Most students see improvements of 100-200 points with focused, personalized prep—and some see even more depending on where they start and how much time they dedicate. A student scoring 1000 reaching 1200+ is very realistic with 8-12 weeks of consistent work. The key is identifying your specific weak areas (whether that's Reading comprehension, grammar, or multi-step math) and targeting those directly. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who create customized study plans based on your diagnostic test results and college goals.

Juniors should ideally start SAT prep in the spring of junior year to take the test in fall senior year, giving plenty of time for retakes if needed. If you're already a senior, starting now still gives you time for meaningful improvement—many students gain 50-150 points in 6-8 weeks of focused prep. The earlier you start, the more flexibility you have with test dates and the ability to retake if your first score doesn't hit your target. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can assess where you are and create a realistic timeline based on your college application deadlines.

The Reading section (65 minutes for 52 questions) is where most students struggle with pacing. A strong strategy is spending 12-13 minutes per passage and its questions, leaving a few minutes to review. For Math, prioritize easier questions first to build confidence and secure points, then tackle harder problems. Many students benefit from learning to skip strategically rather than getting stuck—you can always return to a question if time permits. Tutors can help you practice these timing strategies on real SAT sections until they become automatic.

Both tests are equally accepted by Louisiana colleges, but the SAT has become more popular nationally in recent years. The main difference: the SAT emphasizes evidence-based reasoning and data analysis, while the ACT tests more straightforward content knowledge. Many Baton Rouge students find the SAT's format more predictable once they understand the patterns. Rather than guessing, take a diagnostic practice test for each—your stronger test will show quickly. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can administer diagnostics and recommend which test aligns better with your strengths.

Multi-step problems require you to break them into smaller pieces and avoid rushing—many students lose points by skipping steps or misreading what the question is asking. The Math section includes 20 no-calculator questions (testing algebra and problem-solving) and 38 calculator-allowed questions (testing advanced math and data analysis). Practice with real SAT problems to learn the specific patterns College Board uses, and focus on understanding why you missed each problem, not just getting the right answer. Tutors can identify whether you're struggling with algebra fundamentals, graph interpretation, or test strategy, then target that specific gap.

Vocabulary-in-context questions aren't really about knowing obscure words—they're about understanding how a word functions in its specific passage. The strategy is to read the sentence and surrounding lines, predict what the word means based on context, then match your prediction to the answer choices. Many students pick the most common definition of a word rather than the meaning that fits the passage, so always check your answer against the actual text. Tutors can teach you to practice this skill systematically so you stop second-guessing yourself and build confidence on these high-value questions.

Most students benefit from taking the SAT 2-3 times—once to see where they stand, then 1-2 more times after targeted prep. Colleges use your highest score, and retaking is completely normal and expected; it doesn't hurt your application. The key is making each attempt count by identifying what went wrong and fixing it, rather than just retaking without a plan. If you take it 3+ times without improvement, that's when you might want to pivot to a different strategy or test format. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who analyze your test results and create a specific improvement plan before your next attempt.