Score improvement depends on your baseline and study intensity, but most students see 2-4 point gains with focused preparation and strategic practice. The key is identifying your specific weaknesses—whether that's pacing, inference skills, or passage comprehension—and targeting those areas systematically rather than taking practice tests without analysis.

The most common struggles are managing the strict time constraints (about 6 minutes per passage), distinguishing between what the passage explicitly states versus what you can infer, and maintaining focus through dense academic material. Many students also struggle with question types that require identifying the author's tone or purpose, which demand careful re-reading and critical thinking rather than just finding facts.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who analyze your practice test performance to pinpoint whether you're losing points due to comprehension gaps, timing issues, or question-interpretation problems. Your tutor will teach you strategic reading techniques, help you practice active annotation, and work through challenging passages at your pace—then gradually increase speed as your confidence builds.

Effective practice involves timed passages mixed with untimed deep-dive reviews where you analyze every answer choice and understand why correct answers work. Start by taking full-length practice tests to establish a baseline, then focus on 2-3 passages per session with detailed review, gradually building speed while maintaining accuracy. Spacing out practice over weeks rather than cramming helps reinforce retention and strategy development.

Most students benefit from spending 2-3 minutes reading and annotating each passage carefully, then 2-3 minutes answering the questions—prioritizing accuracy over speed initially. As you improve, you'll naturally get faster; the goal is to develop efficient reading habits (identifying main ideas, author tone, and passage structure) rather than rushing through. A tutor can help you find your optimal pace and identify where you're losing time.

Building confidence comes from consistent, deliberate practice with passages similar to actual MCAT material and understanding that some passages are intentionally harder than others. Personalized tutoring helps you develop a reliable strategy you trust, which reduces anxiety on test day. Many students also benefit from practicing relaxation techniques during timed sessions and learning to skip difficult questions strategically rather than getting stuck.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors experienced in MCAT preparation who understand the specific demands of Verbal Reasoning. You'll be matched with someone whose teaching style fits your learning needs, and you can start with a first session focused on assessing your strengths and identifying your biggest opportunities for improvement.