The Reading Comprehension section gives you 35 minutes to read 4 passages and answer 26-28 questions, which means strategic pacing is critical. Most test-takers benefit from spending 8-9 minutes per passage and its questions rather than rushing through reading first. A tutor can help you find your optimal balance between reading comprehension and question accuracy, teach you how to annotate passages effectively for quick reference, and practice strategies like identifying passage structure and question patterns before diving into every detail.

The best approach is to take full-length, timed practice tests and analyze your performance by question type—comparative reading, main point questions, detail questions, inference questions, and tone/author's purpose questions all require different skills. Track which passage types (philosophy, science, legal history, etc.) give you the most trouble and whether you're missing questions due to misreading, time pressure, or conceptual confusion. Connecting with a tutor can help you dig deeper into these patterns; they'll review your practice tests, pinpoint whether you're struggling with critical reading skills or test-taking strategy, and create a targeted improvement plan.

For comprehensive LSAT prep, aim for at least 5-7 hours per week of focused study, with Reading Comprehension practice 4-5 times weekly. This might look like 2-3 full sections (timed) plus 1-2 sessions of untimed, deep-dive practice on specific question types. Starting 12-16 weeks before test day gives you time to build foundational comprehension skills, identify patterns in your mistakes, and refine your approach through repetition. A tutor can structure your practice schedule to balance quantity with quality feedback—many students waste time drilling passages without understanding why they got questions wrong.

Comparative Reading requires you to understand two related passages and synthesize their relationship—not just comprehend each one independently. The added cognitive load of tracking two authors' perspectives, comparing their arguments, and identifying points of agreement or disagreement within a tight timeframe trips up many students. Common struggles include spending too much time on the first passage and rushing through the second, failing to note structural differences in how each author presents ideas, and misidentifying the relationship between passages. Tutors focus on teaching you how to read the passages strategically for comparison, how to quickly map the key points of each author's argument, and how to approach comparative questions with a systematic method.

Test anxiety often stems from uncertainty about your approach or past frustration with timing and accuracy. Building confidence requires repeated exposure to timed practice under test-like conditions so the format becomes familiar, not scary. Working with a tutor gives you a personalized strategy you understand and trust—this replaces the anxiety of "What do I do?" with the confidence of "Here's my approach." Many students also benefit from learning metacognitive strategies: recognizing when anxiety is rising, taking a breath, and refocusing on the passage at hand rather than catastrophizing about the whole section.

Look for a tutor with demonstrated expertise in LSAT-specific reading strategies, not just general test prep. They should provide detailed analysis of your practice tests, identify patterns in your mistakes, and teach you repeatable methods for tackling different question types under time pressure. It's also helpful to work with someone who understands the unique challenges Atlanta students face—whether that's balancing tutoring with work, school, or other commitments—and can offer flexible scheduling. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in Atlanta who specialize in Reading Comprehension and can tailor instruction to your timeline and goals.