Without 500 page practice books or 3 hour lectures?
One of our students made the jump from a 22 on the ACT to a 30.
Check out the full breakdown of how she did it by clicking the button below.
Spoiler: this ACT score resulted in an $88,421 scholarship package for her.
Want to see how she did it?

Anabelle S.
Mia's Mom
"Finally having a plan lifted a huge burden off my shoulders...For the first time in this college process, I felt like I knew exactly what we were supposed to be doing."
Result: Mia's ACT improved from 25 to 33

Frank N.
Ryder's Dad
"We kept second-guessing ourselves—should he start prep now? Take it in April or June? Having a plan removed all that anxiety. We knew exactly what to do based on his college goals."
Result: Ryder achieved a 34 ACT score

Marcy B.
Brody's Mom
"I had 15 browsers open trying to piece together an ACT plan...after we joined the ACT Hacking Program, I didn't have to think about the ACT. Brody's coach managed everything for me!"
Result: Brody's ACT improved from 22 to 31
We use a coaching approach, not a tutoring model—and the difference matters. Traditional tutors charge by the hour and meet weekly, which creates misaligned incentives (they make more money the longer you stay with them). They also tend to spoon-feed solutions during sessions, which feels helpful in the moment but doesn't build the skills students need to solve problems independently on test day.
Our coaching program is different in three key ways:
First, we focus on building skills, not creating dependency. We teach students how to think through the patterns that show up on the ACT so they can solve questions on their own, not just memorize specific problems.
Second, we use efficient 4-8 week sprints instead of dragging prep on for 6-12 months. Students have a clear finish line in sight, which keeps them motivated and prevents burnout. With daily asynchronous check-ins, coaches adjust the plan in real time to speed up the feedback cycle for rapid improvement.
Third, everything is personalized. We identify your student's specific weak points, create a customized practice plan targeting those weaknesses, and provide 24/7 support along with a structured daily to-do list. No cookie-cutter group classes where students waste time on concepts they've already mastered.
Bottom line: We don't just help students get a better score. We empower them to master the test efficiently. And the results speak for themselves.
Our students average over 4 points of score improvement, with many achieving 6-9 point increases. That said, every student is different.
Improvement depends on three factors:
Starting score: Students starting in the low-to-mid 20s typically see the biggest point jumps (7-9 points). Students already in the low 30s have less room to grow but often gain 2-4 points, which can still unlock significant scholarship money.
Commitment level: Students who complete their daily practice consistently see much better results than those who cram everything into the weekend. We recommend about one hour per day during the 4-8 week prep window.
How targeted the prep is: This is where our system shines. We don't waste time on your student's strengths. We laser-focus on their specific weak points, which is why we get better results in less time than traditional programs.
On your free strategy call, we can look at your student's current score and give you a realistic target based on what we've seen with similar students.
Your student gets comprehensive support from start to finish:
Personal ACT coach: Each student is matched with an expert coach who understands their specific challenges. Your coach conducts 1-on-1 sessions (via Zoom) to review progress, talk through challenging concepts, and adjust the practice plan as needed.
Daily structured to-do list: We don't just tell students "go practice." We give them a specific, personalized to-do list every day that tells them exactly what to work on, for how long, and in what order. This removes all the guesswork and keeps students accountable.
24/7 messaging support: Students can message their coach anytime with questions. No waiting until next week's session. If they're stuck on a math problem at 9 PM on Thursday, they can get help immediately.
Customized practice drills: We identify your student's weak points and create targeted drills to improve those specific areas. No generic practice plans—everything is personalized to their needs.
You're not just buying access to course materials. You're getting a dedicated coach who's invested in your student's success.
Yes, absolutely. We work with students across the entire score range, from the high teens/low 20s up to students already in the low 30s trying to get those last few points.
For students scoring in the low-to-mid 20s: These students can often see the biggest improvements (7-9 points) because there are more fundamental skills to build. We focus on content gaps and time management strategies that create quick wins, then transition to the higher level concepts.
