Score improvement depends on your starting point and how consistently you apply targeted strategies. Students who work with tutors often see 50-100+ point improvements on the Writing section by identifying their specific weak areas—whether that's comma rules, verb tense, or rhetorical questions—and practicing with real PSAT materials. The key is focusing on patterns in your mistakes rather than memorizing rules, combined with regular practice tests to track progress.

Manhattan students typically struggle with comma usage, pronoun-antecedent agreement, and recognizing when a sentence is actually correct (avoiding the trap of over-correcting). Many also rush through the rhetorical questions about word choice and sentence placement, missing the context clues that signal the right answer. A tutor can help you slow down on these high-error questions and develop a systematic approach to each question type.

Effective strategies include reading the entire sentence or passage for context before answering (not just the underlined portion), identifying the grammar rule being tested before looking at choices, and eliminating obviously wrong answers first. Many students benefit from tackling questions in order of difficulty—answering straightforward grammar questions quickly to save time for trickier rhetorical and style questions. Personalized tutoring helps you discover which strategies work best for your pacing and test anxiety.

Most students benefit from completing 3-5 full PSAT practice tests, with focused review after each one. However, quality matters more than quantity—working through every question you miss to understand why it's wrong is more valuable than rushing through multiple tests. For the Writing section specifically, many students also do targeted drills on their weakest question types between full tests, which helps build confidence and speed.

You have roughly 45 minutes for 44 questions, which gives you about 1 minute per question on average. However, some questions (like identifying correct sentences or rhetorical questions) may take 30-45 seconds, while others need more time for context. A tutor can help you practice pacing so you're not rushing through the last passage and can spend extra seconds on questions that require careful reading of the full passage.

Look for tutors who understand the specific PSAT Writing format and question types, and who can diagnose your error patterns rather than just teaching grammar rules in isolation. The best tutors use real PSAT materials, help you develop personalized strategies based on how you actually think, and track your progress on practice tests. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in Manhattan who specialize in PSAT preparation and can tailor sessions to your schedule and learning style.

Your first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment—often a timed Writing section from a practice test—so your tutor can identify your specific weak areas and understand your test-taking habits. You'll discuss your target score, timeline before test day, and any concerns like test anxiety or pacing issues. From there, your tutor creates a personalized plan focusing on your biggest opportunities for improvement, whether that's grammar fundamentals, rhetorical questions, or test strategy.