Ideally, you should begin in early June to maximize your summer availability and allow 8-12 weeks for comprehensive preparation before fall test dates. Starting early gives you time to identify your strengths and weaknesses, work through challenging concepts, and take multiple practice tests with time to review and improve. If you're testing in August or September, starting in late May or early June is ideal; if you're targeting October or November, you have a bit more flexibility but shouldn't wait past mid-June.

Score improvements depend on your starting point and effort level, but students working with personalized instruction typically see gains of 100-300 points over 8-12 weeks of focused prep. The national average SAT score is around 1050, and many students find that targeted work on their weakest section yields the biggest returns—for example, if math is holding you back, intensive practice on that section often produces faster improvement than spreading effort evenly. Your tutor will help you set realistic goals based on your baseline score and timeline.

Reading and Writing challenges are common, particularly with pacing and understanding complex question formats, while Math struggles often center on algebra, advanced functions, and geometry problem-solving under time pressure. Many students also underestimate the importance of test-taking strategy—knowing when to skip difficult questions, how to manage time across sections, and recognizing question patterns can significantly impact your score. Personalized instruction helps identify whether your challenges are conceptual (you don't understand the material) or strategic (you understand it but run out of time or misread questions).

A solid summer prep program typically includes 6-8 full practice tests spaced throughout your preparation, starting with a diagnostic test to identify weak areas and ending with practice tests under real testing conditions. Between full tests, you'll focus on targeted drills for specific skills and question types. Taking practice tests regularly helps you build stamina for the 3-hour exam, understand your pacing patterns, and track improvement—but the real value comes from reviewing your mistakes to understand why you got questions wrong.

Varsity Tutors connects you with experienced tutors who specialize in SAT prep and understand the specific challenges students face. When you get matched with a tutor, they'll review your diagnostic test results, discuss your goals and timeline, and create a personalized study plan targeting your weak areas. Look for tutors with strong SAT expertise, familiarity with the current test format, and experience helping students achieve score improvements similar to your goals.

Building confidence through repeated practice and mastery is one of the best antidotes to test anxiety. Taking full-length practice tests under timed conditions helps you get comfortable with the test format and reduces the fear of the unknown on test day. Your tutor can also teach you specific test-day strategies like deep breathing, positive self-talk, and how to move through the test strategically rather than trying to answer every question perfectly—often the students who score highest are those who know when to skip a difficult question and come back to it later.

One-on-one instruction allows your tutor to focus entirely on your specific challenges rather than a generic curriculum, meaning you spend time on what you actually need to improve rather than reviewing concepts you've already mastered. Your tutor can adjust pacing, explain concepts in ways that click for you, and provide immediate feedback on your practice—research shows that personalized instruction significantly accelerates learning compared to group classes or self-study. For a high-stakes test like the SAT, this targeted approach often makes the difference between incremental improvement and substantial score gains.