How Octavia.M Scored a 35 on the ACT: With a Perfect 36 in English!
When Octavia.M first joined North American Tutors, she was weighing her options. With a 1390 SAT and a 32 ACT already under her belt, she was debating which test to focus on for college applications.
After some initial diagnostic work and a few dual-track lessons, she made the call: the ACT would give her the best shot at showcasing her strengths. With consistent tutoring and focused strategy, especially in grammar and math, she went on to score a 35 on her official ACT.
Starting Point: 32 ACT, Uncertain Direction
Octavia came in with solid baseline scores but she wasn’t sure which exam would give her the greatest competitive edge. She had been taking an SAT math class but found herself struggling more with English grammar and test-taking structure.
Her early lessons with Frances O’Grady covered both SAT and ACT material. But quickly, her path became clear.
“She’s doing well across the board,” Frances wrote. “But she connects better with the ACT format - especially the English and Math sections.”
Phase One: Grammar Mastery and ACT Math Confidence
Once Octavia committed to the ACT, she and her tutor honed in on her two biggest scoring opportunities:
Grammar mechanics (linking clauses, modifiers, tone, word choice)
Geometry, word problems, and tricky ACT math setups
Each week, she worked through:
Full English and Math sections from practice exams
1600.io and College Panda ACT math packets
Vocabulary refinement and annotation drills to build reading efficiency
“She decided to focus on math above science,” Frances noted, “and she’s doing really well.”
By mid-August, Octavia’s ACT Math was scoring in the mid-30s, and English was trending even higher.
Phase Two: Polishing for Test Day
With just a few weeks until the September test, tutoring shifted from instruction to refinement. Octavia focused on:
Avoiding careless errors, especially on high-value Math questions
Tone consistency and precision in ACT English
Final review of her most frequently missed grammar topics (subject-modifier errors, semicolon usage, and word choice)
“We went over the last few tough questions and fine-tuned her test-day pacing strategy,” Frances wrote. “She was ready.”
The Breakthrough: 35 on Her Official ACT
Octavia sat for the September ACT and walked away with one of the best scores possible:
Official ACT Score: 35
English: 36 Math: 35
Science: 34Why Octavia’s Story Matters
Octavia didn’t spend months doing everything at once. She started by exploring both tests, then doubled down where it counted — focusing on the ACT, working on her biggest gains, and walking away with a top-tier score.
At North American Tutors, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all prep. Whether you’re a dual-track student or ACT-only from the start, we help you figure out the best path to your best score.
Ready to push beyond “good enough”? Explore our SAT Tutoring Programs and start your success story today.
