If you're interested in equipping your student with expert SAT Reading test prep services, Varsity Tutors can set you up with comprehensive SAT Reading courses you may want to learn more about. We specialize in helping students of all ages and ability levels develop the study habits they need to reach for academic success, a dedication that has established us as a leader in the SAT Reading test prep industry.
The SAT is a high-stakes exam used by colleges and universities across the United States as one factor in the competitive admissions process. It is comprised of four sections, one of which assesses a test-taker's critical reading ability. This section is combined with the Writing and Language section and scored on a scale from 200-800 that represents one half of a student's final grade on the SAT. This "Verbal" score may prove particularly important if your student intends to major in a subject such as History or Literature. If you feel that your student could benefit from dedicated SAT Reading prep, taking an SAT Reading class may be just what they need to pursue their educational goals.
SAT Reading test preparation may begin by emphasizing the most important skills students need on test day. The bulleted list below breaks down the skills students might review in an SAT Reading course:
- Command of Evidence
- Find evidence in the passages that supports answers or provides the basis for a sound conclusion
- Understand how authors present their arguments with evidence
- Identify relationships between text and accompanying data
- Words in Context
- Utilize context clues to understand what a word or phrase means
- Identify how word choices affect tone, style, and meaning
- Analysis in History/Social Studies and in Science
- Understand the meaning of the passage
- Draw inferences and conclusions
How Can SAT Reading Test Prep Near Me Help My Student Improve Their Study Efficiency?
One-on-one SAT Reading prep allows students to spend as much or as little time on each of the above skills as they might need to. For instance, if your student is a wizard when it comes to using context clues to decipher the meaning of an unfamiliar word but has a harder time with historical analysis, their SAT Reading test prep can concentrate on historic passages to help improve their SAT Reading preparation efficiency.
Similarly, SAT Reading tutors can go over each type of passage that may appear on your student's exam. Topics are drawn from a variety of sources, including U.S. and World literature, historical documents related to the founding of our country, passages about the social sciences (economics, psychology, sociology, etc.), and the sciences (biology, Earth science, physical science, etc.). Each of these requires a unique approach that SAT Reading prep can equip your student for.
Can SAT Reading Tutors Near Me Prepare My Student For Every Section On The Test?
Yes! For instance, the Literature passage may require students to identify how a fiction author uses word choice to define the tone of a piece, as well as how that tone impacts the overall message of the work. If your student could be more sensitive to details like these, SAT Reading classes may review active reading techniques such as highlighting the most important points to help quickly identify them.
Similarly, some questions may require students to infer additional info from the details provided in a work, even if they aren't directly stated. If your student could use a refresher on how to use the information provided to draw accurate conclusions, they may review questions like these with their SAT Reading class.
The second passage on the SAT Reading section is typically drawn from the early history of the United States. Authors such as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams followed grammatical rules and mechanical conventions that seem completely foreign to modern audiences, potentially tripping your student up. If the student in your life could use some help deciphering older material, their instructor might provide sample passages they can practice with during their SAT Reading test prep.
If your student is one of the many who finds history boring, they might review how historical concepts such as the American Revolution impact their daily lives. After all, modern American politics, economics, and ideals can all be traced back to the Founding Fathers. If your student becomes legitimately interested in the passage they are reading, they may feel more engaged and ultimately get more out of their SAT Reading preparation.
The third passage on the SAT Reading section deals with the social sciences. Many high school students haven't formally studied topics such as sociology or psychology yet, leaving them without a frame of reference for the questions on this section. Therefore, students might choose to review some basic concepts during their SAT Reading prep to get a sense for what this portion expects of them.
Likewise, this is the first section of the exam where a chart or graph could appear. The SAT Reading section never asks math questions, but students are required to interpret information presented in graphical form. If your student has a hard time looking at a bar graph and using that information to answer questions, they may want to spend some SAT test prep time practicing it. Similarly, a section may consist of a graph and a short reading passage. If your student could more effectively blend two distinct information sources in order to draw solid conclusions, they can review how to do so in an SAT Reading course as well.
The final pair of passages on the test deal with the sciences. They tend to be dense, with a lot of potentially unfamiliar words and complicated supporting ideas. Students may utilize SAT Reading tutoring sessions to practice identifying the main idea in such works, giving them something to focus on as they read further.
While the SAT Reading section does not expect students to have any prior knowledge of the material, having a background to draw on may make it easier to place scientific articles into their proper context. Accordingly, working on common scientific concepts such as life cycles or gravity during SAT Reading test preparation could prove beneficial even if it does not directly appear on the test.
Is There Any Way SAT Reading Tutoring Near Me Can Help My Student Understand The Test's Formatting?
