Your first session focuses on assessment and goal-setting. A tutor will review your current math skills, discuss your target score, and identify which content areas (like heart of algebra, problem-solving, or advanced math) need the most work. You'll also discuss your test-taking habits—pacing, careless errors, and confidence levels—so the tutoring plan can address both knowledge gaps and test strategy.

Pacing is one of the biggest challenges students face, and it's highly coachable. A tutor can help you develop a strategy for tackling easier questions first, recognizing when to skip and return to harder problems, and managing the 70-minute timeframe across both the no-calculator and calculator sections. Regular timed practice tests—with feedback on which question types slow you down—build the rhythm and confidence you need to finish strong.

The most frequent errors fall into a few categories: misreading what the question is asking (especially in word problems), making careless arithmetic mistakes under time pressure, and not checking work. Students also struggle with recognizing which math concept a problem is testing—for example, confusing a linear equation problem with a systems problem. A tutor helps you develop a checklist for catching these mistakes and builds habits that prevent them during the actual test.

Practice tests are essential—they're the closest thing to the real test and help you identify patterns in your mistakes. Most tutoring plans include regular full-length or section-specific practice tests, with detailed review of every problem you missed or found difficult. This data-driven approach means you're not just studying randomly; you're focusing your effort on the concepts and question types that actually trip you up.

Absolutely. Test anxiety often stems from uncertainty about whether you can solve a problem, and personalized tutoring builds genuine confidence by ensuring you truly understand the material. Working through challenging problems in a low-pressure, one-on-one setting—where you can ask questions and learn strategies for staying calm—significantly reduces anxiety on test day. Many students find that knowing they have a plan for pacing and problem-solving helps them stay focused rather than panicked.

Look for a tutor with strong mathematics expertise, proven experience preparing students for the PSAT, and familiarity with the specific format and content of the test. Ideally, they should have a track record of helping students improve scores and be able to explain their teaching approach clearly. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in PSAT preparation and can tailor their instruction to your learning style and goals.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of consistent preparation, with tutoring sessions 1-2 times per week combined with independent practice between sessions. If you're starting further out from test day, you can spread sessions more loosely; if you're closer to the test, more frequent sessions help you stay focused and make faster progress. Your tutor can create a customized timeline based on your current level and target score.