Time management on LSAT Reading Comprehension is about reading strategically, not quickly. Most test-takers benefit from spending 8-9 minutes per passage and 1-1.5 minutes per question, which means prioritizing active reading—marking key claims, structure shifts, and author perspective as you go. Tutors can help you identify which passage types (dense philosophy, comparative reading, narrative) slow you down personally and develop targeted techniques. Common effective strategies include reading the questions first for some test-takers, focusing on passage structure over details, and practicing retrieval of information without re-reading entire sections.

The most frequent errors fall into three categories: misidentifying the main point or author's purpose, falling for trap answer choices that are partially true but miss the question's scope, and struggling with dense or unfamiliar subject matter (law, philosophy, natural sciences). Chicago students preparing for law school often underestimate how much the LSAT tests reading comprehension rather than reading speed—skimming causes you to miss crucial nuances that distinguish right answers from near-misses. Tutors help you slow down strategically, annotate actively, and practice identifying why incorrect answers are wrong, not just why the right answer is correct.

The best approach is working through full practice tests (LSAC provides real, released LSAT exams) and tracking which question types and passage subjects consistently trip you up. Are you missing inference questions? Struggling with comparative reading? Getting tripped up on specific topics like science passages? Tutors can analyze your practice test results to identify patterns—maybe you rush through certain passage types, misunderstand comparative structures, or get distracted by complex language. By pinpointing whether your issue is comprehension, strategy, or pacing, personalized instruction can target exactly what needs improvement rather than drilling skills you've already mastered.

Most test-takers benefit from 3-4 months of focused LSAT prep, with Reading Comprehension practice woven throughout rather than isolated. A typical schedule might involve 2-3 weeks building foundational strategies (annotating, identifying question types), 6-8 weeks of timed passage practice and full section drills, and 2-3 weeks of full practice tests to build endurance and refine timing. If you're starting with significant comprehension challenges, 4-5 months allows for deeper skill-building. Tutors can customize your timeline based on your baseline score, target score, and test date—some Chicago students accelerate with intensive tutoring, while others benefit from spreading practice over a longer period.

Comparative reading requires you to understand not just two passages separately, but how they relate to each other—their similarities, contrasts, and different perspectives on the same topic. This is challenging because it demands holding two complex arguments in mind simultaneously while tracking subtle differences in tone and approach. The strategy that works best is reading the first passage fully, then reading the second while actively comparing (rather than treating it as an isolated piece), and flagging where they agree, disagree, or approach the same issue differently. Tutors can show you how to annotate comparatively, practice identifying the relationship structure early, and work through comparative-specific question types so they feel familiar rather than surprising on test day.

While practice tests are essential, self-study alone makes it hard to know why you're missing questions or whether your strategies are working. Tutors can watch you work through passages, identify where comprehension breaks down versus where timing or strategy fails, and adjust your approach in real time. They can also expose you to passages strategically—starting with accessible ones while you build confidence, then progressing to challenging subjects and question types. For Chicago students juggling work and other responsibilities, personalized instruction is more efficient because it eliminates wasted time on skills you've already mastered and focuses intensive practice on what actually moves your score.