Your first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment—either a full practice test or targeted questions—to pinpoint your strengths and areas for improvement across Reading & Writing and Math. Based on this assessment, a personalized study plan is created that prioritizes the sections and question types where you'll see the biggest score gains. This foundation ensures your 8 weeks are spent efficiently on what matters most for your goals.

Pacing is one of the most common obstacles for SAT test-takers—the Reading & Writing section has 52 questions in 64 minutes, and the Math section requires both speed and accuracy. Tutors help you develop section-specific timing strategies, practice with actual time constraints, and learn which questions to prioritize versus skip strategically. Through repeated timed practice, you'll build the rhythm and confidence needed to manage the full test without rushing or running out of time.

Absolutely. While an 8-week program typically covers all sections, tutors can adjust the balance based on your diagnostic results and goals. If Math or Reading & Writing is significantly weaker, more class time can be devoted to that section while maintaining baseline practice in others. This personalized approach ensures you're not spending time on areas where you're already strong, making your 8 weeks as efficient as possible.

Most students complete 4-6 full-length practice tests over 8 weeks—roughly one every 1-2 weeks. Early tests help identify patterns in your mistakes, while later tests simulate test-day conditions and measure progress. Between full tests, you'll work on targeted drills for specific question types and strategies. This mix of full-length tests and focused practice is essential for building both endurance and precision.

Test anxiety often stems from unfamiliarity with the format and uncertainty about your abilities. Through consistent practice, strategy mastery, and repeated exposure to test conditions, you build genuine confidence—not just positive thinking. Tutors also teach stress-management techniques specific to test-taking, like how to reset after a difficult question and manage time pressure. By test day, you'll have practiced the SAT so thoroughly that the actual test feels familiar rather than intimidating.

The SAT uses specific question types and wording patterns that are very different from classroom tests—like Reading & Writing questions that test grammar in context or Math questions that require multi-step reasoning. Tutors break down each question type, teach you what the test makers are really asking, and show you the strategies that work for each format. With targeted practice on these specific formats, you'll recognize patterns quickly and answer more confidently on test day.

After your diagnostic test, tutors analyze your baseline score and discuss your college goals to set a target score that's both ambitious and achievable within 8 weeks. If you're starting at a 1000 and aiming for a 1200, that's realistic; if you're targeting a 1500, the timeline and effort required will be different. Tutors create a roadmap showing which sections to prioritize and what score improvements are most likely, so you know exactly what to work toward.