Many students struggle with managing time while reading dense passages carefully, distinguishing between main ideas and supporting details, and answering inference questions that require deeper analysis beyond surface-level comprehension. Others find vocabulary-in-context questions tricky because the word meanings differ from everyday usage. Personalized tutoring helps you identify which specific areas challenge you most and develop targeted strategies to address them.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who assess your current reading skills and test-taking strategies, then create a customized plan focusing on your specific weaknesses. Your tutor will work through practice passages with you, teach effective annotation and note-taking techniques, and provide personalized feedback on your comprehension and reasoning. Sessions build your confidence and fluency with the types of texts and questions you'll encounter on test day.

Effective tutors teach active reading strategies like previewing questions before reading, annotating key ideas and transitions, and identifying the author's main argument early. They also help you develop a system for managing time—reading strategically rather than word-by-word—and tackling question types in a logical order. With practice and personalized feedback, these strategies become automatic, allowing you to read complex material more efficiently and accurately.

Rather than memorizing word lists, tutors teach you to use context clues—surrounding sentences, punctuation, and logical relationships—to determine what unfamiliar words mean in a specific passage. This approach is more effective for the ISEE because the test prioritizes comprehension over rote vocabulary knowledge. Your tutor will work through numerous examples with you, building your confidence in tackling unfamiliar words without derailing your reading pace.

Your first session is an assessment and planning meeting. Your tutor will likely have you read a practice passage and answer related questions to gauge your current comprehension level, speed, and accuracy. They'll ask about your goals, test timeline, and any specific concerns you have about reading comprehension. From there, you'll work together to create a focused plan that addresses your needs and prepares you for success on test day.

Expert tutors use official ISEE practice tests and passages, which are the most accurate reflection of what you'll encounter on the actual exam. They supplement these with additional high-quality practice materials to ensure you have enough varied passages to build skill and confidence. Your tutor will also customize materials based on your interests and reading level to keep practice engaging and relevant.

Improvement depends on your starting point and how frequently you meet with your tutor, but most students see meaningful progress within 4-8 weeks of consistent, focused tutoring. Regular practice between sessions—reviewing strategies and working through passages on your own—accelerates growth. Your tutor will track your progress on practice tests and adjust the plan as needed to ensure you're building skills steadily toward your goal score.