Score improvement depends on your starting point and commitment level, but most students see meaningful gains within 4-8 weeks of focused work. Students who start in the 140-150 range often improve 5-10 points, while those with foundational gaps may see larger jumps. The key is identifying your specific weaknesses—whether that's reading speed, inference skills, or question-type strategy—and targeting them directly through practice and feedback.

Tutoring typically starts with diagnostic practice tests to pinpoint your weak areas, then moves into targeted instruction on passage types, question formats, and time management strategies. You'll work through real LSAT passages with expert guidance, learn to annotate effectively, practice predicting answer choices before reading them, and build speed without sacrificing accuracy. Between sessions, you'll complete focused homework on specific passage types or question categories to reinforce what you're learning.

Timing issues usually stem from either reading too slowly, getting lost in dense passages, or spending too long on difficult questions. Effective strategies include reading actively with a purpose (tracking the main point and structure rather than every detail), learning to skip and return to tough questions, and practicing timed drills to build speed incrementally. A tutor can help you identify where you're losing time and develop a pacing strategy that works for your reading style.

Your first session typically involves taking a timed practice test or working through a passage so your tutor can observe your approach, identify specific weaknesses, and understand your learning style. You'll discuss your target score, timeline, and any concerns about particular passage types or question formats. From there, your tutor will create a customized study plan focused on the areas that will have the biggest impact on your score.

Practice tests are essential—they're the only way to build stamina, identify patterns in your mistakes, and practice timing under realistic conditions. Most LSAT prep experts recommend taking full practice tests every 1-2 weeks once you've learned core strategies, then reviewing them thoroughly to understand why you missed questions. Your tutor will help you interpret practice test results, focus on recurring error patterns, and adjust your study approach based on what the data shows.

Yes—the LSAT consistently tests main point, inference, author's tone, function, and detail questions, each requiring slightly different strategies. Many students struggle most with inference questions because they require careful reasoning about what's implied versus stated, and with comparative reading passages that require tracking multiple viewpoints. Your tutor can assess which question types are costing you the most points and teach you targeted strategies for each one.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about your approach—tutoring builds confidence by giving you proven strategies and lots of practice with feedback. As you work through passages repeatedly and see your accuracy improve, you develop trust in your method. Your tutor can also teach you practical techniques like managing your mental state during timed sections and learning to stay focused when you encounter a difficult passage.