Score improvement depends on your starting point and commitment level, but most students see meaningful gains within 4-8 weeks of focused work. If you're scoring in the mid-range (around 145-155), consistent practice with strategic feedback typically yields 3-5 point improvements. Students starting lower often see larger jumps because there's more foundational work to address. The key is identifying your specific weaknesses—whether it's speed, inference skills, or question-type recognition—and drilling those areas with expert guidance.

Your first session focuses on assessment and strategy. A tutor will review your practice test results to identify patterns in your mistakes—are you running out of time, missing inference questions, or struggling with certain passage types? You'll discuss your target score, timeline, and learning style, then work through a sample passage together to see how you approach the material and where you need support. This foundation helps create a personalized study plan that addresses your specific challenges rather than generic test prep.

Effective pacing starts with a strategic reading approach—many students waste time trying to memorize every detail, when skimming for structure and main ideas is faster and more effective for LSAT questions. A tutor can teach you how to identify passage types quickly (comparative, narrative, argumentative) and adjust your reading speed accordingly. You'll also practice timed drills to build stamina and learn when to skip difficult questions and return later, rather than getting stuck and losing time on the entire section.

Most students benefit from taking 8-12 full practice tests over their prep period, spaced out so you can review and learn from each one. The goal isn't just to take tests—it's to analyze every wrong answer to understand why you missed it and what skill you need to develop. A tutor can help you review your practice tests strategically, identifying whether your errors stem from comprehension issues, question-type confusion, or time pressure, then target those specific areas in your study sessions.

The LSAT Reading Comprehension section features several key question types: main idea (asking for the passage's overall point), inference (what can be logically concluded), specific detail (finding information in the text), author's tone/attitude, and comparative reading questions. Each requires a slightly different approach—main idea questions reward big-picture understanding, while inference questions demand careful reasoning from textual evidence. A tutor can teach you to recognize question types quickly and apply the right strategy for each, turning what feels like guessing into a systematic process.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about your strategy, so building genuine confidence through targeted practice is the foundation. Working with a tutor helps you develop a reliable approach to passages and questions, which reduces the panic of not knowing what to do. You'll also practice timed sections regularly so the format feels familiar on test day, and learn breathing and mental reset techniques to stay calm if you encounter a difficult passage. Knowing you have a system and have practiced extensively is powerful anxiety management.

Look for tutors with strong LSAT scores themselves (typically 160+), proven experience teaching Reading Comprehension specifically, and familiarity with the section's evolving question formats. They should be able to explain not just what the right answer is, but why wrong answers are tempting and how to avoid common traps. It's also valuable to find someone who understands your learning style and can adapt their teaching—whether you need more conceptual explanation, strategy drills, or timed practice—to help you improve fastest.