Many students struggle with pacing—the test requires solving 58 questions in 80 minutes, which can feel rushed. Others have trouble with the variety of question formats, especially grid-in responses and multi-step problems that require careful reading. Weak foundational skills in algebra or geometry, combined with test anxiety, can also hold students back from showing what they actually know.

Your first session focuses on understanding your current level and goals. A tutor will typically review your practice test results, identify patterns in the questions you're missing, and assess whether your challenges are conceptual (not understanding the math) or strategic (rushing, misreading questions). From there, you'll build a personalized study plan that targets your specific weak areas and fits your timeline before test day.

Practice tests are essential—they're the best way to identify your weak areas, build test-taking stamina, and get comfortable with the format and pacing. Taking full practice tests under timed conditions reveals whether you're struggling with specific math topics or with time management. Most students benefit from taking 3-5 full practice tests during their preparation, with a tutor helping them analyze what went wrong and adjust their strategy.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of focused preparation, though this varies based on your starting score and target score. If you're aiming for a significant improvement or have foundational gaps, starting earlier gives you time to build skills without cramming. Working with a tutor helps you use your study time efficiently—rather than spending hours on topics you already know, you can concentrate on the areas that actually need work.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or unsure of your approach to different question types. Building confidence through practice—especially timed practice—helps you trust your skills when test day arrives. A tutor can also teach you concrete strategies like strategic skipping (leaving hard questions for later), checking your work efficiently, and mental techniques to stay calm under pressure.

Look for tutors with strong math backgrounds and specific experience teaching SAT preparation. Ideal tutors understand the SAT's unique format and strategies, can identify why you're missing questions (not just that you got them wrong), and know how to teach time management alongside content. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who have proven success helping students improve their SAT Math scores.

Review your practice test results by category—algebra, advanced math, problem-solving, geometry, and trigonometry—to see where you're losing the most points. Beyond just knowing which topics are hard, pay attention to patterns: Are you missing easy questions because you're rushing? Struggling with word problems? Making careless errors? A tutor can help you dig into these patterns and create a targeted plan to address them before test day.