Score improvement depends on your starting point and effort level, but most students see meaningful gains (3-7 points) within 4-8 weeks of focused practice. Students who work with tutors often improve faster because they receive targeted feedback on their specific weak areas—whether that's inference questions, comparative reading, or time management. Consistent practice combined with strategic guidance is key; many students find that understanding question patterns and developing a personalized approach to each passage type yields the biggest improvements.

Effective pacing starts with understanding your natural reading speed and adjusting your approach accordingly. Some students benefit from reading the passage first then tackling questions, while others preview questions to identify what to focus on. A tutor can help you experiment with different strategies, teach you to recognize high-value questions worth spending time on, and build your confidence so anxiety doesn't slow you down. With practice and the right technique for your learning style, most students can comfortably complete all four passages within the 35-minute timeframe.

Practice tests are essential—they're the best way to identify patterns in your mistakes, build stamina for the full section, and get comfortable with timing under pressure. The LSAC has released 90+ official LSAT PrepTests, giving you plenty of material to work with. A tutor can help you analyze your practice test performance to pinpoint whether you're missing inference questions, struggling with specific passage types, or losing points due to timing, then create a targeted study plan to address those gaps.

LSAT Reading Comprehension questions fall into several categories: Main Point/Primary Purpose, Detail/Explicit Information, Inference, Function (why the author included something), and Comparative Reading questions that ask you to relate two passages. Each question type requires a slightly different approach—for example, inference questions require careful reasoning, while detail questions reward close reading. Understanding the specific demands of each question type and practicing strategies for each helps you answer more accurately and efficiently.

Look for tutors with strong LSAT scores (typically 160+), experience teaching Reading Comprehension specifically, and a track record of helping students improve. It's also valuable to find someone who understands different learning styles and can adapt their teaching approach to how you learn best. When you connect with Varsity Tutors, you're matched with expert tutors who have deep knowledge of the LSAT and experience helping students in Staten Island succeed on test day.

Your first session typically involves an assessment of your current reading speed, comprehension level, and familiarity with different passage types. The tutor will likely have you work through a sample passage and questions to understand your strengths and identify specific areas for improvement—whether that's inference questions, time management, or handling dense material. This diagnostic helps create a personalized study plan tailored to your needs and goals.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about your approach. Building confidence through consistent practice, understanding question patterns, and developing a reliable strategy for each passage type significantly reduces anxiety on test day. A tutor can also teach you techniques like pacing yourself strategically, managing self-doubt, and staying focused when you encounter challenging passages. Many students find that knowing they have a solid plan and have practiced extensively under timed conditions is the best antidote to test-day nerves.