Your first session focuses on understanding where you stand. A tutor will review your current math skills, discuss your target score, and often have you work through a few PSAT-style problems to identify specific challenges—whether that's time management, particular math topics, or test anxiety. From there, you'll develop a personalized study plan that prioritizes the areas where improvement will have the biggest impact on your score.

Timing is one of the most common challenges on the PSAT Math section. A tutor can teach you strategic approaches like identifying which problems to tackle first, recognizing question patterns that eat up time, and knowing when to skip and return to a problem. Practice tests are essential here—working through full sections under timed conditions helps you develop a realistic sense of pacing and builds confidence when test day arrives.

The best way is to take a full-length PSAT practice test and review your results carefully—not just your overall score, but which specific question types and topics you missed. Common trouble spots include quadratic equations, systems of equations, geometry, and data interpretation. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can analyze your practice test results and create a focused study plan that targets your specific gaps rather than wasting time on material you already know.

Aim for at least 3-4 full-length practice tests spread throughout your preparation, with at least one taken under authentic test conditions (timed, in a quiet space, no breaks between sections). Taking practice tests isn't just about building familiarity—it's a powerful learning tool that helps you identify weak areas, practice pacing, and build test-day confidence. Your tutor can help you review each practice test strategically, focusing on understanding why you missed questions rather than just getting the right answer.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or unsure about your approach to problems. Working with a tutor builds genuine confidence through mastery—as you understand concepts more deeply and practice problems repeatedly, anxiety naturally decreases. Your tutor can also teach you specific test-taking strategies and mental techniques to stay calm under pressure, plus help you develop a realistic sense of what to expect on test day so there are fewer surprises.

Look for a tutor with strong math expertise, proven experience preparing students for standardized tests, and ideally a track record of helping students improve their scores. They should understand the specific format and question types on the PSAT, be able to diagnose your individual weak areas quickly, and have a personalized teaching approach rather than a one-size-fits-all method. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who have demonstrated expertise in PSAT Math preparation and can work with your schedule.

Most students benefit from 6-12 weeks of focused preparation, depending on their current math level and target score. If you're already strong in math, 6-8 weeks may be enough to refine test-taking strategies and practice pacing. If math is a challenge area, 10-12 weeks gives you time to build foundational understanding and work through plenty of practice problems. Starting with a tutor early helps you create a realistic timeline based on your specific needs and goals.