Most students struggle with pacing because they either read too slowly and run out of time, or they rush through passages and miss important details. A tutor can teach you efficient reading strategies—like previewing questions before reading, identifying key ideas quickly, and knowing when to skip difficult questions and come back—so you can complete all sections without feeling rushed. Practice with full-length tests under timed conditions is essential to building the rhythm you need.

Taking a full practice PSAT and reviewing your results by question type is the best starting point—you'll see patterns like whether you struggle more with vocabulary, main idea questions, or inference questions. A tutor can analyze your practice test results in detail, identify which reading strategies aren't working for you, and help you understand why you're missing questions (rushing, misreading, or not understanding the concept). This diagnostic approach lets you focus study time on what actually needs work instead of reviewing everything.

Key strategies include previewing the questions before reading the passage (so you know what to look for), identifying the main idea and author's tone, and using context clues for vocabulary questions instead of relying on memorized definitions. Elimination—crossing out obviously wrong answers—is often faster and more reliable than trying to find the perfect answer. A tutor can teach you which strategies work best for your reading style and help you practice them repeatedly until they become automatic on test day.

Test anxiety often comes from feeling unprepared or unsure about strategies, so building confidence through practice is the best antidote. Working with a tutor means you'll take multiple practice tests, get immediate feedback, and know exactly what to expect on test day—all of which reduce anxiety significantly. A tutor can also teach you time management and mental strategies like taking deep breaths between passages and reminding yourself that you don't need a perfect score to do well.

Most students benefit from taking 4-6 full-length practice PSATs spread over their preparation period, with at least one taken under true test conditions (timed, quiet, no interruptions). Between full tests, you'll want to do targeted practice on specific question types and passages. A tutor can help you create a study schedule that spaces out practice strategically, reviews your results after each test, and adjusts your focus based on what you're still struggling with.

Look for someone who has strong test-taking experience, understands the specific format and question types on the PSAT, and can explain strategies clearly rather than just drilling practice problems. They should be able to diagnose your specific weaknesses and teach you strategies tailored to how you learn best. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who have proven success helping students improve their reading scores and can work around your schedule.

Your first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment—either reviewing a recent practice test or taking one together—so your tutor understands your current level, question-type patterns, and reading habits. You'll discuss your goals, timeline, and learning style, then your tutor will explain the overall PSAT structure and introduce the strategies that will be most helpful for you. From there, you'll build a personalized study plan focused on your specific weaknesses and test date.