If you're interested in equipping your student with expert SAT Reading test prep services, Varsity Tutors can set you up with comprehensive SAT Reading courses you may want to learn more about. We specialize in helping students of all ages and ability levels develop the study habits they need to reach for academic success, a dedication that has established us as a leader in the SAT Reading test prep industry.
The SAT is a high-stakes exam used by colleges and universities across the United States as one factor in the competitive admissions process. It is comprised of four sections, one of which assesses a test-taker's critical reading ability. This section is combined with the Writing and Language section and scored on a scale from 200-800 that represents one half of a student's final grade on the SAT. This "Verbal" score may prove particularly important if your student intends to major in a subject such as History or Literature. If you feel that your student could benefit from dedicated SAT Reading prep, taking an SAT Reading class may be just what they need to pursue their educational goals.
SAT Reading test preparation may begin by emphasizing the most important skills students need on test day. The bulleted list below breaks down the skills students might review in an SAT Reading course:
- Command of Evidence
- Find evidence in the passages that supports answers or provides the basis for a sound conclusion
- Understand how authors present their arguments with evidence
- Identify relationships between text and accompanying data
- Words in Context
- Utilize context clues to understand what a word or phrase means
- Identify how word choices affect tone, style, and meaning
- Analysis in History/Social Studies and in Science
- Understand the meaning of the passage
- Draw inferences and conclusions
How Can SAT Reading Test Prep Near Me Help My Student Improve Their Study Efficiency?
One-on-one SAT Reading prep allows students to spend as much or as little time on each of the above skills as they might need to. For instance, if your student is a wizard when it comes to using context clues to decipher the meaning of an unfamiliar word but has a harder time with historical analysis, their SAT Reading test prep can concentrate on historic passages to help improve their SAT Reading preparation efficiency.
Similarly, SAT Reading tutors can go over each type of passage that may appear on your student's exam. Topics are drawn from a variety of sources, including U.S. and World literature, historical documents related to the founding of our country, passages about the social sciences (economics, psychology, sociology, etc.), and the sciences (biology, Earth science, physical science, etc.). Each of these requires a unique approach that SAT Reading prep can equip your student for.
Can SAT Reading Tutors Near Me Prepare My Student For Every Section On The Test?
Yes! For instance, the Literature passage may require students to identify how a fiction author uses word choice to define the tone of a piece, as well as how that tone impacts the overall message of the work. If your student could be more sensitive to details like these, SAT Reading classes may review active reading techniques such as highlighting the most important points to help quickly identify them.
Similarly, some questions may require students to infer additional info from the details provided in a work, even if they aren't directly stated. If your student could use a refresher on how to use the information provided to draw accurate conclusions, they may review questions like these with their SAT Reading class.
The second passage on the SAT Reading section is typically drawn from the early history of the United States. Authors such as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams followed grammatical rules and mechanical conventions that seem completely foreign to modern audiences, potentially tripping your student up. If the student in your life could use some help deciphering older material, their instructor might provide sample passages they can practice with during their SAT Reading test prep.
If your student is one of the many who finds history boring, they might review how historical concepts such as the American Revolution impact their daily lives. After all, modern American politics, economics, and ideals can all be traced back to the Founding Fathers. If your student becomes legitimately interested in the passage they are reading, they may feel more engaged and ultimately get more out of their SAT Reading preparation.
The third passage on the SAT Reading section deals with the social sciences. Many high school students haven't formally studied topics such as sociology or psychology yet, leaving them without a frame of reference for the questions on this section. Therefore, students might choose to review some basic concepts during their SAT Reading prep to get a sense for what this portion expects of them.
Likewise, this is the first section of the exam where a chart or graph could appear. The SAT Reading section never asks math questions, but students are required to interpret information presented in graphical form. If your student has a hard time looking at a bar graph and using that information to answer questions, they may want to spend some SAT test prep time practicing it. Similarly, a section may consist of a graph and a short reading passage. If your student could more effectively blend two distinct information sources in order to draw solid conclusions, they can review how to do so in an SAT Reading course as well.
The final pair of passages on the test deal with the sciences. They tend to be dense, with a lot of potentially unfamiliar words and complicated supporting ideas. Students may utilize SAT Reading tutoring sessions to practice identifying the main idea in such works, giving them something to focus on as they read further.
While the SAT Reading section does not expect students to have any prior knowledge of the material, having a background to draw on may make it easier to place scientific articles into their proper context. Accordingly, working on common scientific concepts such as life cycles or gravity during SAT Reading test preparation could prove beneficial even if it does not directly appear on the test.
