Many students struggle with pacing—the 90-minute time limit for multiple passages feels rushed, especially when trying to understand dense material thoroughly. Others find it difficult to distinguish between what the passage explicitly states versus what they can infer, leading to incorrect answers. Additionally, students often spend too much time on difficult passages or questions, leaving insufficient time for easier material where they could earn quick points. Working with a tutor can help you develop strategic reading techniques and time management approaches tailored to your strengths and weaknesses.

Score improvement depends on your starting point and effort level, but most students see meaningful gains with focused, strategic preparation. Students who identify specific weaknesses—like struggling with inference questions versus detail questions—and practice targeted strategies typically see 3-5 point improvements over several months. The key is consistent practice with real AAMC materials, timed practice tests, and detailed review of mistakes. A tutor can help you pinpoint exactly where you're losing points and develop a personalized study plan to address those gaps efficiently.

Successful strategies include active reading (annotating key ideas and author's tone), previewing questions before reading passages to know what to focus on, and using process of elimination to narrow down answer choices. Many high-scorers develop a consistent approach: spend 3-4 minutes reading each passage actively, then answer questions without re-reading the entire passage unless necessary. Pacing is critical—if a passage feels too difficult, it's often better to move on and return to it later rather than getting stuck. Tutors can teach you these strategies and help you practice them under realistic timed conditions until they become automatic.

Full-length practice tests are essential because they simulate actual test conditions, including time pressure and mental fatigue—factors that significantly impact performance. Taking practice tests regularly (ideally one per week during active preparation) helps you identify patterns in your mistakes and build stamina for test day. The AAMC provides official practice materials that are most representative of the actual exam. Beyond taking tests, the review process is equally important: analyzing why you missed questions and adjusting your strategy accordingly. A tutor can guide your practice test schedule and help you extract maximum learning from each attempt.

Most students benefit from 2-4 months of focused preparation specifically for Verbal Reasoning, though this varies based on your baseline reading speed and comprehension skills. If you're starting from a lower baseline, 3-4 months allows time to build foundational skills before moving to advanced strategy. If you're already a strong reader, 6-8 weeks of targeted practice may be sufficient. The MCAT overall typically requires 250-350 hours of preparation across all sections. Working with a tutor helps you use your study time efficiently by focusing on high-impact strategies rather than generic review.

Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can identify your specific weak points—whether that's inference questions, time management, or understanding complex passages—and develop a customized study plan. Tutors teach you strategic approaches to different question types, provide feedback on your practice work, and help you build confidence through realistic timed practice. They also help you understand why you're missing questions, not just what the right answer is, so you can apply those lessons to new passages. Regular one-on-one instruction accelerates improvement because feedback is immediate and tailored to your learning style.

Your first session typically focuses on assessment and goal-setting. Your tutor will likely ask about your target MCAT score, timeline, current study habits, and any specific challenges you've noticed. They may have you complete a timed practice passage or review a recent practice test to understand your strengths and weaknesses firsthand. By the end of the session, you should have a clear picture of your baseline performance and an initial study plan outlining which strategies to focus on and how often to meet. This personalized foundation ensures all future sessions build directly toward your goals.