Effective pacing starts with strategic reading—many successful test-takers spend 3-4 minutes reading and understanding the passage, then 4-5 minutes answering questions, rather than rushing through the text. Personalized tutoring can help you identify which passage types slow you down most (comparative reading, dense legal material, etc.) and develop targeted strategies. Practice with timed drills and full-length tests is essential to build speed without sacrificing accuracy.

Score improvement depends on your starting point and study intensity, but students typically see 3-7 point gains (on the 120-180 LSAT scale) with focused preparation over 2-3 months. The key is identifying your specific weak areas—whether that's inference questions, comparative reading, or particular subject matter—and drilling those systematically. Working with a tutor helps you avoid common mistakes and develop a personalized study plan rather than generic test prep.

The LSAT tests about 10 core question types: Main Point, Author's Purpose, Inference, Specific Reference, Function (why did the author include this?), Comparative Reading, Tone/Attitude, Must Be True, and Strengthen/Weaken arguments. Each requires a slightly different approach—for example, Main Point questions reward big-picture reading, while Specific Reference questions require careful detail work. A tutor can teach you to recognize each type instantly and apply the most efficient strategy for that question.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of consistent preparation, with Reading Comprehension practice 4-5 times per week. A typical schedule includes 2-3 timed passages weekly, full-length practice tests every 1-2 weeks, and targeted drills on weak question types. Personalized tutoring helps you structure this practice efficiently—rather than grinding through passages randomly, you'll focus on the specific challenges holding back your score.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about your strategy. Building confidence through repeated timed practice and mastering question-type strategies reduces anxiety significantly. Tutors can also teach you mental techniques like strategic passage selection (tackling easier passages first), pacing checkpoints to stay on track, and how to skip difficult questions and return to them—all of which give you a sense of control during the test.

Your first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment—usually a timed Reading Comprehension section from a recent LSAT—to identify your strengths and specific weak areas. The tutor will review your performance, ask about your target score and timeline, and develop a personalized study plan. You'll also learn foundational strategies for approaching passages and questions, so you leave with immediately actionable techniques to practice.

Look for tutors with strong LSAT scores (typically 170+), direct experience teaching Reading Comprehension, and familiarity with current LSAT format and question types. Ideally, they should have taught multiple students to score improvement and understand the specific challenges of this section. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who have proven track records helping students master Reading Comprehension and reach their target scores.