Score improvement depends on your starting point and how focused your preparation is. Students who work with personalized 1-on-1 instruction typically see meaningful gains—often 50-100+ points—by addressing their specific weak areas, whether that's vocabulary, inference questions, or pacing. The key is identifying exactly which question types trip you up and practicing them strategically rather than just reading more passages.

The biggest obstacles are usually pacing (running out of time before finishing all passages), misunderstanding what inference questions are actually asking, and vocabulary gaps that make context clues harder to use. Many students also struggle with tone and author's purpose questions because they require deeper analysis than simple fact recall. Personalized tutoring helps you identify which of these challenges affects you most and build targeted strategies to overcome them.

Effective pacing starts with understanding that not all passages take the same amount of time—shorter passages and paired passages often have easier questions, while longer literary passages may require more careful reading. Tutors can teach you how to preview questions before reading, identify high-value questions to prioritize, and practice timed drills to build speed without sacrificing accuracy. Most students find that strategic skimming and question-first approaches work better than trying to read every word carefully.

Taking 3-5 full practice tests spaced out over your preparation period gives you solid data about your performance patterns and helps build test-day stamina. However, quality matters more than quantity—working through a practice test with a tutor who can explain why you missed questions teaches you far more than taking tests alone. Between full tests, focusing on targeted practice with specific question types (inference, vocabulary, tone) is often more efficient than repeating full sections.

Your first session typically involves taking a diagnostic practice test or reviewing your recent PSAT scores to identify your specific strengths and weaknesses. A tutor will analyze which question types you struggle with, whether your challenges are conceptual or time-based, and create a personalized study plan tailored to your needs. This foundation ensures that every future session focuses on what will actually move your score, rather than generic test prep.

Key strategies include previewing questions before reading to know what to look for, using process of elimination aggressively on inference questions, and marking up passages to stay engaged and find evidence quickly. Different strategies work for different question types—vocabulary-in-context questions benefit from substitution methods, while main idea questions require identifying the passage's central claim. Tutors help you practice these strategies until they become automatic, so you're not thinking about technique during the actual test.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about your approach—which is why targeted practice with a tutor builds genuine confidence rather than false reassurance. Practicing timed sections repeatedly, learning exactly what to do when you encounter a tough question, and understanding your personal pacing rhythm all reduce the anxiety that comes from feeling lost. Many students also find that having a tutor walk them through their thought process helps them recognize they're actually capable of solving these questions.