Absolutely! In fact, the structure students can expect on exam day is often one of the first topics discussed in SAT Reading courses. The SAT is a traditional pencil-and-paper exam, so it's just like other tests your student has taken in school. If your student occasionally deals with test anxiety, this sameness may be emphasized during SAT Reading courses to help them relax on exam day.
Students have 65 minutes to answer 52 multiple-choice questions (and read their associated passages), so time management is also an important consideration on exam day. If your student practices their active reading skills during their SAT Reading prep, the notes they take may be a faster reference if they need to double-check an answer. Likewise, many student go over the test's directions during SAT Reading prep so that they don't need to waste any valuable exam time reading them.
Many students also go over test-taking strategies during SAT Reading classes to improve their self-confidence heading into the exam. For example, reading the questions before their associated passage can help guide your student's reading as they know exactly what they looking for. Likewise, some multiple-choice items contain the information required to answer something else on the exam. If your student is vigilant about looking for these opportunities, they could answer a question correctly that they otherwise may have missed!
Most importantly, students can take practice exams during their SAT Reading preparation to gain firsthand experience with the test. If your student consistently performs better on one portion of the exam than another, future SAT Reading test prep sessions can gloss over where they are performing well to spend more time on your student's areas of opportunity. Some students also find it easier to manage the time available to them once they have experienced what it feels like for themselves during SAT Reading test prep.
If you're interested to see the types of questions your student may see on exam day, here's a sample question from the SAT's Reading component:
- This question is based on a provided written passage with an accompanying graph
- The passage most strongly suggests that researchers at the Martin Prosperity Institute share which assumption?
- Employees who work from home are more valuable to their employers than employees who commute.
- Employees whose commutes are shortened will use the time saved to do additional productive work for their employers.
- Employees can conduct business activities, such as composing memos or joining conference calls, while commuting.
- Employees who have lengthy commutes tend to make more money than employees who have shorter commutes.
- The passage most strongly suggests that researchers at the Martin Prosperity Institute share which assumption?
If you feel that the student in your life may have had a hard time with that question, it's not too late to enroll them in an SAT Reading course and help them prepare for test day.
What Kind Of SAT Reading Test Prep Solutions Near Me Does Varsity Tutors Offer?
Varsity Tutors can refer you to two different SAT Reading classes to help students pursue their dreams. First, we offer private SAT Reading tutoring services. Working with private SAT Reading tutors allows students to learn at their own pace, as there is no time limit on how long they may spend on a given concept. In contrast, many competing SAT Reading test preparation products follow set curricula with little to no flexibility to adapt to an individual student's needs.
Any questions your student has may also be answered immediately during one-on-one SAT Reading prep, allowing any misunderstandings to be corrected before they have a chance to spiral out of control. A private tutor can also take the time to get to know your student, incorporating their interests and learning style into their SAT Reading test prep to improve study efficiency.
For instance, it might prove beneficial for your student to begin by concentrating on passages about topics they are interested in to make SAT Reading prep more engaging. Less interesting passages may then be gradually incorporated into SAT Reading test prep to provide a more realistic sense of what the actual exam might be like.
Alternatively, you might want to look into one of our group courses. These are essentially an SAT Reading class consisting of the instructor, your student, and several other students preparing for the same test. Students are free to interact with each other as well as their teacher, potentially creating a collaborative learning environment that helps everybody pursue their academic goals together. Multiple students also split the cost of a group course, giving you more value for your SAT Reading test prep dollar.
Group courses also tend to be a little more formal than other SAT Reading preparation options, providing an extra bit of structure that some students may appreciate. Most importantly, all group course attendees can book private time outside of their standard SAT Reading prep with the teacher to go over anything that isn't sticking for whatever reason. That's right: your student can study in a group setting without compromising their right to individualized SAT Reading prep!
Either way, your student can study on our proprietary Live Learning Platform, an online classroom leveraging powerful features such as video chat functionality to provide a face-to-face learning experience without the headache of trying to get together in person. We believe that no student should need to rearrange their life just for SAT Reading test prep and design all of our SAT Reading prep products to accommodate your schedule to the greatest degree possible.
If you would like more information about our SAT Reading test prep options or simply want to talk it over with an expert, Educational Consultants are standing by to help you in any way they can. Choose Varsity Tutors for all of your SAT Reading prep needs!
Rebecca: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...degree in social work at the University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration. I am passionate about tutoring because I want everyone to be able to perform academically at their highest possible level. I also think it is important that learning is not just for one assignment or one test, but rather that it sticks with you to build a solid foundation of knowledge and confidence that you can carry forward. My favorite subjects...
