You have 90 minutes to complete 9 passages and 53 questions, which works out to roughly 10 minutes per passage. This tight timing is one of the biggest challenges students face—many struggle not with comprehension, but with pacing and managing test anxiety. Personalized tutoring helps you develop strategies to read efficiently without sacrificing accuracy.

Score improvement depends on your starting point and study intensity, but students typically see 3-5 point gains over 8-12 weeks of focused preparation. The CARS section scores range from 118-132, and improvement often comes from practicing passage types you find difficult, learning to identify question patterns, and building confidence through repeated exposure. A tutor can help pinpoint your specific weak areas and accelerate your progress.

Students typically struggle with three main areas: pacing (running out of time before finishing all passages), understanding dense scientific passages written in unfamiliar styles, and distinguishing between answer choices that seem correct. Many also experience anxiety when facing unfamiliar topics or complex argumentative passages. Working with a tutor helps you develop systematic reading strategies, learn to recognize question types quickly, and build the confidence that comes from consistent practice.

Practice tests are essential—they help you understand timing, identify patterns in question construction, and reveal your specific weak areas. Most students benefit from taking full-length practice exams every 1-2 weeks, then reviewing mistakes carefully to understand why they chose wrong answers. A tutor can guide your practice test strategy, help you analyze results, and focus your study time on the passage types and question formats where you struggle most.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in Omaha who specialize in MCAT preparation and understand the specific demands of the Verbal Reasoning section. When you get matched with a tutor, you'll work with someone who has deep knowledge of the test format, question patterns, and proven strategies for improving scores. Your tutor will create a personalized study plan based on your current performance and target score.

Your first session typically focuses on understanding your baseline performance and learning style. Your tutor will likely review a practice passage with you, assess your current strengths and weaknesses, discuss your target score and timeline, and outline a personalized study plan. This is also a great time to ask questions about test-taking strategies and get clarity on what to expect from your tutoring relationship.

Most students dedicate 3-4 months of focused MCAT prep, with 20-30 hours per week of study time. For Verbal Reasoning specifically, you'll want to spend consistent time on passage reading, question practice, and timed drills. With personalized tutoring, you can work more efficiently by targeting your specific weak areas rather than reviewing concepts you've already mastered, potentially accelerating your timeline to test readiness.