The Critical Reading section gives you 25 minutes for two reading passages, which means pacing is crucial. Many students rush through passage reading to "save time," but that often backfires—they miss key details and answer questions incorrectly anyway.

Expert tutors teach a strategic approach: spend 3-4 minutes on active reading (annotating, identifying main ideas), then tackle questions in 1-2 minutes each. Skipping harder questions initially and returning to them can help you maximize your score. A tutor can help you practice this timing repeatedly so it feels natural on test day.

Vocabulary-in-context questions test your ability to understand word meaning from surrounding text—not your memorized vocabulary list. The key is to ignore what you think a word means and focus on how it's used in the passage.

A strong strategy: cover the word, read the sentence, predict what word or idea would fit there, then check the answers. This helps you avoid trap answers that use a common definition of the word but not the right meaning for that passage. Tutors can help you practice this method across different passage types and word difficulty levels.

For PSAT prep, aim for one full-length practice test every 1-2 weeks, with focused drills on specific question types between tests. This rhythm gives you real-world testing conditions while leaving time to analyze what went wrong and practice targeted skills.

Many Miami-area students benefit from reviewing practice tests with a tutor to understand not just which questions they missed, but why—this diagnostic work is where real improvement happens. Between full tests, spend 15-20 minutes daily on section-specific drills (vocabulary sets, passage comprehension exercises) to build speed and accuracy.

The first step is to take a diagnostic practice test and categorize your mistakes: Did you misread the question? Miss key passage details? Struggle with vocabulary? Choose a wrong answer despite understanding the passage? This breakdown reveals patterns, not just random errors.

Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who specialize in PSAT Critical Reading and can create a targeted improvement plan based on your specific gaps. If you struggle with inference questions, your tutor focuses there. If timing is your issue, you practice pacing. This personalized approach is much more effective than generic test prep.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about what to expect. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction builds confidence through repeated practice with real question types and timed conditions, so test day feels familiar rather than frightening.

Tutors also teach mental strategies—how to manage pacing pressure, how to handle questions you don't immediately understand, and how to avoid spiraling after a difficult passage. Many students find that mastering test-taking strategies (rather than just content) significantly reduces anxiety because they feel more in control.

Ideally, start 6-8 weeks before your test date if you're aiming for significant improvement. This timeline allows for diagnostic testing, skill-building, multiple practice tests, and refinement of your strategy. However, even 3-4 weeks of focused tutoring can boost your score if you're already relatively strong in the subject.

For students in Miami with access to experienced tutors, even shorter timeframes can work if you commit to consistent practice. Varsity Tutors can match you with a tutor who can create an accelerated plan if you're closer to your test date.