Score improvement depends on your child's starting point and how consistently they practice. Most students see meaningful gains—often 5-15 percentile points—when they work with a tutor to understand question formats, develop test-taking strategies, and practice under timed conditions. The key is identifying specific weak areas (like verbal reasoning or pattern recognition) and targeting those skills directly.

The OLSAT has three main sections: Verbal (word relationships, following directions), Nonverbal (pattern recognition, spatial reasoning), and Figural (shape and symbol analysis). Students typically find the Nonverbal section most challenging because it requires quick visual-spatial reasoning without relying on reading skills. A tutor can help your child develop strategies for each section and build confidence in areas that feel less intuitive.

Timing is critical—the OLSAT is a timed test, and rushing or spending too long on difficult questions can hurt your score. Tutors work with students to develop pacing strategies, like identifying which question types to tackle first, recognizing when to skip and return to questions, and practicing under realistic time pressure. Building speed without sacrificing accuracy is one of the biggest advantages of working with an expert tutor.

In the first session, a tutor typically assesses your child's current abilities by reviewing sample OLSAT questions, observing their problem-solving approach, and identifying which sections feel comfortable versus challenging. This diagnostic helps the tutor create a personalized study plan focused on your child's specific needs—whether that's building verbal reasoning skills, mastering nonverbal patterns, or managing test anxiety and timing.

Most students benefit from taking 3-5 full-length practice tests spread throughout their tutoring period, with at least one or two closer to test day. Practice tests serve two purposes: they help identify remaining weak areas and they build test-taking stamina and confidence. Between practice tests, tutors focus on targeted skill-building in the areas where your child struggled most.

Test anxiety often stems from unfamiliarity with question formats or lack of confidence in certain skills. Tutors reduce anxiety by demystifying the test, building competence through repeated practice, and teaching calming strategies for managing stress during the exam. When students understand what to expect and feel prepared, their confidence naturally increases—and that translates to better performance on test day.

Look for tutors with specific experience teaching the OLSAT (not just general test prep), familiarity with how local Staten Island schools use OLSAT scores for gifted programs, and a track record helping students improve their reasoning and ability scores. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who understand the test format, know which strategies work best for each section, and can adapt their teaching to your child's learning style.