Your first session focuses on assessment and planning. A tutor will review your practice test scores, identify which math topics need the most work, and understand your test timeline and goals. From there, you'll develop a personalized study plan that targets your specific weak areas—whether that's tackling quadratic equations, mastering grid-in questions, or improving your pacing on the no-calculator section.

Pacing is one of the biggest challenges students face, and it's very fixable with the right strategy. A tutor can help you learn which question types to tackle first, how to quickly identify questions you should skip and return to, and techniques to solve problems more efficiently without sacrificing accuracy. Practice tests are essential here—working through them with a tutor helps you develop a rhythm and recognize patterns in how questions are structured.

Tutors start by analyzing your practice test results question-by-question to spot patterns—whether you're consistently missing algebra problems, struggling with word problems, or making careless errors under time pressure. They'll also have you work through problems in real time to see where you get stuck, which reveals whether the issue is conceptual understanding, test strategy, or something else entirely. This diagnostic approach ensures your tutoring time focuses on what actually matters for your score.

Absolutely. Test anxiety often stems from uncertainty about whether you can handle the material or the time pressure, both of which tutoring directly addresses. By building genuine confidence through repeated practice with challenging problems, learning proven test-taking strategies, and working through full-length practice tests in a supportive environment, you'll feel much more prepared and calm on test day. Many students find that knowing exactly what to expect and having a game plan significantly reduces anxiety.

Most students benefit from meeting 1-2 times per week over 8-12 weeks leading up to test day, though the ideal frequency depends on your starting score and goals. Between sessions, you'll do independent practice—typically 3-5 hours per week of problem sets and practice tests—which is where most of the improvement happens. Your tutor will guide your independent work and adjust the frequency if you need more support or are progressing faster than expected.

The no-calculator section (20 minutes, 15 questions) tests your conceptual understanding and mental math skills, while the calculator section (55 minutes, 38 questions) allows you to use a calculator strategically but still requires solid math knowledge. Many students struggle with the no-calculator section because they're used to relying on calculators, so tutoring often includes specific strategies for solving problems efficiently without one. Understanding when and how to use a calculator on the calculator section is also important—sometimes doing the math by hand is actually faster.

Look for tutors with strong math backgrounds, proven SAT Math teaching experience, and a track record of helping students improve their scores. Ideally, they should understand the specific nuances of SAT Math—like how questions are designed to test reasoning, not just computation—and be able to teach both content and strategy. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who have deep knowledge of the SAT and can adapt their teaching to your learning style and goals.