Score improvement depends on your starting point and commitment, but students typically see meaningful gains within 8-12 weeks of focused preparation. Many students improve by 50-100+ points by identifying their specific weaknesses—whether that's pacing, vocabulary gaps, or misunderstanding question formats—and addressing them systematically. A tutor can help you pinpoint exactly where you're losing points and develop targeted strategies rather than generic test prep.

Timing is one of the biggest challenges students face—you have roughly 13 minutes per passage plus questions. Effective pacing starts with understanding your reading speed and practicing strategic skimming rather than reading every word. A tutor can teach you how to identify key information quickly, tackle easier questions first, and manage difficult passages without getting stuck, which often makes the difference between rushing and finishing with confidence.

Students in Greenville and nationwide typically struggle with inference questions (where the answer isn't directly stated), vocabulary-in-context questions, and paired passage comparisons. Many also lose points by misreading what a question is actually asking or overthinking straightforward answers. Identifying which of these areas affects your performance is crucial—tutoring helps you recognize your patterns and build specific skills to address them.

Practice tests are essential—they help you get comfortable with the test format, identify weak areas, and build stamina for test day. However, taking practice tests without review is just busy work. The real value comes from analyzing your mistakes, understanding why you chose the wrong answer, and adjusting your approach. A tutor can guide you through this review process and help you avoid repeating the same mistakes on future attempts.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or unfamiliar with the question formats. Building confidence through practice, learning proven test-taking strategies, and understanding exactly what to expect significantly reduces anxiety. A tutor can also teach you breathing techniques, help you develop a pre-test routine, and provide encouragement based on your actual progress—turning anxiety into confidence as you prepare.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who start by assessing your current skills, understanding your goals, and identifying your specific challenges. From there, tutoring focuses on targeted instruction—learning strategies for different question types, building vocabulary, practicing under timed conditions, and reviewing mistakes. Sessions are personalized to your pace and learning style, so you're not wasting time on content you already know.

With 80 schools and over 41,500 students across Greenville's two school districts, many students are preparing for the PSAT simultaneously—but one-size-fits-all classroom instruction doesn't address individual needs. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction allows a tutor to focus entirely on your weak areas, work at your pace, and adjust strategies based on what actually works for you. This targeted approach is especially valuable when you're competing for competitive scholarships and college placement.