Score improvement varies based on starting level and study intensity, but students often see gains of 100-200 points with focused preparation and consistent practice. The key is identifying specific weak areas—whether that's reading comprehension pacing, math problem-solving strategies, or verbal reasoning techniques—and targeting those through personalized instruction. With a structured study plan and regular practice tests, most students show meaningful progress within 2-3 months.

Reading comprehension and pacing are common challenges, as students must answer 40 questions in 40 minutes while maintaining accuracy. Many students also find the verbal reasoning section difficult because it requires both vocabulary knowledge and logical thinking skills. Math challenges typically involve word problems and multi-step reasoning rather than basic computation. Identifying which section is your biggest hurdle is the first step toward targeted improvement.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who start by assessing your current strengths and weaknesses, often through a diagnostic practice test. Your first session typically covers test format, scoring, and question types, then focuses on understanding your specific challenges. From there, tutors develop a personalized study plan that combines strategy instruction, targeted practice on weak areas, and full-length practice tests to build confidence and timing skills.

Practice tests are essential—they help you understand the test format, identify weak areas, build time management skills, and reduce test anxiety. Most students benefit from taking 3-5 full-length practice tests spaced throughout their preparation period, with tutors reviewing results to pinpoint patterns in errors. This data-driven approach helps ensure study time is spent on the sections and question types where you need the most improvement.

Familiarity reduces anxiety—when you've practiced the test format repeatedly and developed solid strategies, test day feels less intimidating. Tutors help build confidence by teaching you how to approach different question types systematically, manage your time effectively, and handle difficult questions without panicking. Regular practice tests in a low-pressure setting also help you develop composure and learn what to expect, so test day is less of a surprise.

Most students benefit from 3-4 months of preparation, meeting with a tutor 1-2 times per week alongside independent practice. If you're starting from a lower baseline or targeting a highly competitive school, 4-6 months allows more time for strategy development and practice. The exact timeline depends on your starting point, target score, and how much independent practice you can do between sessions.

Effective strategies include previewing questions before reading the passage, identifying the main idea quickly, and using context clues for unfamiliar vocabulary. Many students improve by practicing active reading—annotating key details, noting the author's tone, and understanding question types (main idea vs. detail vs. inference). Tutors help you develop a personal pacing strategy, since rushing through passages often leads to careless errors, while reading too slowly leaves you with time pressure at the end.