Education & Certification
- Northwestern University - Bachelors, Psychology
- University of Chicago SSA - Masters, Social Work
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Math
- SAT Writing and Language
- +53 subjects
Diptesh: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...have been teaching, tutoring, and mentoring students from grades 6-12 and college in a variety of subjects since! I specialize in mathematics and science tutoring as well as standardized exam preparation. In the past, I have helped students achieve significant improvements and success on the SAT, SHSAT, Regents and other exams! I truly believe education is a mutual learning and teaching opportunity and enjoy helping my students achieve a thorough understanding (those "Aha!" moments) and...
Education & Certification
- New York University - Bachelor of Science, Global Public Health & Chemistry
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Math
- SAT Writing and Language
- SAT Mathematics
- +88 subjects
Ariela: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...in my academic life, as well as professionally; as a stage manager, it is often my job to take in complicated and conflicting pieces of information (the blocking, a quick change in costumes, changes in a script) and quickly organize that information so that I can convey it to someone else. I enjoy and excel at condensing and re-communicating facts or tasks, so that they become comprehensible to someone who may not understand them the...
Education & Certification
- University of Chicago - Current Undergrad, Theater & Performance Studies
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- 10th Grade Writing
- +50 subjects
Gabrielle: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...a half studying abroad. During my time traveling throughout Asia, I worked and volunteered as a teacher for students of all ages, gaining significant experience in tutoring a wide variety of subjects. From ESL to public speaking, I have had the chance to help students make remarkable advancements in both confidence and competency levels. I am particularly passionate about tutoring English, Mandarin, and standardized test prep. In my experience working with students struggling to pass...
Education & Certification
- Arizona State University - Bachelor in Arts, Chinese Language & Global Studies
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- High School English
- ESL/ELL
- +29 subjects
Michael: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...utilized these skills as a teaching assistant for the Introduction to Modern Logic course at Middlebury. I am particularly interested in teaching the LSAT to students, as this test draws on the strengths that I developed throughout college and during my months of preparation for the test. While the LSAT is challenging, it is learnable, and with a basic understanding of logical concepts and some key strategies to approach each section, anyone is capable of...
Education & Certification
- Middlebury College - Bachelors, Philosophy
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- +26 subjects
Elsbeth: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...student and building trust, discovering strengths and finding ways to utilize them, and building a love of learning and an enthusiasm for the process of learning, while continuing to feed that enthusiasm, especially when challenges are encountered in the learning process. Without these steps, the progress of the student will be much slower, if there is any at all. One on one teaching sessions are uniquely designed to better accomplish these steps. Perhaps your student's...
Education & Certification
- Warren Wilson College - Bachelors, Creative Writing
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- Literature
- High School English
- Creative Writing
- +10 subjects
Kaley: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...I look for ways to make learning fun and rewarding. I especially love teaching reading and writing and I have taught or tutored these subjects to students ranging from kindergarten through adults. I also have experience tutoring test prep subjects and focus both on the content material and test taking skills. My passion is psychology and I have been able to use my graduate training in human development to tailor my instruction to students' individual...
Education & Certification
- Brown University - Bachelors, Education and Public Policy
- Harvard Graduate School of Education - Masters, Human Development and Psychology
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- College Essays
- PSAT Critical Reading
- +35 subjects
Max: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...sing and travel the entire world with the Yale Whiffenpoofs, America's oldest collegiate a cappella singing group. Apart from singing, I'm is passionate about education, particularly in helping high school students achieve their academic goals as they work their way towards college. I volunteer in New Haven as a math teacher and coach at a public middle school (my team of 7th graders just won the 2016 New Haven regional championship!), and I've been tutoring...
Education & Certification
- Yale University - Current Undergrad, Economics
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- +104 subjects
Nicolas: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...Before joining Varsity Tutors, I tutored the LSAT for a private company, both as a classroom teacher and in one-on-one tutorials. Building off that experience, I will be working for Varsity Tutors, helping people prepare for the LSAT as well as the SAT and the ACT. I have really enjoyed my experience assisting students in test preparation. In my experience, students first approach tests in an ad hoc fashion, and often with a fair bit...
Education & Certification
- Duke University - Bachelor in Arts, Philosophy
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Math
- ACT Science
- +26 subjects
Alex: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...of private and group tutoring in all math levels from middle school to high school. I have helped students with Algebra I and II, Geometry, Precalculus, Trigonometry, and Calculus, as well as test prep for the SAT. In that time period, I have had the opportunity to work with dozens of students with different backgrounds, skill levels, and learning styles. As much as tutoring helps the student, it also helps me. My instruction incorporates the...
Education & Certification
- Drexel University - Bachelors, Biomedical Engineering
- Drexel University - Current Grad Student, Biomedical Engineering
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- SAT Math
- SSAT
- +17 subjects
Jaimie: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...lab of Professor Robert Langer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology working on novel drug delivery systems for the gastrointestinal tract. I am hoping to attend medical school in pursuit of becoming a physician. I am currently interested in pediatrics and psychiatry but I am looking forward to exploring a range of available disciplines. I enjoy tutoring because I find it to be an engaging and dynamic process--I love working with students of all ages...
