Effective pacing starts with understanding your reading speed and comprehension trade-off. Most test-takers need 8-9 minutes per passage to read carefully and answer questions accurately. Tutors can teach you strategic skimming techniques—focusing on topic sentences, argument structure, and transitions rather than every detail—and help you practice timed drills to build automaticity. The key is developing a consistent approach you can repeat under pressure, not rushing blindly through passages.

Score improvement depends on your starting point and study intensity. Students who work with a tutor 1-2 times per week for 8-12 weeks typically see 3-5 point improvements on the LSAT overall, with Reading Comprehension gains varying based on baseline performance and engagement with practice tests. Consistent practice between sessions is crucial—tutoring is most effective when combined with your own daily work on timed passages and full-length practice tests.

LSAT Reading Comprehension includes main point, inference, strengthen/weaken, and comparative reasoning questions—each requiring different strategies. Main point questions reward big-picture understanding, while inference questions test careful logical deduction. Tutors teach you to identify question stems, predict answers before reading choices, and eliminate wrong answers systematically. Practice with real LSAT passages is essential; working through 20-30 passages with expert feedback helps you internalize patterns and build confidence.

Your first session focuses on assessment and strategy. A tutor will have you complete a timed Reading Comprehension section to identify your baseline, then review your work to pinpoint specific weaknesses—whether that's speed, question type confusion, or comprehension gaps. You'll discuss your LSAT timeline, target score, and learning style, then develop a personalized study plan that fits your schedule. This foundation ensures every future session builds directly toward your goals.

Practice tests are essential. They simulate test conditions, build stamina, and reveal patterns in your mistakes. Most tutors recommend taking full-length practice tests every 1-2 weeks, then drilling specific question types or passages where you struggled. The LSAT has released 90+ official practice tests, giving you plenty of material to work with. A tutor helps you analyze your practice test results strategically—not just correcting wrong answers, but understanding why you missed them and how to avoid similar mistakes.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or encountering unfamiliar question formats. Building confidence happens through mastery—working through enough passages and question types that they feel familiar and manageable. Tutors also teach test-day strategies like time management, strategic skipping, and mental reset techniques between passages. When you've practiced with expert feedback and seen your scores improve, anxiety naturally decreases because you've proven to yourself that you can handle the section.

Look for tutors with strong LSAT scores (typically 160+), test prep experience, and a track record helping students improve. They should understand Reading Comprehension deeply—not just answering questions correctly, but explaining the reasoning behind each answer choice. It's also valuable to find someone who can adapt to your learning style and explain concepts clearly. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who meet these standards and can provide personalized instruction tailored to your specific challenges and timeline.