Score improvement depends on your starting point and how consistently you practice, but students typically see meaningful gains of 50-150 points over 8-12 weeks of focused preparation. The key is identifying your specific weak areas—whether that's vocabulary, passage comprehension, or question interpretation—and targeting those through strategic practice and feedback from someone who understands the test's nuances.

Many students struggle with pacing—trying to read every word carefully while running out of time—or with vocabulary questions that test words in unfamiliar contexts. Others find it hard to distinguish between answer choices that seem similar, or they misidentify the main idea of a passage. Personalized tutoring helps you recognize these patterns in your own work and develop strategies to overcome them.

Effective strategies include previewing questions before reading the passage (so you know what to look for), using context clues to tackle unfamiliar vocabulary, and learning to eliminate obviously wrong answers to improve your odds on difficult questions. Tutors can teach you how to manage your time across different passage types and help you practice these strategies until they become automatic during the actual test.

Most students benefit from taking a full practice test every 1-2 weeks, with focused practice on individual sections in between. The real value comes from reviewing your mistakes carefully—understanding not just what the right answer is, but why you chose wrong and how to spot that trap next time. Tutors can help you analyze your practice test results to identify patterns and adjust your study plan accordingly.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or unsure of your strategies. Building confidence through consistent practice, learning to recognize question patterns, and having a clear game plan for each section significantly reduces anxiety on test day. Tutors can also teach you breathing techniques and mental strategies to stay calm when you encounter a difficult passage or unfamiliar vocabulary.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in the Dayton area who have deep experience with PSAT preparation and understand the specific skills tested in Critical Reading. When you get matched with a tutor, you can discuss your current score, your target score, and your biggest challenges so they can tailor their approach to your needs from day one.

Your first session typically involves an assessment of your current skills—often through a practice section or diagnostic test—so your tutor can understand your strengths and weaknesses. You'll discuss your goals, timeline, and any specific concerns, then develop a personalized study plan that outlines which skills to focus on and how to structure your practice between sessions.