Score improvement depends on your starting point and consistency, but students often see 3-7 point gains (on the 120-180 scale) within 8-12 weeks of focused practice with personalized instruction. The key is moving from passive reading to active annotation strategies, learning to predict questions before you see them, and practicing under timed conditions. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who can diagnose exactly where you're losing points—whether it's comprehension, question strategy, or timing—and target those specific weaknesses.

Your first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment—your tutor will have you work through a timed Reading Comprehension section to identify your baseline score and pinpoint problem areas. You'll discuss your target score, timeline, and any specific challenges (like anxiety under pressure or trouble with particular passage types). From there, your tutor creates a personalized study plan that might focus on reading strategy, question type mastery, timing drills, or confidence building, depending on what you need most.

The most effective approach combines active reading (annotating structure and main ideas as you go) with strategic question prediction—anticipating what the test makers will ask before you see the answer choices. Many high scorers use a "roadmap" method to track the passage's organization, then reference it quickly when answering questions rather than re-reading. Pacing is critical too: spending 3-4 minutes per passage leaves 8-9 minutes for questions, but this only works if you've practiced enough to read efficiently without sacrificing comprehension.

Practice tests are essential—they're the only way to build the stamina and timing skills the real test demands. Most students benefit from taking full, timed practice tests every 1-2 weeks to track progress and identify patterns in their mistakes. Between full tests, drilling individual sections or specific question types helps you refine strategy without the mental fatigue of a full exam. Your tutor can help you analyze your practice test results to spot whether you're missing questions due to misreading, timing pressure, or gaps in strategy.

Much of Reading Comprehension anxiety stems from feeling unprepared or out of control—tutoring builds confidence by giving you proven strategies and repeated practice under realistic conditions. When you've drilled passages dozens of times and seen how questions are constructed, the section feels less intimidating. Your tutor can also help you develop a pre-test routine, teach you how to manage timing pressure without panicking, and normalize the difficulty level so you're not blindsided on test day.

Look for tutors who have scored in the 90th percentile or higher on the LSAT (typically 170+) and have specific experience teaching Reading Comprehension to multiple students. They should be able to explain not just what the right answer is, but why the wrong answers are traps and how the test makers think. Ideally, they stay current with LSAT changes and use official LSAC practice materials. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who meet these standards and can tailor instruction to your learning style and goals.

Most students preparing for the LSAT benefit from 5-8 hours per week of focused Reading Comprehension work, spread across several sessions to allow for review and reflection between practices. If you're starting from a lower baseline, you might need more time; if you're fine-tuning a strong foundation, you might need less. Your tutor can help you build a realistic schedule that fits your timeline and other LSAT section prep, ensuring you're drilling consistently without burnout.