The Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section (200-800 points) includes reading comprehension passages, vocabulary in context, and grammar/syntax questions. You'll encounter 4-5 reading passages covering literature, history, social studies, and science, followed by multiple-choice questions that test your ability to understand main ideas, details, and word meanings. The writing portion focuses on standard English conventions like sentence structure, punctuation, and word choice—all skills that tutors can help you master through targeted practice.

Pacing is one of the biggest challenges students face—you have about 2.5 minutes per reading passage plus questions, which feels rushed if you're not strategic. Expert tutors teach you how to preview passages efficiently, identify question types before reading the full text, and skip difficult questions to return to them later. With practice tests and timed drills, you'll develop a rhythm that works for your reading speed and build confidence that you can complete all questions without panic.

The best way is to take a full-length practice test under timed conditions, then analyze which question types and topics you missed—vocabulary, main idea questions, inference questions, or grammar rules. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can review your practice tests, identify patterns in your mistakes, and create a focused study plan targeting those specific areas. This diagnostic approach is much more effective than generic test prep, since you're not wasting time on skills you've already mastered.

While the SAT doesn't require you to know every obscure word, vocabulary in context is tested throughout the reading passages, so building your word knowledge definitely helps. Rather than memorizing isolated word lists, the most effective approach is learning vocabulary through the actual passages and understanding how context clues help you determine meaning. Tutors can teach you strategies to decode unfamiliar words and show you which vocabulary actually appears frequently on the SAT, so you're studying words that matter.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or unsure of your strategy—personalized tutoring builds confidence by helping you master the content and develop a reliable test-taking approach. When you've practiced similar questions dozens of times and know exactly how you'll approach each section, the actual test feels much less intimidating. Tutors also teach you practical anxiety-management techniques like pacing strategies and how to handle difficult passages without panicking, so you can stay focused on what you know.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of consistent preparation, though this varies based on your starting score and target score. If you're aiming for a significant improvement, starting earlier gives you time to build foundational skills, take multiple practice tests, and refine your strategy without cramming. Varsity Tutors helps you create a realistic study schedule that fits your school and extracurricular commitments—for students in Charleston juggling multiple classes and activities, even 3-4 focused tutoring sessions per week can make a real difference.

Practice tests are essential—they help you get comfortable with the format, build stamina for the full section, and identify exactly where you're losing points. Taking at least 4-6 full-length practice tests under timed conditions before test day is standard best practice. Tutors use your practice test results to guide your tutoring sessions, focusing on the question types and content areas where you're struggling most, which is far more efficient than generic test prep.