Is There Any Way SAT Reading Tutoring Near Me Can Help My Student Understand The Test's Formatting?
Absolutely! In fact, the structure students can expect on exam day is often one of the first topics discussed in SAT Reading courses. The SAT is a traditional pencil-and-paper exam, so it's just like other tests your student has taken in school. If your student occasionally deals with test anxiety, this sameness may be emphasized during SAT Reading courses to help them relax on exam day.
Students have 65 minutes to answer 52 multiple-choice questions (and read their associated passages), so time management is also an important consideration on exam day. If your student practices their active reading skills during their SAT Reading prep, the notes they take may be a faster reference if they need to double-check an answer. Likewise, many student go over the test's directions during SAT Reading prep so that they don't need to waste any valuable exam time reading them.
Many students also go over test-taking strategies during SAT Reading classes to improve their self-confidence heading into the exam. For example, reading the questions before their associated passage can help guide your student's reading as they know exactly what they looking for. Likewise, some multiple-choice items contain the information required to answer something else on the exam. If your student is vigilant about looking for these opportunities, they could answer a question correctly that they otherwise may have missed!
Most importantly, students can take practice exams during their SAT Reading preparation to gain firsthand experience with the test. If your student consistently performs better on one portion of the exam than another, future SAT Reading test prep sessions can gloss over where they are performing well to spend more time on your student's areas of opportunity. Some students also find it easier to manage the time available to them once they have experienced what it feels like for themselves during SAT Reading test prep.
If you're interested to see the types of questions your student may see on exam day, here's a sample question from the SAT's Reading component:
- This question is based on a provided written passage with an accompanying graph
- The passage most strongly suggests that researchers at the Martin Prosperity Institute share which assumption?
- Employees who work from home are more valuable to their employers than employees who commute.
- Employees whose commutes are shortened will use the time saved to do additional productive work for their employers.
- Employees can conduct business activities, such as composing memos or joining conference calls, while commuting.
- Employees who have lengthy commutes tend to make more money than employees who have shorter commutes.
- The passage most strongly suggests that researchers at the Martin Prosperity Institute share which assumption?
If you feel that the student in your life may have had a hard time with that question, it's not too late to enroll them in an SAT Reading course and help them prepare for test day.
What Kind Of SAT Reading Test Prep Solutions Near Me Does Varsity Tutors Offer?
Varsity Tutors can refer you to two different SAT Reading classes to help students pursue their dreams. First, we offer private SAT Reading tutoring services. Working with private SAT Reading tutors allows students to learn at their own pace, as there is no time limit on how long they may spend on a given concept. In contrast, many competing SAT Reading test preparation products follow set curricula with little to no flexibility to adapt to an individual student's needs.
Any questions your student has may also be answered immediately during one-on-one SAT Reading prep, allowing any misunderstandings to be corrected before they have a chance to spiral out of control. A private tutor can also take the time to get to know your student, incorporating their interests and learning style into their SAT Reading test prep to improve study efficiency.
For instance, it might prove beneficial for your student to begin by concentrating on passages about topics they are interested in to make SAT Reading prep more engaging. Less interesting passages may then be gradually incorporated into SAT Reading test prep to provide a more realistic sense of what the actual exam might be like.
Alternatively, you might want to look into one of our group courses. These are essentially an SAT Reading class consisting of the instructor, your student, and several other students preparing for the same test. Students are free to interact with each other as well as their teacher, potentially creating a collaborative learning environment that helps everybody pursue their academic goals together. Multiple students also split the cost of a group course, giving you more value for your SAT Reading test prep dollar.
Group courses also tend to be a little more formal than other SAT Reading preparation options, providing an extra bit of structure that some students may appreciate. Most importantly, all group course attendees can book private time outside of their standard SAT Reading prep with the teacher to go over anything that isn't sticking for whatever reason. That's right: your student can study in a group setting without compromising their right to individualized SAT Reading prep!
Either way, your student can study on our proprietary Live Learning Platform, an online classroom leveraging powerful features such as video chat functionality to provide a face-to-face learning experience without the headache of trying to get together in person. We believe that no student should need to rearrange their life just for SAT Reading test prep and design all of our SAT Reading prep products to accommodate your schedule to the greatest degree possible.
If you would like more information about our SAT Reading test prep options or simply want to talk it over with an expert, Educational Consultants are standing by to help you in any way they can. Choose Varsity Tutors for all of your SAT Reading prep needs!

