Your first session focuses on understanding your current strengths and challenges. A tutor will likely review your practice test results, discuss which question types give you the most trouble, and assess your pacing and timing issues. From there, they'll create a personalized study plan that targets your specific gaps—whether that's improving speed on algebra problems, understanding geometry concepts, or mastering test-specific strategies.

Timing is one of the most common challenges on SAT Math, and it's very fixable with practice. Tutors help you develop strategies like identifying which question types you can solve quickly versus which need more time, learning when to skip and come back, and building speed through repeated practice with similar problems. Many students find that focusing on accuracy first—then building speed—is more effective than rushing through problems.

The best way is to take full-length practice tests and review your results by topic—algebra, advanced math, geometry, trigonometry, and data analysis. A tutor can analyze your practice test data to show exactly which concepts and question types are costing you points. This targeted approach is far more efficient than reviewing everything, since you can focus your study time on areas that will actually move your score.

Confidence comes from familiarity and competence. Working with a tutor helps reduce anxiety by building your actual skills, exposing you to every question format you'll encounter, and practicing under timed conditions so test day feels routine. Many students find that understanding the 'why' behind solutions—rather than just memorizing steps—makes them feel more in control and less panicked when they see unfamiliar problems.

Most students benefit from 1-2 sessions per week over 8-12 weeks, though your ideal schedule depends on your starting score and test date. Between sessions, you'll want to do independent practice—typically 3-5 hours per week of focused work on weak areas. A tutor can help you structure this practice so it's efficient and targeted rather than just grinding through problems without a clear strategy.

Look for tutors with strong SAT Math scores themselves, proven experience helping students improve their scores, and familiarity with the current test format. It's also valuable to find someone who understands both the content (algebra, geometry, etc.) and test-specific strategies—knowing how to solve a problem is different from knowing how to solve it quickly under pressure. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who have demonstrated success with SAT Math students.

Practice tests are essential—they're the best way to identify weak areas, build timing skills, and get comfortable with the test format. Most tutors recommend taking at least 3-4 full-length practice tests during your prep, spacing them out so you can work on weak areas between attempts. The goal isn't just to take the test, but to review every single wrong answer and understand exactly why you missed it.