Most students struggle with pacing because they either rush through passages and miss details, or spend too much time on difficult questions and run out of time. The PSAT Critical Reading section requires you to read strategically—not word-for-word—and identify what each question is actually asking before diving into the text. A tutor can help you develop a personalized pacing strategy and practice it repeatedly so it becomes automatic on test day.

The best way is to take a full practice test under timed conditions and review every single mistake—not just the ones you got wrong, but also questions you guessed on or felt uncertain about. Look for patterns: Are you missing main idea questions? Struggling with vocabulary in context? Having trouble with paired passages? Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who specialize in PSAT prep and can analyze your practice tests to pinpoint exactly which question types and skills need work, then create a focused study plan around those areas.

Ideally, you should take 3-4 full practice tests under timed conditions spaced throughout your preparation period—this gives you reliable data about your performance and helps you build stamina for test day. Between full tests, focus on targeted practice with specific question types and passages where you struggled. Many students also benefit from doing untimed practice on particularly challenging questions to master the strategy before adding time pressure back in.

Not in the traditional sense—the PSAT tests vocabulary in context, meaning you can often figure out word meanings from surrounding sentences rather than relying on memorization. That said, knowing common academic words and prefixes/suffixes gives you a significant advantage. A tutor can teach you how to use context clues strategically while also building familiarity with the ~200-300 words that appear most frequently on the test, so you're prepared either way.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about your strategy—so the best antidote is building genuine confidence through repeated, successful practice. Working with a tutor helps you develop a reliable approach to each question type, practice under timed conditions, and learn specific techniques like process of elimination and strategic skipping that give you control during the test. Many students also benefit from breathing techniques and positive self-talk, which your tutor can help you develop as part of your preparation.

Paired passages require you to understand two different texts, compare their arguments or perspectives, and answer questions that might reference one passage, both passages, or the relationship between them—all while managing time pressure. The difficulty is that you can't just read passively; you need to actively track the main point and key details of each passage, then synthesize information across them. Tutors who work with PSAT students teach specific strategies for paired passages, like annotating as you read and tackling comparison questions in a strategic order.

Your first session typically focuses on understanding where you are right now—your tutor will review your recent practice test results, ask about your goals, and identify which question types and skills need the most attention. You'll also discuss your timeline before the PSAT and what a realistic study schedule looks like. From there, your tutor creates a personalized plan that targets your weak areas while reinforcing what you already do well, so your preparation is efficient and focused.