The Reading and Writing section (now combined on the redesigned SAT) tests two distinct skills. Reading comprehension assesses your ability to understand passages, analyze arguments, and answer questions about main ideas, details, and inferences. Writing focuses on grammar, syntax, vocabulary in context, and rhetorical skills. Most students find one area more challenging than the other—some struggle with pacing through dense passages, while others trip up on grammar rules. A tutor can identify which section needs the most work and tailor strategies accordingly.

Timing is one of the biggest challenges students face—you have roughly 2-3 minutes per question depending on the format. Effective pacing comes from practicing with real tests under timed conditions, learning which question types to tackle first, and knowing when to skip and return to difficult questions. A tutor can teach you strategic approaches like pre-reading techniques for passages, identifying question patterns, and building speed through targeted drills. The key is practicing these strategies repeatedly so they become automatic on test day.

The best way to identify weak areas is to take a full, timed practice test and analyze your results by question type and topic—not just your overall score. Look for patterns: Do you miss vocabulary-in-context questions? Struggle with inference questions? Have trouble with grammar concepts like pronoun agreement? Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who can review your practice tests, pinpoint exactly where you're losing points, and create a focused study plan to address those gaps before test day.

Your first session is all about assessment and goal-setting. Your tutor will review your practice test scores, discuss your target score, and identify which skills need the most attention—whether that's reading comprehension speed, grammar rules, or vocabulary. Together, you'll create a personalized study plan that fits your timeline and learning style. This foundation helps ensure every future session is focused and productive.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about strategies. Personalized tutoring builds confidence by helping you master the content, understand question formats deeply, and practice under realistic test conditions repeatedly. When you know exactly what to expect and have proven strategies for each question type, anxiety naturally decreases. Your tutor can also teach you specific techniques for managing stress during the test itself, like pacing strategies that prevent panic and methods for staying focused.

Most students benefit from taking 4-6 full practice tests throughout their preparation period, spaced out over several weeks. Early tests help identify weak areas, while later tests let you track improvement and refine your strategy. Between full tests, you should do targeted practice on specific question types and skills. Your tutor will recommend a practice schedule based on how much time you have before test day and which areas need the most work.

Look for tutors with strong SAT scores themselves, proven experience helping students improve, and deep knowledge of the test format and question types. They should be able to explain grammar rules and reading strategies clearly, adapt to your learning style, and track your progress with data from practice tests. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in SAT Verbal and have a track record of helping students in El Paso reach their target scores.