The two biggest hurdles are pacing through the reading passages and mastering the nuanced grammar rules tested in the Writing & Language section. Many students struggle to finish all passages in time or miss context clues that reveal the correct answer. A tutor can teach you efficient reading strategies and help you recognize patterns in question types so you're not starting from scratch on test day.

Your first session focuses on understanding where you stand and what to prioritize. You'll likely review a recent practice test (or take a diagnostic), discuss your target score and timeline, and identify your biggest challenge areas—whether that's vocabulary, reading speed, or grammar concepts. From there, your tutor will create a personalized study plan that fits your schedule and focuses on the skills that will move your score the most.

Practice tests are essential—they're the best way to build stamina, get comfortable with the test format, and identify patterns in what you're missing. Most students benefit from taking a full practice test every 1-2 weeks during their prep, then reviewing it with a tutor to understand why they missed questions. This cycle of testing, reviewing, and adjusting your strategy is much more effective than just studying content in isolation.

It depends on your diagnostic results, but most students find it helpful to start with whichever section has the most obvious gaps. If you're losing points on grammar rules, tackling those patterns first can boost your score quickly. If reading comprehension is your weakness, your tutor will focus on teaching you active reading strategies and how to spot answer choices that match the passage's tone and evidence.

Much of test anxiety comes from feeling unprepared or unsure about question formats—tutoring directly addresses both. When you've practiced similar questions dozens of times and understand the strategies behind them, you build confidence that carries into test day. Your tutor can also teach you pacing techniques and breathing strategies so you stay calm under pressure and don't rush through passages.

Look for someone with strong SAT scores themselves, experience teaching test strategy (not just English content), and familiarity with the current SAT format. They should be able to explain why answer choices are right or wrong, not just tell you the answer. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who have proven expertise in SAT Verbal and can adapt their teaching to your learning style.

Most students see solid progress with 5-8 hours per week over 8-12 weeks, though your schedule depends on your starting score and target. If you're aiming for a significant jump, consistency matters more than cramming—spreading your practice across several shorter sessions each week helps material stick better than one long weekend study session. Your tutor can help you build a realistic schedule that fits your school commitments.