Score improvement depends on your starting level and effort, but most students see meaningful gains with targeted practice. If you're scoring in the 20-35 range out of 38, you can often improve 50-100 points with 8-12 weeks of focused instruction. The key is identifying your specific weak areas—whether that's grammar rules, reading comprehension tied to writing questions, or pacing under pressure—and addressing them systematically. Personalized tutoring helps you skip generic review and concentrate on what actually holds you back.

Most students struggle with pacing and question format rather than grammar knowledge itself. The Writing and Language section gives you 35 minutes for 44 questions, which feels tight. Many students also misunderstand how questions are structured—they're not asking you to identify errors in isolation, but to choose the best revision in context. Additionally, some test-takers apply overly strict grammar rules that don't actually apply to the test's standards. A tutor can help you recognize question patterns, work efficiently, and understand what the PSAT actually tests versus what you might have learned in English class.

Start by taking a full practice test to identify your specific weak areas—don't assume you need to review everything. Spend 2-3 weeks on foundational skills in your problem areas (for example, comma rules or pronoun agreement), then move into timed passage practice for another 3-4 weeks. Throughout, do 1-2 practice tests monthly and analyze every single question you miss, noting whether the error was skill-based, timing-based, or careless. Personalized tutoring accelerates this process by helping you skip what you already know and drilling only the concepts and question types that actually trip you up.

If your PSAT Writing score is notably lower, start there—it often responds faster to targeted effort because the skills are concrete and rule-based. However, if your scores are similar, prioritize whichever section feels more stressful or uncertain. Keep in mind that strong reading comprehension helps with Writing and Language questions, since you need to understand passage context to answer many questions correctly. A tutor can assess where your actual gaps are (Is it grammar knowledge? Reading speed? Timing?) and recommend a sequenced approach rather than assuming one section should come first.

Anxiety often stems from uncertainty about timing and question formats. Build confidence by practicing timed passages repeatedly until the format feels automatic—familiarity reduces panic. Develop a consistent strategy: read the passage quickly for general meaning, then tackle questions in order, flagging difficult ones to return to if time permits. During practice, simulate real test conditions to desensitize yourself to time pressure. If anxiety persists, talk with a tutor about pacing strategies tailored to your speed, and consider whether anxiety is masking a specific skill gap that needs attention.

Practice tests are essential—they reveal your actual performance under time pressure, not just your knowledge of grammar rules. Use the first test to diagnose weak areas, then take one every 3-4 weeks to track progress and identify patterns in your mistakes. When reviewing, spend more time analyzing why you chose wrong answers than celebrating correct ones. Many students skip this analysis step, which means they repeat the same mistakes. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can help you extract maximum learning from practice tests by pinpointing the real cause of each error—whether it's misunderstanding the question, applying the wrong rule, or rushing.