Score improvement depends on your starting point and study intensity, but most students see meaningful gains with focused preparation. Students who work with a tutor on targeted strategies—such as active reading techniques, question-type recognition, and timed practice—typically improve by 2-4 points on the MCAT scale. The key is identifying your specific weaknesses (whether that's inference questions, pacing, or passage comprehension) and addressing them systematically through practice tests and strategy refinement.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who can diagnose exactly where you're losing points—whether it's struggling with certain question types, reading too slowly, or second-guessing correct answers. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction allows tutors to teach you customized reading strategies, walk through your practice test mistakes in detail, and build the confidence needed to maintain focus through 90 minutes of dense passages. This targeted approach is far more effective than generic test prep because it addresses your unique challenges rather than treating all students the same.

Practice tests are essential—they're how you build stamina, identify weak question types, and learn to manage time under real test conditions. Most students benefit from taking full-length practice tests every 1-2 weeks during their prep period, then reviewing each one thoroughly to understand why they missed questions. A tutor can help you analyze your practice test results strategically, spotting patterns in your mistakes and adjusting your study plan accordingly, rather than simply retaking tests without learning from them.

The standard approach is spending about 8-9 minutes per passage (including reading and answering all questions), which leaves buffer time for difficult passages. However, the optimal strategy varies by student—some benefit from skimming first and reading carefully for questions, while others need to read thoroughly the first time. A tutor can help you experiment with different pacing approaches during practice, find what works for your reading style, and develop a consistent routine so you're not making pacing decisions under stress on test day.

Varsity Tutors makes it easy to connect with expert tutors who specialize in MCAT Verbal Reasoning and understand the specific challenges of this section. When you reach out, you'll be matched with a tutor based on your goals, current score, and learning style. You can discuss your availability, whether you prefer focused sessions on specific question types or comprehensive prep, and get started with personalized instruction tailored to your timeline before test day.

Your first session is typically diagnostic—the tutor will review your current practice test scores, discuss your target score and test date, and identify which question types or skills need the most work. You'll likely go through a few practice questions together to understand your thinking process and spot patterns in your mistakes. From there, your tutor will outline a customized study plan that focuses on your biggest opportunities for improvement.

Test anxiety often stems from uncertainty about question formats, pacing, or whether you're interpreting passages correctly. Working with a tutor builds confidence by giving you proven strategies to tackle each question type, repeated practice so the process becomes automatic, and clear feedback on what you're doing well. Many students find that understanding exactly why they miss questions—rather than just guessing—significantly reduces anxiety because they feel more in control and prepared on test day.