Ruth: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...language, donated food from around the world, and shared cultural crafts with 90 kids and parents. During 2014-15, Ruth completed a Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs, where she learned about the interaction between government and nonprofit sectors in community building. While in Coro, she worked on projects impacting different communities in the Pittsburgh area, including developing a comprehensive curriculum to bring the Dignity & Respect Sportsmanship program to local schools with Best of the Batch....
Education & Certification
- Smith College - Bachelors, Comparative Literature / Russian Civilization
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- Russian
- Other
- +27 subjects

Matt: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...from Johns Hopkins University as a Public Health major with a concentration in Immunology and Infectious Diseases. I then went on to complete a Masters program at Georgetown University in human physiology. Given the amount of schooling I have gone through myself, I have taken a wide range of subjects and more standardized tests than I would like to admit. I have taught students of almost every age in various fields such as elementary science,...
Education & Certification
- Johns Hopkins University - Bachelors, Public Health concentration in Immunology and Infectious Disease
- Georgetown University - Masters, Biophysics and Human Physiology
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Math
- +85 subjects

Brianna: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...students through various subjects. I have also worked extensively with special needs children, doing everything from teaching special education to one-on-one in-home mentoring. Through my experiences, I have continued to carry my passion for working with children and have developed my skills in making successful and individualized learning fun. Math, science and test prep are the subjects I'm particularly passionate about tutoring, as I've always loved those subjects myself. Additionally, I've worked extensively with adults...
Education & Certification
- University of Richmond - Current Undergrad, Business Administration and Management
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Math Prep Course
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- +217 subjects

Erica: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...areas to be my specialties: *Standardized tests, such as the ISEE, SSAT, and AP examinations *Students who demonstrate challenging behaviors *Long-term tutoring in math and reading--I love to guide a student who initially struggled to meet and exceed expectations! Outside of my direct work with students, I have coordinated a math tutoring program that placed K-12 math tutors into local public schools. I have also served as a Crisis Services Supervisor at the National Runaway Safeline...
Education & Certification
- Oberlin College - Bachelor in Arts, English; Latin Language and Literature
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- SAT Math
- High School Writing
- +77 subjects

Tessa: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...writing "Q.E.D." on a difficult proof. I'm a scholar of the Western canon, greatly influenced by great thinkers and writers of the past such as Plato, Virgil, Aquinas, and Anselm. I love to read and to discuss what I've read, and I heartily appreciate a good philosophical argument. Extracurricularly, I write musicals, one of which premiered at Yale last year, and attend Yale Political Union meetings to debate the pros and cons of various fiscal...
Education & Certification
- Yale University - Current Undergrad, Mathematics and History
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Math
- +106 subjects

Jeffrey: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...for a standardized test can feel overwhelming. But you really can be prepared. Careful, concept-oriented preparation can help ensure that students don't run into anything radically new on exam day. My preparation strategy aims to give students the instruction they need to recognize as many problem types as possible. Sitting for a standardized test can be a stressful experience for many people. I try to give students a firm toolkit of techniques and tactics so...
Education & Certification
- University of Washington - Bachelor in Arts, Political Science and Government
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- +34 subjects

Ariela: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...make me a great tutor, but also this skill and enthusiasm about learning. I understand that sometimes, the way you package and organize information is the most important part of teaching it to someone else, and that understanding someone's method of processing this information is the easiest way to get it to stick. Like I do backstage, I am excited about solving the puzzle of how someone learns best, and inspired by the idea of...
Education & Certification
- University of Chicago - Current Undergrad, Theater & Performance Studies
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- 10th Grade Math
- +50 subjects

Andrew: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...ACT and SAT preparation in all subject areas. My personal favorite areas are the English, reading, and writing portions of these tests. In addition, I am prepared to tutor college students in ecology, which was a particular interest of mine while obtaining my degree. Outside of academics, I am interested in long hikes through the woods of Washington, reading fiction and nonfiction for pleasure, and getting to know my new city. In addition, I am...
Education & Certification
- Iowa State University - Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- Evolutionary Biology
- General Biology
- +22 subjects

Hallie: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...tutor a wide range of subjects, including literature, history, writing, Spanish, and Algebra. I am particularly passionate about preparations for standardized testing, including the SATs and AP exams, and helping students through the college application process. My hope is that the support I provide to struggling students will empower them to expand their academic curiosity and appreciate learning. In my free time, I enjoy reading, going to the theater, and baking, preferably something with cinnamon.
Education & Certification
- Skidmore College - Bachelors, theater
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Writing and Language
- SAT Math
- +51 subjects

Ben: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...music, reading, and solving puzzles and problems. I try to have fun and be grateful every day. I enjoy my day job as an IT Specialist with Peace Corps, a federal agency whose values I share and whose work I love. My goal as a tutor is to help students discover their individual path to learning. Students do this by identifying their motivations, strengths and goals. Learning is about exploration, discovery, and growth so it...
Education & Certification
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus - Bachelors, Marketing
- Carnegie Mellon University - Masters, Public Policy and Management
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Math
- Social Studies
- +37 subjects

Julie: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...and I hope to instill the same passion I have for the written word within all my students! I have been teaching both high school and middle school in Philadelphia for the past five years. I have taught reading intervention and seen many of my students make enormous gains. I am in the process of being certified in the Wilson System of reading, which is a rigorous and research based intervention for students of all...
Education & Certification
- Fordham University - Bachelor in Arts, Sociology
- University of Pennsylvania - Masters, Urban Education
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- SAT Subject Tests
- SSAT- Middle Level
- +26 subjects

