Many students rush through passages or spend too long on difficult questions, running out of time for easier wins. A solid strategy is to scan the passage first for main idea and structure, then tackle questions in order of difficulty—skipping tough inference questions initially and returning with fresh eyes. Tutors can help you practice this pacing on real PSAT passages so you find a rhythm that works before test day, rather than discovering timing problems during the actual exam.

Detroit students typically struggle with three areas: vocabulary-in-context questions (especially when the word has multiple meanings), paired passage comparison questions (where you need to identify the relationship between two texts), and inference questions that require reading between the lines. Additionally, many students overthink questions or get distracted by plausible-sounding wrong answers. Working with a tutor on question deconstruction and elimination strategies helps you approach each question type with confidence and accuracy.

Practice tests are essential—they're your best tool for identifying patterns in what you miss and building test-day stamina. Taking full practice sections under timed conditions reveals whether your mistakes come from careless errors, time pressure, or genuine comprehension gaps. Tutors can analyze your practice test performance to pinpoint exactly where to focus: if you're missing 80% of paired passage questions but nailing single-passage ones, that's where your effort should go.

Not in the traditional sense—the PSAT doesn't quiz obscure words in isolation like it once did. Instead, vocabulary appears within reading passages, and you need to infer meaning from context clues. While knowing common academic words helps, the real skill is understanding how an unfamiliar word functions in a sentence. Tutors focus on teaching you context-clue strategies and familiarity with the academic vocabulary that actually appears on PSAT passages, rather than memorizing random lists.

Test anxiety often stems from uncertainty about what to expect or past experiences with timed reading tests. Tutoring builds confidence through familiarity—the more you practice with real PSAT passages and question formats, the less intimidating the actual test feels. Tutors also teach calming strategies like taking a few deep breaths before starting, breaking the section into manageable chunks, and reminding yourself that one difficult passage doesn't define your score. Many students find that simply knowing what to expect eliminates a huge portion of test-day stress.

Varsity Tutors connects students in Detroit with expert tutors who specialize in PSAT Critical Reading and understand the specific challenge areas most students face. When you reach out, you'll get matched with a tutor who can assess your current level, create a personalized study plan targeting your weaknesses, and provide the focused practice and feedback that moves your score. Tutors can work with your schedule and help you make the most of your preparation time before the test.