Timing issues usually stem from one of two things: either you're spending too long on difficult questions early in the test, or you're not recognizing question patterns quickly enough to solve them efficiently. A tutor can help you develop a pacing strategy that matches your skill level, teach you to identify which questions to tackle first, and practice the mental shortcuts that let you solve problems faster without sacrificing accuracy.

The best way is to take a full practice test under timed conditions, then review every single problem you got wrong—not just to see the answer, but to understand why you missed it. Was it a careless mistake, a conceptual gap, or a pacing issue? Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who can analyze your practice test results and create a targeted study plan that focuses your effort where it matters most.

Test anxiety often improves when you feel genuinely prepared and confident in your problem-solving skills. Working with a tutor helps build that confidence through repeated practice with real SAT questions, learning to recognize patterns, and developing a consistent approach to harder problems. Many students also benefit from learning specific test-day strategies—like which problems to skip, how to manage your time, and mental techniques to stay calm under pressure.

Most students benefit from taking 4-6 full practice tests under realistic timed conditions, spaced out over several weeks. This gives you enough repetition to identify patterns in your mistakes and build test-day stamina, while leaving time to address weak areas between tests. A tutor can help you choose which practice tests to focus on, review your results strategically, and adjust your study plan based on what each test reveals.

The SAT Math section includes multiple-choice questions, student-produced responses (grid-ins), and questions that require you to select multiple correct answers. Each format has its own strategy—for example, multiple-choice lets you work backward from answer choices, while grid-ins require you to be extra careful with your arithmetic. A tutor can teach you format-specific strategies and have you practice each type until you're comfortable recognizing what approach works best for each question.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of consistent preparation, with 3-5 hours of focused study per week. If you're starting from a lower baseline or aiming for a top score, you might need more time. The key is quality over quantity—working with a tutor ensures your study time is spent strategically on what actually moves your score, rather than reviewing concepts you've already mastered.

Look for tutors with strong math backgrounds, proven experience helping students improve their SAT scores, and familiarity with current SAT formats and question types. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who understand not just the math content, but also test-taking strategy and how to identify and fix the specific mistakes that are costing you points. The best tutors can explain concepts clearly and adapt their teaching to match how you learn best.