Education & Certification
- Northeastern University - Bachelors, Chemical Engineering
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Math
- SAT Writing and Language
- Pre-Algebra
- +93 subjects
Annie: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...in 2013 with a degree in English, focusing on women in literature. During my time there, I tutored students at the local middle and high school. I have experience tutoring in middle school English, math, and science, and high school English, social studies, and essay revision. My favorite part of tutoring is helping a student figure out how to connect their real passions to the schoolwork that's troubling them. One student hated writing essays, but...
Education & Certification
- Williams College - Bachelors, English
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Writing and Language
- +43 subjects
Lexi: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...pursue a Bachelor's degree in Comparative Politics and certificates in Near Eastern Studies & Arabic Language/Culture, as well as multiple trips abroad for language immersion and research. I am passionate about education and believe strongly in academic success as a platform for personal growth and self-esteem. My tutoring experience began in middle school as a reading helper to children for whom English was a second language (ages 5-10). I continued to tutor throughout middle and...
Education & Certification
- Princeton University - Bachelor in Arts, Politics, Near Eastern Studies, Arabic
- State Certified Teacher
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Writing and Language
- SAT Math
- +29 subjects
Sean: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...well as academic goals, don't hesitate to contact me. I am a computer science major currently pursuing my Bachelor's degree. I have tutored ACT prep and SAT prep previously on many occasions, and I am willing to work with and help you reach your full potential on these tests. I really enjoy teaching test preparation, as there are so many aspects to taking these exams ranging from test taking strategies, the material itself, as well...
Education & Certification
- Brown University - Current Undergrad, Computer Science
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Writing and Language
- +28 subjects
Steven : SAT Reading test prep instructor
...at the College's Writing Center to help students with invention strategies as well as the content and structure of academic and non-academic projects. As a tutor, I particularly enjoy helping students refine their personal voice and better their ability to communicate through the written word. While at Kenyon, I also worked for two years as a Spanish teaching assistant, leading language and culture lessons with beginning-level students three times per week. I spent my junior...
Education & Certification
- Kenyon College - Bachelor in Arts, Spanish, International Studies
- University of California-Irvine - PHD, Sociology
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT
- ACT Writing
- Essay Editing
- +27 subjects
Earnest: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...them achieve was so rewarding that I made it a point to return to tutoring after graduation! My tutoring style is heavily influenced by my problem-solving-oriented engineering background. In school, I learned how to break down problems, analyze each component, and then proceed step-by-step to a solution. This same approach has helped me excel as a tutor because breaking down problems for students and guiding them as they grapple with the concepts involved helps identify...
Education & Certification
- University of Pennsylvania - Bachelors, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- University of Pennsylvania - Masters, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- Pre-Algebra
- +19 subjects
Parisa: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...full scholarship. I absolutely love to teach and have spent much of my time in college teaching in various settings. Before getting into my qualifications, though, I think it's important to note one thing about my teaching style. I was never someone who simply "got" things in class. I often struggled to understand relatively simple concepts, especially when compared to my classmates, whether that was in test-taking or in any academic subject. So, I know...
Education & Certification
- University of Virginia-Main Campus - Current Undergrad, Politics Honors and Economics
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Math
- SAT Writing and Language
- +26 subjects
Taariq: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...enjoy teaching chemistry and physics. Math was always my favorite subject in high school and I continued my love of math at Duke. I have also been a middle school and high school tutor throughout my time at Duke through the Program in Education. One of my crowning achievements at Duke was winning the DT Stallings Award, which is awarded to a Duke senior who has shown sustained and dedicated service to tutoring local school...
Education & Certification
- Duke University - Bachelors, Mathematics
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Writing and Language
- +27 subjects
John: SAT Reading test prep instructor
I graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC in 2008, the oldest English speaking acting conservatory in the world. I graduated Summa from University of St Thomas with a BA in English, and just wrapped up a MS in Data Science from Northwestern. I'm a huge Red Sox fan and love watching detective shows when I have free time.... Positivity. Always. I believe that if a student is given positive tools and is allowed to understand the material rather than be lectured at, they're more likely to do well in the future.
Education & Certification
- American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Associates, Acting
- University of St. Thomas - Bachelor of Fine Arts, English/Drama
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Math
- +110 subjects
Max: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...am in the process now of applying for PhD programs in Computational Biology. I have done research in the field of freshwater ecology and am anticipating the publication of a paper I co-authored in the next several months. In the past I have worked with students of a variety of age ranges on standardized test prep, middle school and high school math classes, and college-level biology courses as a volunteer, teaching assistant, and private tutor. I...
Education & Certification
- Ball State University - Bachelors, Biology, General
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- PSAT
- +62 subjects