Your first session focuses on assessment and goal-setting. Your tutor will review your practice test results, identify patterns in missed questions, and discuss your timeline and target score. You'll also learn about the Reading section format, question types, and get an overview of the personalized study plan that will guide your preparation.

Pacing is one of the biggest challenges for SAT Reading—you have about 13 minutes per passage. Tutors help you develop strategies like active reading techniques, skimming for main ideas, and prioritizing questions by difficulty. With practice, you'll learn to allocate time efficiently and avoid getting stuck on difficult questions, which helps you maximize your score.

The SAT Reading section includes several key question types: main idea/purpose questions, detail/evidence questions, inference questions, and vocabulary-in-context questions. Each type requires different strategies—for example, evidence questions often pair with a follow-up asking for supporting proof. Your tutor will teach you to recognize these patterns and develop targeted approaches for each type.

Practice tests are essential—they help you build stamina, identify weak areas, and practice time management under realistic conditions. Most students benefit from taking full-length practice tests every 1-2 weeks, then reviewing missed questions with their tutor to understand why they got them wrong. This cycle of testing and targeted review is one of the most effective ways to improve your score.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about strategies. Working with a tutor builds confidence through repeated practice with real question formats, learning proven test-taking strategies, and understanding your own patterns. Many students find that having a clear plan and knowing what to expect significantly reduces anxiety on test day.

The SAT Reading section tests vocabulary-in-context rather than isolated word definitions, so you won't need to memorize thousands of words. Instead, your tutor will teach you strategies to understand unfamiliar words from context clues and sentence structure. That said, building familiarity with commonly tested words and word roots does help you read more efficiently and confidently.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of focused preparation, though this varies based on your starting score and goals. If you're aiming for a significant improvement, starting earlier gives you time for consistent practice and review. Your tutor will help you create a realistic timeline based on your current level and target score, and adjust as needed based on your progress.