For students already scoring in the high 20s or low 30s: These students need a different approach. They've mastered the basics—now it's about eliminating careless mistakes, optimizing timing, and learning advanced strategies for the hardest questions. This is where our personalized coaching really shines, because cookie-cutter programs can't help students at this level.
For students targeting a 34-36: We specialize in this. Our founder scored a perfect 36, and all of our coaches have perfect (or nearly perfect) scores. We know exactly what it takes to break into the elite range, and we've helped dozens of students go from the low 30s to 34+.
The key is that we personalize everything. Two students with the same current score might have completely different weaknesses, so they need completely different practice plans. That's what our coaching model enables.
On your strategy call, we'll look at your student's score and specific goals to see what's possible.
Our coaching program is personalized for each student, so pricing varies based on your specific needs, timeline, and goals. That said, most families invest between $3,000-$6,000 for our programs.
We know that's not a tiny investment. But here's the context:
Our students average more than 4 extra ACT points, and each point is worth approximately $10,000 in scholarship money (based on multiple studies, and rounded down to remain conservative). A 5-point improvement typically means $50,000+ in extra scholarships. For many families, the program pays for itself 10-20X over just with scholarships.
On top of the scholarship value, extra ACT points directly unlock more prestigious universities. For students wanting to enter high-paying careers after college, prestigious universities make the path much more realistic. Regardless of whether this is right or wrong, the reality is that better colleges provide better opportunities.
On your free strategy call, we'll give you an exact quote based on your student's situation. No pressure, no obligation—just a clear picture of what it would cost and what results you can expect.
Yes, and in fact, our program is specifically designed for busy, high-achieving students.
Most of our students are juggling AP classes, sports, extracurriculars, and social lives. We get it—they don't have hours and hours to dedicate to ACT prep. That's exactly why we focus on efficiency.
Here's what the typical time commitment looks like during a 4-8 week sprint:
About 1 hour per day, 5-7 days per week of practice to be completed whenever the student wants
30-60 minute live Zoom sessions with a coach, either scheduled in advance or impromptu check-ins—whichever works better for the student's situation
That's it—roughly 7 hours per week total, on average. However, this is an average. Some students are highly successful at 4-5 hours per week. Some students have more time available and commit 10-15 hours per week. We'll customize your plan accordingly.
Why this works:
First, it's short-term. Your student isn't committing to ACT prep for the next six months. They're going all-in for 4-8 weeks, then they're done. Having that finish line in sight makes it mentally manageable.
Second, the daily to-do list makes it efficient. Your student logs in, sees exactly what they need to do that day, completes it in 45-60 minutes, and moves on with their life. No wasted time wondering what to practice.
Third, we schedule everything around their life. Got a big game next week? We lighten the load. AP exam coming up? We adjust. The program flexes to fit their schedule, not the other way around.
Many of our most successful students are student-athletes and/or students taking 4-5 AP classes. They make it work because the prep is efficient, structured, and time-bound.
Probably not, but timing matters. Here's the reality:
If your student is a sophomore or junior: You're in great shape. This is the ideal window to start.
If your student is a senior in fall: It's tight, but we can still help. Many of our senior students improve significantly even starting in September or October. The key is checking which schools accept late ACT scores (many accept December or even February tests).
If your student is a senior in spring: This is too late for most college applications, but if they're applying to schools with later deadlines or looking at scholarship opportunities that consider updated scores, we might still be able to help. For example, Bright Futures is a scholarship in the state of Florida which accepts ACT scores all the way until August after students graduate high school.
The biggest mistake is assuming it's "too late" and not exploring your options. Book a strategy call and we'll tell you honestly whether we can help based on your timeline and goals. If we can't help, we'll tell you that too.
This is one of the most common questions we get, and the answer is: it depends on your student's specific situation. Here's what you need to know:
Most colleges don't actually require the Science section. The vast majority of schools only look at your English, Math, and Reading scores when evaluating applications. Only a small handful of schools or specific programs (typically STEM-focused) want to see the Science score as part of your profile.