Gabrielle: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...for students of all ages, gaining significant experience in tutoring a wide variety of subjects. From ESL to public speaking, I have had the chance to help students make remarkable advancements in both confidence and competency levels. I am particularly passionate about tutoring English, Mandarin, and standardized test prep. In my experience working with students struggling to pass a class or to prepare for college entrance exams, we always have fun determining the study method...
Education & Certification
- Arizona State University - Bachelor in Arts, Chinese Language & Global Studies
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- IB Extended Essay
- Conversational Mandarin
- +29 subjects

Alex: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...helped students with Algebra I and II, Geometry, Precalculus, Trigonometry, and Calculus, as well as test prep for the SAT. In that time period, I have had the opportunity to work with dozens of students with different backgrounds, skill levels, and learning styles. As much as tutoring helps the student, it also helps me. My instruction incorporates the best techniques and explanations that I have found most effective over the years. I believe there are...
Education & Certification
- Drexel University - Bachelors, Biomedical Engineering
- Drexel University - Current Grad Student, Biomedical Engineering
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Math
- SAT Writing and Language
- Elementary School Math
- +17 subjects

Spenser: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...tutor that I can be. Given my passionate about education policy, I understand the important role that standardized tests play in allowing students to maximize their own educational potential. My goal as a tutor is to help each student that I work with to perform to the best of their abilities on the standardized test that they are preparing to take. I hope that I can play a part in helping my students to attend...
Education & Certification
- Duke University - Bachelors, Public Policy
- Brown University - Masters, Urban Education Policy
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Writing and Language
- +17 subjects

Jan: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...I take great joy in helping others gain deeper insight into their own thinking patterns. I graduated from Oberlin College with a degree in Creative Writing, and I currently teach and mentor the critical writing process to undergraduate and master's degree students at Goddard College, including Spanish-speaking ESL students. This past year, I developed and taught an original curriculum intertwining creative writing, creative movement and theater for a month-long workshop series at Velocity Dance Center,...
Education & Certification
- Oberlin College - Bachelor in Arts, Creative Writing and Dance
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- Test Prep
- High School English
- +27 subjects

Samantha: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...of students in Spanish, English literature, and writing. I have also continued to help many high school seniors with college application essays. While I tutor a variety of subjects, I am very passionate about helping students improve their reading and writing skills, and I really enjoy helping students with Critical Reading and Writing portions of Standardized Tests. I love working with students and helping them realize their full academic potential. In my spare time, I...
Education & Certification
- Northwestern University - Current Undergrad, Political Science & Legal Studies
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- Spanish 3
- SSAT
- +36 subjects

Taariq: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...problems with my students after working through an example problem completely. By working problems out with my students, I am able to help them if and when they get stuck. I hope to convey to every student the ability to think logically and persevere when things seem difficult. Outside of math and tutoring, I am a huge sports fan and novel reader. Since I graduated from Duke, I have a fierce love for all things...
Education & Certification
- Duke University - Bachelors, Mathematics
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Writing and Language
- SAT Math
- +27 subjects

Stacie: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...students based on their specific needs and goals. I previously taught high school for several years and also have tutoring experience in a wide variety of subject areas. At this time, I focus almost exclusively on assisting students seeking top scores on graduate admissions exams, including the GRE, GMAT and LSAT. In my free time I enjoy watching all kinds of sports, reading, playing board games, going to concerts, and spending time with my friends,...
Education & Certification
- The University of Texas at Arlington - Bachelors, English
- Texas AM University - Commerce - Current Grad Student, Secondary Education
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Writing and Language
- SAT Math
- +134 subjects

Max: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...Apart from singing, I'm is passionate about education, particularly in helping high school students achieve their academic goals as they work their way towards college. I volunteer in New Haven as a math teacher and coach at a public middle school (my team of 7th graders just won the 2016 New Haven regional championship!), and I've been tutoring middle and high school students for over 7 years. On top of all of that, I'm an...
Education & Certification
- Yale University - Current Undergrad, Economics
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Math
- SAT Writing and Language
- +104 subjects

Parisa: SAT Reading test prep instructor
...in various settings. Before getting into my qualifications, though, I think it's important to note one thing about my teaching style. I was never someone who simply "got" things in class. I often struggled to understand relatively simple concepts, especially when compared to my classmates, whether that was in test-taking or in any academic subject. So, I know what it's like to really wrestle with a subject, and I know what kind of assistance is...
Education & Certification
- University of Virginia-Main Campus - Current Undergrad, Politics Honors and Economics
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Writing and Language
- SAT Math
- +26 subjects