The biggest hurdles are usually pacing (finishing all passages in time), distinguishing between similar answer choices, and understanding what questions are really asking. Many students also struggle with dense academic passages or identifying main ideas versus supporting details. A tutor can help you develop a personalized approach to each passage type and teach you how to eliminate wrong answers efficiently.

The SAT Reading section gives you 65 minutes for four passages with 52 questions—roughly 13 minutes per passage. Rather than reading every word carefully, effective test-takers skim strategically, focus on the main idea and topic sentences, and save detailed reading for when they're answering questions. Tutors can teach you which passages to tackle first based on difficulty, how to spot time-wasting traps, and pacing strategies that work for your reading speed.

Practice tests are essential—they're the best way to identify patterns in your mistakes, get comfortable with timing, and build test-day confidence. Taking full-length practice tests under timed conditions helps you see whether you're missing questions due to comprehension, careless errors, or strategy gaps. Most students benefit from taking 4-6 practice tests during their prep, with detailed review of each one to understand why they missed questions.

SAT Reading includes command of evidence questions (finding textual support), vocabulary-in-context questions, main idea questions, and inference questions. Understanding how each question type works and what the test makers are looking for is crucial—for example, vocabulary questions test how a word functions in context, not just dictionary definitions. Tutors can break down each question format and show you the strategies that work best for each one.

Your first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment—either a recent practice test or a timed SAT Reading section—to identify your specific strengths and weaknesses. From there, your tutor will create a personalized plan focusing on your biggest opportunities for improvement, whether that's speed, accuracy, question-type mastery, or confidence. This personalized approach means you're not wasting time on skills you already have.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of consistent preparation, with 3-4 hours per week of focused study including tutoring sessions and independent practice. If you're starting from a lower baseline or aiming for a top score, you might need 12-16 weeks. The key is consistency and quality over quantity—strategic practice with feedback beats random reading drills every time.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or unsure of your strategy—which is why working with a tutor builds real confidence through mastery. Practicing under timed conditions repeatedly desensitizes you to the pressure, and learning specific strategies gives you something concrete to focus on instead of worrying. Many students also benefit from techniques like deep breathing before the section and reminding themselves that one difficult passage doesn't determine their score.