The answer will be case-by-case based on:
Target schools: Some universities and specialized programs do consider Science scores
Intended major: Engineering, pre-med, and hard science programs are more likely to want Science scores
Student goals: Some students want it "in their back pocket" even if not required, which is totally understandable
The good news if your student does need it:
The Science section is actually one of the easiest sections to improve quickly because it's incredibly coachable. Despite the intimidating name, it's not testing science knowledge—it's testing graph reading, data interpretation, and pattern recognition. There are only 7-8 question types that repeat constantly, and once you learn the strategies, scores jump fast.
Our recommendation:
On your free strategy call, we'll look at your student's target schools and intended major and give you specific guidance on whether they should include Science. If they do need it, we'll make it a strength. If they don't, we'll focus all our energy on the three sections that actually matter for their applications—which allows for even more targeted improvement.
Bottom line: Don't assume your student needs Science. Let's look at their specific situation and make a strategic decision together.
For most students, we recommend focusing on just the ACT. Here's why:
Colleges look at the ACT and SAT completely interchangeably. They don't care which test you take—they just want to see a strong score on one of them. So trying to prepare for both tests simultaneously is spreading yourself thin for no benefit.
We used to work with students on both tests. However, after the SAT converted to digital-only with an adaptive format, we saw that students could improve more on the ACT compared to the SAT. Since this change, we specialized our program for the ACT.
Some key differences between the tests:
First, the SAT is considered to have trickier wording in its questions compared to the ACT's more straightforward questions
Second, even after recent updates, the ACT has a more consistent, predictable format compared to the adaptive SAT.
Third, the SAT combines reading comprehension and grammar into one section of the test. The ACT has separate sections for these skills.
Conclusion: Pick one test, go all-in on it, and master it. Don't split your focus. We specialize in the ACT because we believe it's the better test for most students who want to improve their scores.
Superscoring is one of the most powerful (and underutilized) strategies for maximizing your ACT score, and it's a core part of how we coach students.
Here's how it works:
The ACT has three main sections: English, Math, and Reading. Your composite score is the average of those three section scores from a single test date.
But many colleges accept a superscore, which means they'll take your highest section score from each test date and average those together—even if they came from different test attempts.
Example:
Test 1: English 32, Math 27, Reading 26 → Composite 28
Test 2: English 28, Math 32, Reading 31 → Composite 30
Superscore: English 32, Math 32, Reading 31 → Superscore 32
The superscore (32) is higher than either individual composite—that's the power of superscoring.
Our strategy: We call this the "ACT Gambling Game." You're not trying to nail all the sections perfectly on one test date—you're strategically stacking your best section scores across multiple test attempts.
Here's what this looks like in practice:
Before Test 1: We focus on improving your weakest sections to get solid baseline scores
After Test 1: We analyze which sections need the most work and target those for Test 2
Before Test 2: We aggressively focus on 1-2 sections that have the most room for improvement
This focused approach means your student isn't trying to be perfect at everything simultaneously. They can dedicate 80% of their prep to Math and Reading for Test 2 if those are the sections dragging down their superscore, knowing their English score is already locked in.
Important notes:
1. Most colleges superscore, but always verify with your target schools
2. This strategy is why we recommend planning for 2 test attempts from the start
3. The superscore strategy makes improvement faster and less overwhelming
4. It's always better to be strategic about where you focus energy.
We generally recommend the paper ACT for most students. Here's why:
Better for showing work: With paper, students can write directly on the test booklet—circling key words, crossing out wrong answers, drawing on graphs, working through math problems in the margins. These active reading and problem-solving strategies are harder to execute effectively on a screen.
No technical issues on test day: We've seen too many situations where online testing centers aren't fully prepared—software glitches, internet connectivity problems, computers freezing, or proctors who don't know how to troubleshoot. These technical failures can severely impact your student's score through no fault of their own.
