The biggest hurdles are time management on reading passages, vocabulary gaps that affect both reading and writing sections, and understanding the nuanced differences between answer choices. Many students also struggle with the test's specific question formats—like "which detail best supports" or "what does the author imply"—which require different reading strategies than traditional school assignments. A tutor can help you recognize these patterns and develop strategies specific to how the SAT actually tests reading and writing skills.

Your first session focuses on understanding your current strengths and weaknesses through a diagnostic assessment—usually a timed practice section or full-length test if you haven't taken one recently. The tutor will review your results to identify patterns (like struggling with inference questions or running out of time on passages) and discuss your target score and timeline. From there, you'll develop a personalized study plan that prioritizes the areas where you'll gain the most points.

Practice tests are essential—they're the most accurate way to measure progress and build test-day stamina. Taking full-length, timed practice tests every 2-3 weeks helps you identify patterns in your mistakes and get comfortable with the test's pacing and format. Between full tests, targeted practice on specific question types (like paired passages or grammar rules) helps reinforce skills. Your tutor will use practice test results to guide your study focus and adjust strategies as needed.

Pacing issues usually come from either reading too slowly, getting stuck on difficult questions, or not having a strategic approach to passage selection. Effective strategies include skimming passages for structure rather than reading every word, answering easier questions first, and knowing when to skip and return to tough questions. A tutor can teach you these time-management techniques and help you practice them under timed conditions until they become automatic.

You don't need to memorize endless lists—the SAT tests a specific set of words and word patterns that appear repeatedly across tests. More importantly, you'll learn context clues and word root strategies that help you decode unfamiliar words in passages. A tutor can focus your vocabulary study on high-frequency SAT words and teach you how to use sentence context to figure out meaning, which is much more efficient than rote memorization.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about what to expect—tutoring directly addresses both. By practicing with real SAT questions, taking full-length timed tests, and building confidence through repeated success, you'll feel more in control on test day. Your tutor can also teach specific techniques like strategic breathing or positive self-talk to manage anxiety during the test itself. The more prepared and familiar you are with the test format, the calmer you'll feel.

Look for someone with proven SAT expertise—ideally someone who has scored well on the test themselves and understands the specific skills and strategies that work. They should be able to diagnose your weak areas quickly and explain concepts clearly, not just give you more practice problems. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in SAT Verbal and can customize instruction to your learning style and target score.