Score improvement depends on your starting point and effort level, but most students see meaningful gains within 4-8 weeks of focused preparation. If you're consistently missing 8-10 questions per section, targeted instruction on passage mapping, question type strategies, and timed practice can help you reach 5-7 fewer mistakes. The key is identifying whether your errors stem from comprehension gaps, timing issues, or misunderstanding question formats—personalized tutoring helps pinpoint exactly what's holding you back.

Your first session typically focuses on assessment and strategy foundation. A tutor will review your diagnostic test results, identify which passage types and question formats give you the most trouble, and introduce you to core comprehension strategies like active reading and passage mapping. You'll also discuss your timeline for the LSAT and create a personalized study plan that fits your schedule and goals.

Effective timing strategies include pre-reading the questions before tackling the passage, using margin notes to track main ideas and argument structure, and identifying passage type (comparative reading, single passage, etc.) to adjust your approach. Many students benefit from spending 3-4 minutes reading actively and taking notes, then 4-5 minutes answering questions. Personalized tutoring helps you find the rhythm that works for your reading speed and comprehension style, then build stamina through timed practice tests.

Practice tests are essential—they're the only way to build the timing skills and mental endurance needed for test day. Working through full-length, timed sections helps you identify patterns in your mistakes and reveals whether errors come from rushing, misreading, or genuine comprehension gaps. Most students benefit from taking 4-6 full practice tests under timed conditions, with detailed review of every wrong answer to understand not just what you missed, but why.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about your approach—tutoring directly addresses both by building concrete strategies and confidence through repeated practice. When you understand exactly how to tackle each question type and have drilled passages under timed conditions, you enter test day with a clear game plan rather than panic. Tutors also help you develop mental resilience by normalizing mistakes during practice and teaching you to stay focused when you encounter a difficult passage.

Look for tutors with strong LSAT scores (typically 170+), direct experience teaching Reading Comprehension strategies, and familiarity with the current test format and question types. It's also valuable to work with someone who understands how different learning styles affect comprehension—some students benefit from visual mapping, others from verbal explanation. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in Baltimore who have proven track records helping students improve their RC performance.

Start by reviewing your practice test results to spot patterns: Do you struggle with certain passage types (law, science, humanities)? Are you missing main idea questions, inference questions, or specific detail questions? Do you run out of time? A tutor can help you analyze these patterns systematically by reviewing your practice tests section by section and drilling targeted question types. This diagnostic approach ensures your study time focuses on what actually needs improvement, rather than general review.