Most students see meaningful score gains with focused, personalized instruction—typically 50-100 points or more over several months of consistent practice. Your improvement depends on your starting point, how much you practice between sessions, and whether you address your specific weak areas (like vocabulary, inference questions, or pacing). Personalized tutoring helps identify exactly where you're losing points, so your study time targets what matters most for your goals.

Timing challenges usually stem from either reading too slowly, getting stuck on difficult questions, or not previewing passages strategically. Expert tutors can teach you efficient reading techniques, help you recognize which questions to tackle first, and build your confidence through timed practice tests. Working through real PSAT passages under time constraints—with feedback on your approach—is one of the most effective ways to develop sustainable pacing habits.

Students in Ogden often struggle with vocabulary-in-context questions, inference and main idea questions, and managing time across longer passages. Some students also find it difficult to distinguish between answer choices that seem similar or to understand why one answer is better than another. Personalized tutoring helps you practice these specific question types with immediate feedback, so you build both skills and confidence in the areas that are holding back your score.

Practice tests are essential—they help you get comfortable with the test format, identify your weak areas, and develop realistic pacing strategies. Taking full-length practice tests under timed conditions reveals patterns in your mistakes that targeted tutoring can address. Most students benefit from taking 3-5 full practice tests throughout their prep, with detailed review after each one to understand why you missed questions and how to avoid similar mistakes.

Your first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment—often a timed practice section or full-length test—to understand your current skills, identify patterns in your mistakes, and pinpoint which question types trip you up most. From there, you and your tutor will create a personalized study plan targeting your specific weak areas, whether that's vocabulary, inference questions, pacing, or test anxiety. This personalized approach means your tutoring focuses on what actually moves your score, not generic test prep.

Test anxiety often comes from feeling unprepared or uncertain about your approach—personalized tutoring builds genuine confidence by helping you master question types, develop reliable strategies, and practice under realistic test conditions. As you see your practice scores improve and understand exactly why you're getting questions right, anxiety naturally decreases. Many students also benefit from learning specific time-management and breathing techniques that help you stay calm and focused during the actual test.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in PSAT prep and have a track record of helping students improve their reading scores. Your tutor will be matched based on your specific needs—whether you're focusing on vocabulary, pacing, inference questions, or overall score improvement—and your learning style. You'll have the opportunity to discuss your goals and preferences, ensuring you get personalized instruction that fits your schedule and learning needs.