ACT Success Story: How a Student with ADHD Reached a 33 ACT (Top 2%)
(Student’s name has been changed for privacy.)
A 33 composite ACT score is rare. Fewer than two out of every 100 students who take the test achieve it, and it places a student among the strongest applicants in the country. For families, it can open doors at selective universities and often qualify for significant merit scholarships.
When “Ethan” began working with Wagner Prep, that kind of score felt out of reach. He had strong instincts in math and science but struggled with pacing, careless mistakes, and reading comprehension. ADHD made time management especially difficult under test pressure. Like many neurodivergent students, Ethan had the ability — but needed structure and strategy to turn that potential into results.
The Challenge: Talent Without Structure
Ethan’s parents described him as bright but laid-back. He loved physics and computer science, but English and history didn’t hold his attention. On practice ACTs, his scores bounced around the high 20s.
The problem wasn’t knowledge. It was consistency. He needed:
Clear pacing strategies to avoid running out of time.
Accountability for homework and practice tests.
Tools to limit careless mistakes.
Reading strategies that worked with his focus patterns.
The Process: Coaching That Connects with Students
At Wagner Prep, we approach test prep like coaching. Parents provide invaluable insights about their student’s habits, quirks, and strengths; but as many parents know, teens don’t always listen when the advice comes from mom or dad. They do listen when it comes from us.
For Ethan, that meant blending content mastery with structure designed for how he learns best:
Math & Science Coaching → Drills in algebra, functions, and experimental passages, along with “skim first” strategies to keep science efficient.
English & Reading Strategies → Annotation habits, pacing with a watch, and quick grammar rules that worked with his attention patterns.
Accountability Systems → Weekly check-ins, homework schedules, and practice test reviews to ensure follow-through.
Mindset Coaching → Reframing mistakes as progress and helping him focus on growth instead of frustration.
How We Partner with Families
Parents know their kids best. You see their strengths, their quirks, their patterns — often long before anyone else does. But sometimes, your student can’t hear it from you. They can hear it from us. At Wagner Prep, we take the insight you already have and translate it into strategies your teen will actually use. That’s especially important for students with ADHD or other learning differences.
The Breakthrough: Hitting the 30s
At first, Ethan’s progress was uneven. His science scores would spike one week and dip the next. Reading remained a sticking point. But with steady practice, his new habits began to take hold.
Over the course of about six months and more than 40 hours of one-on-one tutoring, his scores started climbing:
Science stabilized at a 34–36 with the skim-first method.
Math climbed into the mid-30s as careless errors dropped.
English rose into the 33+ range with targeted grammar drills.
Reading, his toughest section, broke out of the 20s and into the high 20s/low 30s through annotation and pacing practice.
Ethan began in the high 20s on practice tests. By the time he earned a 33 composite, he had broken into one of the most competitive score ranges in the country — a rare achievement made possible by consistent effort and smart strategy.
The Results: Confidence and Opportunity
Now entering his senior year, Ethan has the score he needs to apply confidently to his top-choice schools. A 33 composite ACT is earned by fewer than 2 percent of students nationwide, and it positions him among the strongest applicants in the country.
Equally important, he built skills that go beyond the test: managing his focus, pacing himself under pressure, and keeping mistakes to a minimum. These habits will serve him not just in college admissions but throughout his academic career.
With testing behind him, Ethan can turn his attention to applications, essays, and exploring his academic interests knowing that his ACT score will support his ambitions every step of the way.
What This Means for Your Student
Ethan’s story shows that dramatic improvement is possible when preparation is personalized. Your student may not face the exact same challenges, but the principle is the same: with consistent coaching, clear strategies, and accountability, real growth happens.
If your teen struggles with pacing, motivation, or confidence, our one-on-one approach can help them build the habits and skills they need to perform at their best. A 33 is rare, yet Ethan’s journey proves that exceptional results are within reach when the right plan is in place.