Score improvement depends on your starting point and commitment level, but most students see meaningful gains—typically 3-5 points on the LSAT scale—within 8-12 weeks of focused work. Some students improve more dramatically if they're addressing fundamental comprehension issues or inefficient reading strategies. The key is consistent practice combined with strategic feedback on your specific weaknesses, which personalized instruction provides.

Pacing improves through a combination of active reading techniques (annotation strategies, identifying main ideas before diving into questions) and strategic question prioritization. Many students waste time re-reading passages or overthinking answer choices—a tutor can teach you to read purposefully the first time and recognize when you're spending too much time on a single question. Practice tests are essential; working through timed sections with feedback helps you calibrate your pace without sacrificing accuracy.

Your first session focuses on assessment and strategy. A tutor will typically have you work through a timed Reading Comprehension section to understand your current strengths, weaknesses, and pacing patterns. You'll discuss your target law schools, timeline, and any specific anxieties around the section. From there, your tutor creates a personalized study plan that addresses your unique challenges—whether that's comprehension, timing, question type mastery, or test anxiety.

Practice tests are critical for LSAT Reading Comprehension success. They help you build stamina, identify patterns in your mistakes, and get comfortable with the actual test format and timing. Most students benefit from taking full-length practice tests every 1-2 weeks, then reviewing their performance with a tutor to understand why they missed questions and refine their approach. This cycle of practice, feedback, and adjustment is how meaningful score improvement happens.

The LSAT tests about 10 main question types: Main Point, Author's Attitude, Inference, Specific Reference, Function, Comparative Reading, and several others. Each requires a slightly different approach—for example, Inference questions reward careful reading of what's actually stated, while Author's Attitude questions require you to pick up on tone and perspective. A tutor can teach you the specific strategies for each type, so you recognize question patterns instantly and know exactly what to look for in the passage.

Most students preparing for the LSAT benefit from 3-4 months of focused study, with Reading Comprehension receiving 2-3 hours per week alongside other sections. If you're starting from a lower baseline, 4-6 months allows more time for foundational strategy work. Your schedule should include weekly tutoring sessions (1-2 hours), daily independent practice (30-45 minutes), and full-length practice tests every 1-2 weeks. A tutor can help you structure this timeline based on your target test date and starting score.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert LSAT tutors in Albany who specialize in Reading Comprehension and understand the specific challenges of this section. You can share your current score, target score, and availability, and get matched with a tutor whose expertise and schedule fit your needs. Many tutors offer flexible scheduling and can work with your preparation timeline, whether you're preparing months in advance or have a test date coming up soon.