Score improvement depends on your starting point and how consistently you prepare, but most students see meaningful gains with focused, personalized instruction—typically 50-150 points over 2-4 months of regular tutoring. The key is identifying your specific weak areas (whether that's reading comprehension, algebra, or test pacing) and targeting those through targeted practice and strategy refinement rather than generic test prep.

The SHSAT has two main sections: Math and English Language Arts (ELA), each scored from 400-700. Many students struggle more with the ELA section because it requires both reading comprehension and reasoning skills under time pressure, while the math section often trips up students who haven't practiced the specific question formats and pacing strategies the test requires. A tutor can help you identify which section is your biggest challenge and develop targeted strategies to improve.

Your first session typically starts with a diagnostic assessment—either a practice test or targeted questions—to identify your current strengths and weaknesses across both math and ELA. From there, a tutor can create a personalized study plan that prioritizes the areas where you'll see the biggest score gains, discuss your timeline and goals, and introduce you to the specific test-taking strategies and question formats you'll encounter on test day.

Practice tests are crucial—they help you get comfortable with the test format, build stamina for the full exam, and identify specific patterns in the types of questions you struggle with. Taking full-length practice tests under timed conditions every 2-3 weeks, then reviewing your mistakes with a tutor, is one of the most effective ways to improve your score. This approach combines retrieval practice (a proven learning technique) with targeted feedback on your weak areas.

Pacing is a learnable skill—many students rush through easy questions or spend too long on difficult ones, leaving points on the table. A tutor can teach you strategies like identifying question difficulty quickly, knowing when to skip and return to a question, and practicing with a timer to build the rhythm you need. With targeted drills on pacing, most students significantly improve their ability to complete the test while maintaining accuracy.

Test anxiety often comes from uncertainty—not knowing what to expect or feeling unprepared. Personalized tutoring builds confidence by familiarizing you with every question type, teaching you proven test-taking strategies, and giving you multiple opportunities to practice under realistic conditions. As you see your practice test scores improve and develop a clear game plan for test day, anxiety naturally decreases and confidence grows.

Look for a tutor with proven expertise in the SHSAT specifically—someone who understands the test's unique format, question types, and scoring, and ideally has a track record of helping students improve their scores. They should be able to diagnose your specific weak areas quickly, teach both content knowledge and test-taking strategy, and adapt their approach based on your learning style and timeline. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in SHSAT prep and can create a personalized study plan tailored to your goals.