Score improvement depends on your starting point and how consistently you prepare. Students typically see meaningful gains of 50-150 points with focused, personalized instruction—especially when working on specific weak areas like reading comprehension or math problem-solving. The key is identifying which sections need the most work and developing targeted strategies, which is where expert tutors can make a real difference in your preparation timeline.

Your first session focuses on assessment and planning. A tutor will review your background, discuss your goals, and likely administer a practice test or diagnostic to identify your strengths and areas for improvement across the verbal and math sections. From there, you'll develop a customized study plan with realistic timelines and specific focus areas—whether that's pacing strategies, question format familiarity, or building confidence in particular content areas.

Timing is one of the biggest challenges students face on the SHSAT. The test gives you limited time per section, so effective pacing requires practice with actual test conditions. Expert tutors teach strategies like identifying easier questions first, knowing when to skip difficult problems, and using practice tests to build your internal clock. Working through timed practice regularly helps you develop the rhythm needed to complete sections without rushing or leaving questions blank.

Both sections are equally weighted on the SHSAT, so ideally you'll prepare for both. However, many students find reading comprehension trickier because it requires understanding nuanced question formats and passage analysis under time pressure, while math often feels more straightforward. A tutor can assess which section challenges you most and allocate study time accordingly—some students need heavy reading support, while others benefit from deeper math strategy work.

Practice tests are essential—they're how you build familiarity with the test format, discover your weak spots, and develop pacing strategies under real time pressure. Most students benefit from taking full-length practice tests every 1-2 weeks during their prep period, then reviewing mistakes carefully to understand why they missed questions. Tutors use practice test results to guide instruction and track your progress toward your score goals.

Test anxiety often stems from unfamiliar question formats or uncertainty about your abilities. Personalized tutoring builds confidence through repeated exposure to test questions, mastery of strategies, and consistent progress tracking—you'll see concrete evidence of improvement. Tutors also teach stress-management techniques and help you develop a growth mindset, so you approach test day feeling prepared rather than panicked.

Most students benefit from 3-6 months of focused preparation, though this varies based on your starting level and target score. A realistic schedule typically includes 2-3 tutoring sessions per week plus independent practice between sessions. Your tutor will help you create a study timeline that balances thorough preparation with avoiding burnout, ensuring you're ready to perform your best on test day.