Score improvement depends on your starting point and commitment to practice, but students typically see meaningful gains—often 50-100+ points—when they work with a tutor to identify weak areas and develop targeted strategies. Many students struggle with pacing and question types initially; personalized instruction helps you understand what the test is really asking and build confidence in your approach. Consistent practice combined with expert feedback accelerates improvement significantly.

Timing is one of the biggest challenges students face—you have roughly 1 minute per question, which requires both speed and accuracy. Expert tutors teach you how to preview passages strategically, identify question types quickly, and prioritize which questions to tackle first based on difficulty. With guided practice and timed drills, you'll develop a rhythm that lets you work through passages confidently without rushing through critical details.

Many students struggle with vocabulary-in-context questions, inferring author's tone or purpose, and understanding complex paired passages. Others find themselves re-reading passages multiple times, which eats into their time budget. A tutor can diagnose exactly where you're losing points—whether it's comprehension, strategy, or test anxiety—and create a focused plan to strengthen those specific skills rather than trying to improve everything at once.

Most students benefit from taking 4-6 full-length practice tests under timed conditions to build stamina and identify patterns in their mistakes. The key isn't the quantity—it's the quality of review afterward. After each practice test, work with a tutor to analyze which question types trip you up, why you're missing certain questions, and what strategies will help next time. This targeted review is what transforms practice into real improvement.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or unsure of your approach—personalized tutoring builds confidence by giving you proven strategies and plenty of practice with feedback. Tutors teach you how to manage your mindset during the test, recognize when you're overthinking a question, and move forward strategically. Knowing you've practiced similar questions dozens of times and have a solid game plan significantly reduces anxiety on test day.

Your first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment—often a timed practice section or full test—to understand your current strengths and weaknesses. Your tutor will review your results with you, identify patterns in your mistakes, and create a personalized study plan tailored to your goals and timeline. This foundation ensures all future sessions target the areas that will have the biggest impact on your score.

Varsity Tutors connects you with experienced tutors who specialize in PSAT prep and understand the specific challenges of Critical Reading. When you reach out, you'll be matched with a tutor whose expertise and teaching style fit your needs—whether you need intensive prep or focused work on specific question types. With 51 schools and over 17,000 students across Albany's school districts, there's strong demand for quality PSAT prep, and tutors here understand the local academic landscape.