Illinois-Specific Context
What Chicago Students Need to Know About the ACT®
Illinois's ACT requirements are different from what most prep resources explain. Here is what actually applies to your son or daughter.
01 — State Test vs. National Test
The Illinois school-day test is not the same as the national test
When Illinois juniors take the ACT in April, the test includes all four sections. Students who retest on a national date should know that Writing is optional on national administrations — even though it was included in the state test. Preparation should reflect the specific format being taken.
02 — Starting Point
The state score is a starting point, not the final word
Most students score lower on the first attempt than they are capable of with targeted preparation. The school-day test is often the first time a student has seen the full ACT under real conditions. National test dates — offered in September, October, December, February, April, June, and July — allow retesting as many times as needed.
03 — Test-Optional Reality
Test-optional does not mean scores are irrelevant
Illinois law requires public universities to be test-optional. Many families interpret this as meaning scores do not matter. That is not accurate. A strong score strengthens an application at test-optional schools, and merit scholarship thresholds are frequently tied directly to ACT composite scores.
04 — Competitive Programs
Competitive Chicago-area programs require competitive scores
Northwestern, University of Chicago, Loyola, DePaul, and Illinois Tech all draw heavily from the Chicago metro. A student with a clear target school needs a score that is competitive for that program — not just general admission but for honors colleges and merit aid that changes what a school actually costs.
The Process
How Tutoring Works
One-on-one, online, and built around your child's actual score — not a generic curriculum.
Share Your Score Report
Send over the official ACT score report — or the Illinois school-day results. I'll analyze exactly where points are being lost, down to the specific question types and topics holding your child back.
Get Your Precision Point Map
A free custom week-by-week plan built around your child's specific score report, not a one-size-fits-all curriculum. Every topic listed maps to something that actually appears on real ACT tests.
Start Tutoring
Focused 1-on-1 sessions via video. Every session targets the specific question types the score report identifies as gaps. No filler, no wasted time.
Chicago Metro Coverage
Students From Across the Chicago Area
Online tutoring means Chicago families are not limited to whoever happens to be nearby. Students from every part of the metro work with me on the same schedule and curriculum.
Schools and districts served include:
What Parents Say
Results That Speak for Themselves
★★★★★
Our son had taken the ACT twice and plateaued. After working through the specific sections holding him back, he improved by four points on his third attempt. The targeted approach made all the difference — we weren't covering things he already knew.
Parent of a junior
+4 composite points★★★★★
Every session was directly connected to what the score report showed. There was no wasted time. My daughter knew exactly which grammar rules to focus on, and it showed on the next test.
Parent of a high school junior
English section improvement★★★★★
The online format was genuinely seamless. We were skeptical at first — we thought in-person would be better. But the flexibility meant sessions happened consistently, which I think made more difference than anything else.
Parent, suburban Chicago family
Consistent improvement over 3 monthsFrequently Asked Questions
Is the ACT required in Illinois?
Yes. Illinois reinstated the ACT as the required statewide assessment for all public high school juniors beginning in spring 2025. Every junior in CPS and the surrounding suburbs takes the ACT during the school day in April — free, required, and counting toward graduation requirements.
What ACT score do I need for University of Illinois?
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's middle 50% ACT range is approximately 28–34 depending on the program. Competitive programs like engineering and business tend to skew toward the higher end. Merit scholarship thresholds are often separate from and higher than the admissions range.
Do Chicago Public Schools administer the ACT?
Yes. CPS students take the ACT during the school day in April as part of Illinois's statewide junior assessment at no cost to the family. This score is the starting point — national test dates allow students to retest and improve their score.
Can Illinois public universities require ACT scores?
Illinois law requires public universities to adopt test-optional admissions policies. However, this does not mean scores are irrelevant. A strong score can strengthen an application and is frequently tied to merit scholarship thresholds worth significant money over four years.
How is online tutoring different from in-person?
Online tutoring removes the geographic constraint entirely. Rather than choosing from whoever is within driving distance, you are choosing based on expertise. Sessions are via video, fully one-on-one, with the same curriculum and attention as any in-person session — and significantly more scheduling flexibility for busy high school students.
How long does it take to see score improvement?
It depends on the gap between the current score and the target, and how consistently a student studies between sessions. Most students working consistently see measurable progress within four to six weeks. Significant improvements — four or more composite points — typically require two to four months of sustained, targeted preparation.