Score improvement depends on your child's starting point and how consistently they practice. Many students see meaningful gains—often 10-15% improvement—within 4-8 weeks of focused preparation with a tutor who understands their specific weak areas. The key is identifying whether challenges are in reading comprehension, math concepts, or test-taking strategy, then targeting those areas directly.

In the first session, a tutor will assess your child's current skills, discuss any anxiety around testing, and review the test format and question types. They'll typically have your child work through a few practice problems to identify specific areas for improvement—whether that's pacing, understanding instructions, or particular math or reading concepts. This helps create a personalized study plan tailored to your child's needs.

Pacing is one of the biggest challenges for elementary-level test takers. Tutors teach strategies like skimming passages efficiently, identifying key information quickly, and knowing when to move on rather than get stuck on one problem. Practice with timed sections helps students build speed without sacrificing accuracy, so they finish each section confidently.

Many students excel in one area but struggle in another—some find reading comprehension challenging while others get stuck on math word problems. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can focus on your child's specific weak areas rather than drilling everything equally. A good tutor will diagnose whether the issue is reading fluency, math concepts, or simply understanding what the question is asking.

Practice tests are essential—they help your child get comfortable with the format, build stamina for the full exam, and reveal which question types need more work. Tutors typically use practice tests strategically throughout preparation to track progress and adjust the study plan. Taking full-length timed practice tests every 1-2 weeks helps students build confidence and identify patterns in their mistakes.

Test anxiety often stems from unfamiliarity with the format or fear of making mistakes. Tutors reduce anxiety by demystifying the test, teaching calming strategies, and building competence through repeated practice. When students understand what to expect and know they've practiced similar questions successfully, confidence naturally grows and anxiety decreases.

Most students benefit from 4-8 weeks of preparation, with 2-3 tutoring sessions per week combined with independent practice. The ideal timeline depends on your child's current skills and test date. A tutor can recommend a personalized study schedule that builds skills progressively without overwhelming your child—consistency matters more than cramming.