Competition for admissions is always intense as more and more students want to secure their future by getting into the best universities. Standardized tests, such as the ACT, can drastically help improve their chances. Regarding the US scenario, approximately 1.4 million students took the ACT in 2024. This growth in the number of students opting for the ACT has necessitated the need for a tutor who can train students to excel on the ACT.
If you are a tutor looking to branch out and provide tutoring services for the ACT, this article is for you. Today, we are going to take you through the steps on how to become an ACT tutor and build your brand online.
Why is the ACT Tutoring Online Business a Rewarding Opportunity?
ACT tutoring provides academic support to students, helping them prepare for and succeed on the American College Testing (ACT) exam. Whether you are a solo tutor or you work for a tutoring business, it is essential to know that this industry is booming and is in high demand. Although it is optional in some colleges, the ACT scores can still be used for different purposes, such as:
- Merit-based scholarships
- College admission decisions
- Academic placement in universities
With the increase in remote learning and the flexibility of online education, ACT tutoring is now a viable career option at an international level. Whether it is educators or freelancers, the scope of ACT tutoring online is quite broad.
Step-by-step Guide: How to Become an ACT Tutor?
With the right guidance, you can become an ACT tutor and even build your brand. Here are the essential steps that you must follow:
Step 1: Understand ACT Format and Content
Before you start tutoring for ACT private tutoring or ACT online tutoring, you need to be well-versed with all the concepts and formats concerning ACT thoroughly. Essentially, the ACT is divided into four sections, and they are listed below:
- English (grammar and style)
- Reading (comprehension and reasoning)
- Mathematics (algebra to trigonometry)
- Science (data interpretation and scientific analysis)
There is an additional essay writing section, which is optional.
Step 2: Create Study Resources
To grow as an ACT tutor, you must stand out from the various other ACT tutors and some of the best ACT tutoring service providers. You can offer the following benefits to your students:
- Custom worksheets
- Flash Cards
- Practice test
- Guides for strategies in terms of pacing, guessing, and time management.
- Offer downloadable study checklists.
You can also create and share specific lesson plans tailored to your students’ understanding and capabilities. You can either make a lesson plan on your own, or you can also utilize tutor management software to get different lesson plan templates.
Step 3: Gain Experience
To have experience over time, you will have to start somewhere. Whether it’s offering free sessions or being part of tutoring service-providing platforms, everything turns into experience, which will be beneficial for you in the long run. Here is how you can get that initial teaching experience:
- You can volunteer at NGOs or different schools.
- You can offer free trial sessions to friends or relatives.
- It can also help if you register on platforms like Wyzant.
This will help build trust and gather testimonials.
Example: Robert started ACT tutoring for free at a local non-profit for three months. With the splendid experience, the students began recommending him to other peers. These recommendations became the launching pad for his tutoring career.
Step 4: Get Certifications
Although certifications are not mandatory when it comes to tutoring, it does add value to your brand. Some certifications that you can get include:
- National Tutoring Association (NTA)
- From platforms such as Schoolhouse.world for peer-reviewed ACT prep.
Example: Daniel did not have a degree. However, he took a short online certification from NTA. So, when parents ask, ‘Are you qualified enough?’ He shares his badge, which instantly gives him credibility.
Step 5: Choose a Format
Any tutor needs to understand the model they will teach. Below are a few formats that can be used for ACT tutoring:
- For students who require customized plans, one-on-one tutoring is more effective.
- Group classes are great options for clients looking for budget-friendly options.
- As a tutor, if you are looking for passive income, you can also start with recorded courses.
- You can also offer a hybrid tutoring format, where you provide live classes and offer recorded sessions as needed by the students.
If you have decided on a format, you can use tutor management software to manage sessions, schedules, bookings, lesson plans, and even payments for different formats.
Step 6: Set Rates
Pricing for the sessions should be justifiable based on your experience, certifications, and offerings. Here are examples of how you can set your rates:
- As a beginner, you can charge between $25-$50 for a session.
