Score improvement depends on your starting point and effort level, but students typically see gains of 100-200 points with consistent preparation over 8 weeks. The most dramatic improvements often come from students who identify specific weak areas—like pacing on the reading section or particular math topics—and focus their study time there. Your tutors will help you set realistic goals based on your diagnostic test results and create a personalized study plan to maximize your progress by test day.

Timing is one of the biggest challenges students face on the SAT, and it's a major focus of 8-week prep. You'll learn section-specific pacing strategies—like how to allocate time across reading passages, tackle math questions efficiently, and manage the writing section. Through repeated full-length and section-specific practice tests, you'll develop an internal clock and learn which questions to tackle first versus save for later. Your tutors will help you identify your personal pacing bottlenecks and give you concrete techniques to improve without sacrificing accuracy.

Absolutely. While an 8-week class covers all sections, your prep can be customized based on your diagnostic results. If you're strong in math but struggle with reading comprehension, you can allocate more class time and practice to the reading section while maintaining your math skills. Tutors will work with you to identify which sections and question types give you the most trouble—whether that's data analysis in math, inference questions in reading, or grammar rules in writing—and prioritize those areas in your study plan.

Most 8-week prep programs include 4-6 full-length practice tests, typically spaced throughout the course so you can track progress and apply what you're learning. You'll also take a diagnostic test at the beginning to establish your baseline and identify weak areas. Between full-length tests, you'll complete section-specific practice drills and timed exercises to build speed and accuracy. This combination of full tests and targeted practice helps you get comfortable with the test format and develop the stamina needed for test day.

Test anxiety often stems from unfamiliarity with the test format and uncertainty about your abilities—both things that 8-week prep directly addresses. By taking multiple practice tests under timed conditions, you'll become familiar with the question types, pacing, and overall experience, which significantly reduces anxiety. Your tutors will also teach you test-day strategies like how to manage stress, stay focused, and maintain confidence when you encounter difficult questions. Many students find that thorough preparation is the best antidote to test anxiety.

Group classes provide structure, peer support, and a set curriculum delivered to multiple students at once, which works well for students who benefit from a consistent schedule and group environment. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction allows tutors to tailor the entire prep experience to your specific needs—focusing heavily on your weak areas, adjusting pacing to your learning speed, and addressing your individual test anxiety or learning style. Many students in Kansas City find that a combination of both—group classes for comprehensive curriculum and one-on-one sessions for targeted help on tough concepts—gives them the best results.

Getting started is straightforward: reach out to Varsity Tutors to discuss your SAT goals and current score (if you have one), and you'll be matched with experienced tutors who specialize in SAT prep. You'll typically take a diagnostic test to identify your strengths and areas for improvement, then develop a personalized 8-week study plan. From there, you'll begin regular prep sessions—whether group classes, one-on-one tutoring, or a combination—and follow a structured curriculum with regular practice tests to track your progress toward your target score.