Score improvement depends on your starting point and effort, but students typically see 100-200 point gains on the SAT (out of 1600) or 2-5 point improvements on the ACT (out of 36) with focused preparation over 8-12 weeks. The key is identifying your specific weak areas—whether that's reading comprehension, math problem-solving, or test pacing—and targeting those through practice and strategic instruction. Personalized tutoring helps you avoid generic prep and focus on what actually moves your score.

Your first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment—either a practice test or targeted questions—to identify your strengths and gaps across both the ACT and SAT. The tutor will review your results, discuss your target score and college goals, and create a personalized study plan that prioritizes the areas where you'll see the biggest score gains. This foundation ensures every session after that is focused and efficient.

Timing is one of the biggest challenges students face—the SAT gives you 3 hours for 154 questions while the ACT packs 215 questions into 2 hours 55 minutes. Tutors teach you section-specific pacing strategies, like which questions to tackle first, when to skip and return, and how to manage anxiety when the clock is tight. With repeated practice under timed conditions and feedback on your approach, you'll build the confidence and speed needed to finish strong.

Reading comprehension challenges often stem from trying to read every word carefully or getting lost in dense passages. Tutors teach active reading strategies—like annotating for main ideas, identifying question types before reading, and using context clues—that help you work faster and more accurately. They'll also help you understand the specific question formats on each test, since the SAT's evidence-based approach and the ACT's more straightforward questions require slightly different tactics.

Math on these tests isn't just about computation—it's about problem-solving strategy and time management. Tutors help you master the types of questions that appear most frequently, teach shortcuts and mental math tricks, and work with you on the concepts that trip you up most (like algebra, geometry, or word problems). They'll also help you decide when to use a calculator versus solve it by hand, and how to catch careless mistakes before submitting your answer.

Test anxiety often comes from feeling unprepared or unsure about question formats. Personalized tutoring builds confidence through repeated exposure to real test questions, timed practice, and immediate feedback that shows you're actually improving. Tutors also teach stress-management techniques and help you develop a pre-test routine so you walk into test day feeling ready and in control rather than panicked.

Most students benefit from taking a full practice test every 1-2 weeks during their prep period, starting with untimed versions to learn the content, then moving to timed practice as test day approaches. Between full tests, targeted practice on specific sections or question types keeps your skills sharp. Your tutor will recommend a study schedule based on your timeline and current performance, ensuring you're practicing strategically rather than just going through the motions.