Score improvement depends on your starting point and consistency, but students typically see 2-4 point gains with focused preparation and personalized instruction. The key is identifying your specific weaknesses—whether that's pacing, inference questions, or passage comprehension—and targeting those areas systematically through practice tests and strategy refinement.

Most students struggle with pacing (finishing all 50 questions in 95 minutes), distinguishing between answer choices that seem correct, and making inferences without over-interpreting the text. Additionally, many find the dense scientific passages challenging and waste time re-reading rather than developing efficient comprehension strategies on the first pass.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who diagnose your specific weaknesses through diagnostic practice tests, then build a targeted study plan focusing on your problem areas—whether that's question type mastery, passage annotation techniques, or time management. Your tutor will review your practice tests, explain why you missed questions, and teach you strategies to apply to similar questions in the future.

Start with untimed practice to master question types and passage comprehension, then gradually introduce time constraints as you build confidence. Plan to complete 3-5 full-length practice tests under timed conditions in the weeks before your exam, reviewing every question—especially those you got right—to understand the test makers' logic. Spacing your practice over several weeks rather than cramming is crucial for retention and skill development.

Most successful test-takers spend 8-10 minutes per passage (reading and answering 6-7 questions), leaving 5-10 minutes for review. The strategy is to read actively with purpose—annotating key ideas and author tone—rather than passively, which prevents needing to re-read. Your tutor can help you find the optimal pace for your reading style and practice implementing it consistently across different passage types.

The section includes main idea/primary purpose questions, inference questions, author tone/perspective questions, and detail/fact questions. Each type requires different strategies—main idea questions reward big-picture reading, while inference questions demand careful attention to what the passage explicitly supports versus what you might assume. Understanding these distinctions and practicing each type separately helps you develop targeted approaches.

Your first session will focus on assessment and goal-setting. Your tutor will likely have you complete a diagnostic practice section or review a recent practice test to identify your baseline score and specific weaknesses. From there, you'll develop a personalized study plan with clear milestones, and your tutor will introduce foundational strategies tailored to your learning style and timeline before test day.