Your first session is about understanding where you stand and what to focus on. A tutor will likely review your practice test results, discuss your target score, and identify patterns in the questions you're missing—whether they're calculation errors, conceptual gaps, or pacing issues. This diagnostic approach helps create a personalized study plan rather than a one-size-fits-all curriculum.

Time management is one of the biggest challenges students face on SAT Math, where you have about 1.4 minutes per question. A tutor can help you develop strategies like identifying which question types you solve fastest, learning when to skip and return to harder problems, and practicing under timed conditions. Many students improve their pacing simply by doing full-length practice tests regularly and reviewing which sections consistently eat up their time.

The best way is to take a full-length practice test under timed conditions, then categorize your mistakes by topic—algebra, advanced math, problem-solving, geometry, trigonometry, etc. Look for patterns: Are you missing easy questions due to careless errors, or struggling with harder conceptual problems? Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who excel at this diagnostic work and can pinpoint whether you need foundational concept review or just more practice with question formats.

Most students benefit from 1-2 sessions per week for 8-12 weeks leading up to test day, though your ideal schedule depends on your starting score and target. Between sessions, you'll want to do independent practice—usually 30-60 minutes of focused work on weak areas. A tutor can guide your practice and help you avoid spinning your wheels on material you've already mastered.

SAT Math questions often test your reasoning and problem-solving skills rather than just computation—you might need to set up equations from word problems, work backwards from answer choices, or recognize patterns. Many students also struggle with the mix of calculator and no-calculator sections, which require different strategies. A tutor can teach you how to approach each question type strategically and help you practice until the formats feel familiar.

Test anxiety often comes from feeling unprepared or panicking when you hit a hard question. The best antidote is genuine preparation—taking full-length practice tests, building confidence through targeted practice, and developing a game plan for pacing and skipping. A tutor can also teach you mental strategies like taking a breath when you feel stuck, reminding yourself that you don't need to get every question right to hit your target score.

Look for someone with strong math knowledge, recent SAT experience, and a track record helping students improve their scores. It also matters that they understand your learning style—whether you learn best through worked examples, visual explanations, or hands-on problem-solving. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in Philadelphia who specialize in SAT Math and can tailor their approach to how you learn best.