Score improvement depends on your starting point and commitment to practice, but most students see meaningful gains—typically 50-100+ points—with focused, personalized instruction over 8-12 weeks. Tutoring helps you identify which question types trip you up most, develop efficient reading strategies, and practice under realistic test conditions. The key is working with a tutor who can pinpoint your specific weaknesses, whether that's pacing, vocabulary, inference questions, or passage analysis.

Pacing is one of the biggest challenges students face on PSAT Critical Reading—you have about 1-1.5 minutes per question, which feels tight if you're reading every word carefully. Expert tutors teach strategic reading techniques like previewing questions before reading the passage, identifying key details versus supporting information, and knowing when to skip difficult questions and return to them later. With practice and the right approach, you'll learn to read efficiently without sacrificing comprehension.

The best way to identify weak areas is through diagnostic practice tests and detailed score analysis—looking at which questions you miss and why (misreading, vocabulary, inference, etc.). Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who review your practice tests question-by-question to spot patterns, whether you struggle with vocabulary-in-context questions, main idea questions, or inference-based questions. Once you know your specific challenges, you can target your study time effectively rather than practicing everything equally.

While having a strong vocabulary helps, the PSAT tests vocabulary in context rather than isolated definitions—meaning you can often figure out word meanings from surrounding clues even if you don't know the word itself. That said, learning common PSAT vocabulary words and practicing inference skills together gives you a significant advantage. Tutors can help you build vocabulary strategically and teach you how to use context clues to answer questions confidently, even when you encounter unfamiliar words.

Most students benefit from taking 4-6 full practice tests under realistic timed conditions, spaced throughout their study period—this gives you enough exposure to different passage types and question formats while allowing time to learn from your mistakes. After each practice test, review every question you missed or found difficult, not just to get the right answer but to understand why you chose wrong and how to approach similar questions differently. Tutors can guide your practice test schedule and help you extract maximum learning from each one.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or unsure of your strategy, so building confidence through repeated practice and clear techniques directly reduces stress on test day. Tutors help you develop a consistent approach to each question type, practice time management so you feel in control, and work through full practice tests to simulate test conditions. Additionally, learning to recognize when you're overthinking a question and having permission to move on helps you stay calm and maintain your pacing throughout the section.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in Concord who specialize in PSAT Critical Reading and understand the specific challenges students face with this section. You can describe your goals, current score, and areas where you need the most help, and we'll match you with a tutor whose expertise and teaching style fit your needs. Whether you need help with pacing, vocabulary, inference questions, or building overall reading comprehension, personalized 1-on-1 instruction lets you focus on exactly what you need to improve.