Score improvement depends on your child's starting point and how consistently they practice. Most students see meaningful gains—typically 10-20% improvement—when they work with a tutor on test-specific strategies, practice problems, and pacing techniques over 8-12 weeks. The key is identifying weak areas early and building targeted practice into a consistent study schedule.

In the first session, a tutor will assess your child's current skill level, discuss their strengths and challenges, and review the SSAT format and question types. They'll likely administer a diagnostic practice test or review recent work to identify which sections (verbal, math, or reading) need the most focus. This helps create a personalized study plan tailored to your child's needs.

Pacing is one of the biggest challenges for elementary-level test takers. Tutors teach time-management strategies specific to each section, help students practice working under timed conditions, and show them how to skip difficult questions strategically rather than getting stuck. Regular timed practice tests help build confidence and automaticity so your child can manage the pressure on test day.

Absolutely. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can zero in on your child's weakest areas, whether that's verbal reasoning, math problem-solving, or reading comprehension. Many students struggle with different sections—some find word problems confusing while others need help with inference questions in reading. A tutor can create a focused study plan that addresses exactly where your child needs support.

Familiarity breeds confidence. When students practice with real SSAT question formats repeatedly and understand exactly what to expect, test anxiety naturally decreases. Tutors also teach relaxation techniques, help reframe mistakes as learning opportunities, and build your child's confidence by celebrating progress. Knowing they've prepared thoroughly is one of the best antidotes to test-day nerves.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of consistent preparation, meeting with a tutor 1-2 times per week plus independent practice. If your child is starting further behind, 12-16 weeks allows time to build foundational skills before focusing on test strategy. The timeline depends on your child's current level and your target test date—your tutor can recommend a personalized schedule during the first session.

Practice tests do two critical things: they help identify specific weak areas and they build test-taking stamina and confidence. By taking full-length, timed practice tests every 2-3 weeks, your child learns the exact format, question types, and timing constraints they'll face on test day. Tutors use practice test results to adjust the study plan and focus on areas that need the most work.