Most students struggle with pacing because they either rush through passages and miss details, or get stuck on difficult questions and run out of time. The Critical Reading section requires you to balance careful reading with efficient question-answering—you typically have about 2.5 minutes per passage plus questions. Tutors help you develop a consistent approach: previewing questions first, identifying key evidence in the text, and knowing when to skip a tough question and return to it later.

Vocabulary matters, but it's not the whole story—understanding how words function in context is what the PSAT actually tests. You'll encounter challenging words, but the test gives you clues through surrounding sentences and paragraph structure. Tutors focus on teaching you to use context clues strategically rather than memorizing endless word lists, which saves time and builds skills that transfer to college reading.

Most students benefit from taking 4-6 full practice tests under timed conditions, spaced throughout their prep period. The first test establishes your baseline and reveals patterns in your mistakes. After that, each test should be followed by careful review—analyzing why you missed questions matters more than the number of tests you take. Tutors help you extract maximum learning from each practice test by identifying recurring weak spots and adjusting your strategy accordingly.

Inference questions require you to read between the lines and find conclusions that aren't explicitly stated—but they must be directly supported by evidence in the passage. Students often either choose answers that are too obvious (restating what the text says) or too extreme (going beyond what the text supports). Tutors teach you to mark evidence as you read and always trace your answer back to specific sentences, which builds confidence in distinguishing solid inferences from unsupported guesses.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about your approach—which is exactly what tutoring addresses. By practicing with real passages and question types repeatedly, you build familiarity and confidence. Tutors also teach you mental strategies like taking deep breaths between passages, reminding yourself that you don't need to be perfect, and focusing on one question at a time rather than worrying about the whole section.

Your first session focuses on understanding where you stand and what you need to work on. Varsity Tutors connects you with a tutor who will likely have you take a diagnostic practice test or review a recent one you've taken, then discuss which question types give you the most trouble and why. This helps create a personalized plan for your remaining prep time, whether you have 4 weeks or 4 months before test day.

Varsity Tutors connects students in Columbus with expert tutors who specialize in PSAT Critical Reading and understand the specific challenges of the section. You can get matched with a tutor who fits your schedule and learning style, then start working together on your weak areas right away. Many students find that even a few sessions focused on strategy and practice make a significant difference in their confidence and score.