Your first session focuses on assessment and planning. Your tutor will review your practice test results, understand your target score, and identify which topics (algebra, advanced math, geometry, trigonometry) are causing the most trouble. You'll walk away with a clear picture of your strengths and a personalized study roadmap tailored to your timeline and goals.

Pacing struggles usually stem from spending too long on difficult problems or second-guessing answers. Tutors teach strategic approaches like identifying which problems to tackle first, knowing when to skip and return later, and building speed through practice with actual SAT formats. With targeted drills and timed practice tests, you'll develop a rhythm that lets you finish with confidence and accuracy.

The best way is to take a full practice test under timed conditions, then review which questions you missed or struggled with. Patterns usually emerge—some students consistently miss algebra problems, while others struggle with geometry or word problems. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who analyze your practice tests to pinpoint exactly which topics need work, so you're not wasting time studying what you already know.

Absolutely. Much test anxiety comes from feeling unprepared or unsure of your approach to problems. As you work through practice tests and build mastery of the material with a tutor, confidence naturally grows. Tutors also teach calming strategies and help you develop a test-day routine, so when you sit down for the real exam, you've already solved hundreds of similar problems.

Most students benefit from 1-2 sessions per week combined with independent practice between meetings. If you're aiming for significant improvement or have a tight timeline, more frequent sessions help you move faster. Your tutor will recommend a schedule based on your current score, target score, and test date—and you can adjust as needed based on your progress.

Practice tests do two critical things: they reveal your exact weak spots and they train your brain for the real test's format, timing, and pressure. Taking full, timed practice tests regularly helps you build stamina, refine your pacing strategy, and identify which problem types trip you up. Your tutor will use your practice test results to guide what you study and track your progress over time.

Look for tutors with strong mathematics backgrounds and proven SAT prep experience. Ideal tutors understand the SAT's specific question formats and tricks, have helped students improve their scores, and can explain complex concepts clearly. When you connect with Varsity Tutors, you're matched with experienced tutors who know the SAT Math section inside and out and can teach both the content and the test-taking strategy you need.