, algebra, coordinate geometry, plane geometry, and trigonometry. Calculator permitted on all questions.
- Reading (40 questions, 35 minutes) — Four passages covering prose fiction, social science, humanities, and natural science.
- Science (40 questions, 35 minutes) — Data interpretation, research summaries, and conflicting viewpoints across biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science.
- Writing (optional, 40 minutes) — One essay prompt requiring analysis of multiple perspectives on a given issue.
Key Facts
- Composite Score Range: 1–36 (average of four section scores)
- Test Length: Approximately 2 hours 55 minutes (3 hours 35 minutes with Writing)
- Format: Paper-based, linear (not adaptive)
- Offered: Seven times per year at test centers nationwide
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 75 questions 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 only 35 minutes for four passages, 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 (prose fiction, social science, humanities, natural science) is practised individually.
Science
The 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.
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.
What Our ACT Students Say
I started with a 24 composite and needed at least a 30 for my target schools. Dr. Donnelly identified that my Science and Reading pacing were the biggest issues and built a plan around those sections. After 15 sessions I scored a 31. His teaching is clear, focused, and incredibly efficient.
The ACT Science section completely confused me until I worked with Dr. Donnelly. He taught me how to read the data and ignore the intimidating terminology. My Science score went from a 21 to a 29 and my composite jumped from 25 to 31. I wish I had started sooner.
We did everything online and it worked perfectly. Dr. Donnelly shared his screen to walk through problems step by step, and I could go back and review the recordings before our next session. My composite went from 27 to 33 over three months. Outstanding tutor and a genuinely great teacher.
ACT Tutoring FAQs
The ACT has four required sections (English, Math, Reading, Science) plus an optional Writing section, and scores on a 1–36 composite scale. The SAT has two sections (Reading and Writing, Math) and scores 400–1600. The ACT includes a dedicated Science section and allows a calculator on all math questions, while the digital SAT uses an adaptive format. 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.