Easier to navigate passages: Many students find it easier to refer back to reading passages and science graphs on paper, especially when they've marked them up with their strategies. Scrolling back and forth on a screen adds cognitive load.
More control over pacing: With paper, you can quickly flip through the section to see what's coming, flag questions more naturally, and manage your time without clicking through screens.
This is one of the most important strategic decisions families make, and the answer is: it depends entirely on your student's individual situation.
Here's how to think through this decision:
Clear scholarship thresholds: If your student has a 32 but a 33 unlocks $20,000 more per year at their top school, that's a no-brainer. A few weeks of focused prep for $80,000+ in savings is obvious ROI.
Competitive admissions advantage: If they're applying to schools where the middle 50% ACT range is 33-35 and they have a 31, those 2-3 points could genuinely impact their admissions odds.
Lopsided superscore potential: If their superscore breakdown shows one section dragging everything down (like a 34, 34, and 29), we can focus exclusively on that weak section for rapid improvement.
When retaking might not be worth it:
Diminishing returns on time: If your student is already at or above the 75th percentile for their target schools and has limited time before applications are due, their energy might be better spent on essays, passion projects, or building their overall application profile.
Burnout risk: If they've already taken the test 2-3 times and are mentally exhausted, pushing for one more point might hurt more than it helps.
Opportunity cost: Sometimes a 32 is "good enough" for their goals, and spending 6 weeks on ACT prep means 6 fewer weeks developing the leadership project or volunteer work that will make their application stand out.
If you book a free strategy call, we'll give you our honest recommendation. Sometimes we say, "Your score is strong—focus on your essays and activities." Other times we say, "Two points would unlock $60,000 and we can get you there in 4 weeks—let's do it."
Bottom line: "Strong" is relative to your specific goals, and the decision should be strategic.
We recommend planning for 2 test attempts for most students. Here's how it typically works:
First test: This is your "foundation test." Your student executes the strategies we've taught them, gets comfortable with the real testing environment, and usually sees significant improvement from their starting score. We get valuable data on what's working and what needs refinement.
Second test: This is your "optimization test." Here's where the superscore strategy really shines—we can focus intensely on just 1-2 sections that need improvement, knowing the other scores are already locked in. This targeted approach leads to rapid improvement in specific areas.
The superscore advantage:
Because most colleges superscore, you're not trying to have a perfect day across all sections. You're strategically stacking your best section performances across multiple test dates.
This means on Test 2, your student can dedicate 80% of their prep to the 2 weakest sections from Test 1, go into test day with a specific mission, and feel less pressure because they're not trying to be perfect at everything simultaneously
What about 3+ tests?
Some students do take the ACT 3 times, but we don't recommend planning for that upfront. A third test makes sense if there was a legitimate testing day issue (illness, technical problems, etc.), they're one point away from a major scholarship threshold, or superscoring shows clear opportunity in one specific section.
What about just 1 test?
Some students do hit their target on the first attempt—especially if they prepped efficiently and have strong fundamentals. But we don't recommend planning for just one test because the superscore strategy rewards multiple attempts, and test day variables can affect performance.
On your strategy call, we'll map out the optimal test dates based on your student's timeline, current score, and college application deadlines.
Watch real interviews with real students
Otto Improved From 24 to 29 While Traveling
"I didn't want to stress about it for months...I looked at the score of 29 and I was so happy...very, very big relief" - Otto
How Skylar Changed Her Life | From 27 to 35
"It's completely a weight off my back...it's definitely gonna open up some doors that seemed closed before." - Skylar
How Rachel Improved from 30 to 34
"Before, I just had one of those books and I was just looking at the explanations...[working with Carson] I was able to figure out my own mistakes." - Rachel
How Allison Improved from 31 to 35
"I was kinda skeptical of doing programs and stuff...I'm really glad that I took this leap...really big weight off the shoulders!" - Allison
Meet Sheridan, Skylar, and Morgan
Meet Nik and Allison
Meet Liv and Isabella
Meet Ava (and Morgan/Nik again)












