Your first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment to identify your current strengths, weaknesses, and test-taking habits. A tutor will review your results, understand your target score and college timeline, and create a personalized study plan that addresses your specific needs. This foundation helps ensure every subsequent session builds directly toward your goals.

Score improvement depends on your starting point, study consistency, and time available before test day. Students typically see 50-150 point improvements on the SAT (which ranges from 400-1600) and 2-5 point improvements on the ACT (which ranges from 1-36) with focused preparation. The key is identifying your specific weak areas—whether that's pacing, question comprehension, or content gaps—and systematically addressing them through targeted practice and strategy refinement.

Reading comprehension and pacing are common challenges on both tests, though for different reasons. On the SAT, students often struggle with dense passages and inference questions, while ACT reading requires faster processing of more straightforward content. Math sections trip up students who haven't practiced problem-solving under time pressure, and many miss questions they could answer correctly if they had more time. A tutor can help you diagnose whether your issue is conceptual understanding, test-specific strategy, or time management.

Practice tests are essential—they're the most accurate predictor of your actual test performance and reveal exactly where you're losing points. Regular full-length practice tests under timed conditions help you build stamina, identify pacing problems, and get comfortable with the test format. Between full tests, targeted practice on specific question types and content areas helps reinforce skills and build confidence before test day.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or unfamiliar with the test format. Consistent practice with full-length tests, mastering time management strategies, and building confidence through incremental wins all reduce anxiety naturally. Many students also benefit from learning specific techniques like strategic skipping, breathing exercises, and positive self-talk that help them stay calm and focused when pressure builds during the actual test.

Most students benefit from 5-8 hours of focused study per week over 8-12 weeks, though this varies based on your starting score and target. Quality matters more than quantity—consistent, targeted practice with a tutor is more effective than random cramming. Your personalized study plan will outline a realistic schedule that fits your school commitments while building momentum toward test day.

Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who have deep expertise in ACT and SAT content, test strategy, and score improvement. Expert tutors understand the nuances of each test format, know which strategies work for different question types, and can teach you how to approach problems efficiently under time pressure. They combine subject mastery with proven teaching ability to help you achieve your target score.