Score improvement depends on your starting point and the time invested in preparation. Most students see meaningful gains of 50-150 points when working with a tutor over 8-12 weeks, though improvement varies based on your baseline performance and areas of focus. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction helps identify specific weak areas—whether that's reading comprehension, quantitative reasoning, or verbal skills—so you can target practice where it matters most.

Reading comprehension and verbal reasoning are common challenges because they require both speed and deep understanding of complex passages and vocabulary. The quantitative section often trips up students who haven't practiced the specific question formats, while the writing sample intimidates many test-takers simply because it's unfamiliar. A tutor can help you develop section-specific strategies—like active reading techniques for verbal, time management for quant, and essay structure for writing—so you feel confident on test day.

Practice tests are essential—they help you understand the test format, identify timing issues, and track progress over time. A solid study schedule typically involves taking a full practice test every 1-2 weeks, reviewing mistakes in depth, and targeting weak areas with focused drills in between. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can help you interpret practice test results and adjust your prep strategy based on what the data shows about your readiness.

Test anxiety often stems from unfamiliarity with the format or fear of time pressure. Regular practice with full-length tests in timed conditions helps normalize the experience and builds confidence through repetition. Tutors also teach pacing strategies and breathing techniques to stay calm under pressure, plus they help you recognize patterns in your mistakes so you can see concrete progress—which is one of the best confidence boosters.

Verbal reasoning rewards both vocabulary knowledge and logical thinking, so building a strong word list while practicing inference questions is key. For reading comprehension, active annotation—marking main ideas, author's tone, and question clues as you read—helps you answer questions faster and more accurately. Tutors teach you to prioritize questions by difficulty and to recognize common trap answers, so you can work efficiently through the section and maximize your score.

Your first session typically starts with a diagnostic assessment—either a full practice test or targeted questions across all sections—to identify your strengths and specific areas for improvement. Varsity Tutors connects you with a tutor who will review your results with you, discuss your goals and timeline, and create a personalized study plan tailored to your needs. This foundation ensures every session after that is focused and efficient.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of focused preparation, though this depends on your starting score and target schools. If you're aiming for a competitive school or have significant gaps to close, starting earlier gives you more time for practice and refinement. Tutors can help you create a realistic timeline based on your current level and goals, and adjust the plan as you progress through practice tests.