- If you have experience, you can also charge between $60-$90.
- If you have years of experience and credibility along with certifications, you can also charge $100-$200.
Example: Jason, who was new to ACT tutoring, started with the pricing of $30 per hour. After a couple of years of receiving great recommendations and testimonials, he began charging $80 per hour. To encourage bulk working, he also offered bundle packages, session packages, and discounts.
Step 7: Use Different Tools and Software
You can streamline various tasks and activities with tools and software, such as tutor scheduling software, which makes scheduling classes extremely easy. Here are other things that you can do with tutoring software:
- Create lesson plans
- Schedule classes
- Send Reminders
- Score tracking and feedback
- Automation of payments
How to Build Your Brand Online?
Now that you have understood how you can become an ACT tutor, it is essential to look at what steps you can take to build your brand online.
Step 1: Define your Offerings
As an ACT tutor, you must clearly define what you are offering, whether you want to present yourself as an ACT tutor for Spanish-speaking students or an ACT tutor for low-grade students.
Step 2: Create your Online Presence
There are several ways through which you can create your presence online. You can either make your website, or you can even write tutoring blogs as an author and get published with your name on well-known tutoring websites.
An ideal webpage for an ACT tutor should include:
- Your bio plus your qualifications.
- Success stories from students you have taught.
- Link to your blogs or other resources.
- CTA for a free trial session.
Step 3: Use Social Media Platforms
This is the age of digital tools, such as social media apps, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can utilize these platforms to create your presence and market yourself. Here are some things that you can try:
- Create a reel or shorts on ACT tips.
- You can also share screenshots of feedback or student score jumps.
- Always use a catchy hashtag, which will improve the visibility considerably. Hashtags like #ACTtutor #ACTprep will gain more views online.
Step 4: Show Results From Your Tutoring
Testimonials from students or parents are your USP. Therefore, it is important to use them in the best way possible. Share the below-mentioned screenshots on your website or social media platform:
- Score improvements
- Client reviews
- College acceptances
- Parent testimonials
How Much Does ACT Tutoring Cost?
ACT tutoring costs can vary from one to another, depending on several factors such as experience, location, session duration, and the platform being used. However, the ideal tutoring cost range is explained below:
- A beginner tutor can make about $25-$50 per hour.
- An intermediate tutor can make about $60-$90 per hour.
- An expert or a top-tier tutor can make about $100 to $250 per hour.
- If you are looking to conduct group classes, you can charge about $15-$40 per student per hour.
- In case you are offering a recorded course bundle, including lifetime or limited-time access to video lessons, along with downloadable prep materials, you can charge a fee in the range of $100 to $500.
Conclusion
If you are looking to become an ACT tutor in today’s digital world, then it is necessary to understand that you are more than just a teacher explaining concepts. You have to become a guide, a motivator, and a strategic coach to students who are going to take one of the most important exams of their lives. The first step is understanding what you can offer. With the right tools, resources, and a strong online presence, you can take your ACT tutoring from a freelancing opportunity to an impactful full-time career.
FAQs
Is there a minimum ACT score that I should have if I am looking to start ACT tutoring?
If you have a score of 32 or higher, you can be a competitive tutor. However, a minimum of at least 28 is ideal.
How much time does it take to build a reliable and profitable ACT tutoring brand?
With proper marketing, referrals, and experience, you can start seeing the results in about 6 to 8 months. However, the experience of one tutor will not be the same for another tutor. Hence, it is best to consistently post regular content, gather testimonials, and offer valuable sessions to succeed.
Why should I offer a free trial?
A free trial helps to build trust and confidence in the minds of the parents and students. It also demonstrates your value. Based on a free trial, a parent/student might hire you.
Is having a certification necessary to become an ACT tutor?
Certification is not mandatory; however, having certificates can boost your credibility.
