For a 4-week program, most students benefit from 5-10 hours of focused study per week, spread across multiple sessions. This might include your tutoring sessions plus independent practice with full-length tests, targeted drills on weak areas, and review of mistakes. Consistency matters more than cramming—studying a bit each day helps reinforce concepts and test-taking strategies better than marathon weekend sessions.

The Reading and Writing section challenges many students because it requires both speed and comprehension—you need to read passages carefully while managing strict time limits. The Math section often trips up students who haven't practiced the specific question formats the SAT uses or who struggle with pacing. The best approach is to take a diagnostic practice test early in your 4-week prep to pinpoint your personal weak spots, then allocate more study time to those areas.

Taking 3-4 full-length, timed practice tests during your 4-week program gives you valuable data about your progress and helps you build stamina for test day. Space them out so you have time to review your mistakes and learn from them—reviewing a practice test thoroughly is often more valuable than taking another one. Between full tests, targeted practice on specific question types and sections helps you apply what you've learned.

Test anxiety is common, and practicing under timed, test-like conditions is one of the best ways to build confidence and reduce anxiety. Taking practice tests in a quiet environment, timing yourself strictly, and getting comfortable with the test format all help desensitize you to test-day pressure. Additionally, learning specific pacing strategies and knowing exactly how to approach each question type reduces the uncertainty that fuels anxiety—you'll feel more in control when you know what to expect.

Pacing varies by section and by your strengths. For Reading and Writing, many students aim to spend about 1-1.5 minutes per question, but the key is knowing which questions to tackle first—easier ones build momentum and confidence. For Math, some students do all problems and check answers, while others skip harder problems initially and return to them. The right strategy for you emerges through practice tests—track your timing, identify where you lose time, and adjust. Your tutors can help you develop a personalized pacing plan based on your practice test data.

Look for tutors with strong SAT performance themselves, deep knowledge of the test format and question types, and experience helping students improve their scores. They should be able to explain not just the right answer, but why other choices are wrong—that's what builds lasting understanding. Ideally, they'll use data from your practice tests to identify patterns in your mistakes and tailor their teaching to your specific weak areas rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.

Raleigh has 136 schools across 17 districts, and many high schools offer SAT prep resources, study groups, or test-taking workshops. Your school's guidance counselor can point you to these resources. Additionally, connecting with a tutor who understands the specific challenges students in Raleigh schools face—whether that's managing course load alongside test prep or preparing for college applications—can provide personalized support tailored to your situation and goals.