Award-Winning SAT Reading Tutors

Structure of the Exam:

One way that SAT Reading tutors can help your student prepare is by going over the format of the Reading section of the test. Knowing what to expect when taking the test is crucial. This can help your student avoid any unwelcome surprises when they go to take the exam. Knowing things like how long students are given to complete each portion of the test, how the section is scored, and the types of questions and how many of them there are can help students get a better understanding of the test's structure.

Here is a breakdown of the SAT Reading section:

SAT Reading Overview

• 65 minutes
• 52 questions
  • Multiple-choice
• Reading Passages
  • One from contemporary US or world literature
  • One or a pair from important historical documents in the founding of the United States or something they inspired
  • A social science selection
  • Two passages from physics, Earth science, biology, or chemistry. One passage could be a passage pair
• Scoring Range
  • 100-400
• 25% of the SAT composite score

Structure isn't the only area where SAT Reading tutoring can help. Building basic content knowledge is an area where tutors often excel. An SAT Reading tutor knows what kinds of material that are likely to come up on the exam. An SAT Reading tutor can also build the skills necessary for your student to feel more prepared for the test. Here are some of the skills that are assessed by the Reading portion of the SAT:

SAT Reading Abilities Assessed

• Command of Evidence
  • Identify supporting text in a document that helps determine a conclusion or backs up an answer
  • Determine how the author used supporting evidence
  • Relate reading passages with paired graphics
• Words in Context
  • Identify the meaning of words or phrases in context
  • Identify how word choice can affect tone, meaning, and style
• Analysis in History/Social Studies and in Science
  • Examine a hypothesis
  • Interpret the data
  • Consider the implications

One of the truly great things about SAT Reading tutoring is the individualization that can occur. Tutors are not only experts in their content areas, but they are also skilled at translating that information in ways that your student can understand. By working closely with a talented SAT Reading tutor, your student can benefit from customized lesson plans with content modified so that it best suits your child. Tutors can get to know your student's particular learning style, allowing them to make adjustments to what they teach and how they teach it. They can help teach the skills and abilities that your student needs.

A private SAT Reading tutor can work with your student to hone these abilities through a variety of different means. For instance, if your student is struggling with figuring out words in their context, a tutor can spend time helping them hone their abilities. They can work with them to figure out how word choice can affect the tone of a piece by looking at examples and working through practice questions.

In some cases, your student's SAT Reading tutor can provide sample questions that they can go over with your student. This can give them a chance to break down the structure of a question so that they are aware of what it is actually asking. Students can benefit from SAT Reading tutoring sessions where tutors provide practice questions and allow for students to work on them in timed conditions. This mimics the conditions that students are likely to face on test day, giving them the opportunity to see how they will react when answering questions under pressure.

Here is an example of a question that a skilled SAT Reading tutor can help your student with:

SAT Reading Sample Question

• This question is based on a provided reading passage
  • The description in the first paragraph indicates that what Ethan values most about Mattie is her
    • fitness for farm labor.
    • vivacious youth.
    • receptive nature.
    • freedom from worry.

It's no surprise that getting into the university of one's choice can be quite difficult. The more prestigious the school, the more people there likely are gunning for a place. If your student is aiming to stand out amongst a crowded field of candidates for a place, then SAT Reading tutoring could be the option for them. Tutoring can give them a solid foundation on which to enter the test feeling more confident that they have the skills and knowledge necessary to do their best.

Here is a breakdown of the results from the SAT Reading portion from the year 2018:

SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Results 2018

• Number of Test Takers
  • 2,136,539
• Mean ERW Score
  • 536
  • Up 3 points from 2017
• Students Meeting Benchmark
  • 70%
  • Equal with 2017

How SAT Reading Tutors Can Help Your Student

Part of preparing for the SAT Reading portion could also include help with researching different careers, prospective universities, and academic programs that might be of interest. An SAT Reading tutor can be a great resource for your student in their search for an educational path that makes sense for them. Tutors can help your student to set educational goals and help them put a plan in place that helps them work toward pursuing them. Your student's tutor can help them figure out what their ideal score on the test is and provide assistance to help them work toward it. Because of a tutor's familiarity with your student's abilities, they can spend time assisting them through each challenge they face, helping to broaden their skill set and help them feel more confident about their abilities.

Feedback is one of the other great perks of SAT Reading tutoring. Your student can receive regular updates on their progress. A tutor can also help them pinpoint problem areas and offer solutions that can help your student overcome them. Your student can get constructive criticism that helps them see issues that need more focus.

Timing is an issue that many students struggle with on test day. For many, the clock is the enemy. It never seems like there is quite enough time. One of the great things that an SAT Reading tutor can help with is working toward finishing as many questions as possible. Tutors can introduce time management strategies that can work to their favor. For instance, if your student is struggling with a question in which two answers seem equally correct, an SAT reading tutor can help by informing them that it is better to make an educated guess than to simply leave the question blank. Tutors may even have strategies that can help a student more accurately determine the correct answer, such as by looking more closely at the wording of the question to make sure they fully understand it. Some tutors even administer full portions of the reading portion of the SAT so that your student can learn through experience.

When you sign up for "SAT Reading tutoring near me," you can expect that your tutor will be able to help your child put a study plan in place. The lead up to any test is important. Many students inadvertently end up wasting much of their time by studying the wrong material or studying in ways that are wrong for their learning style. If your child has ever read the same study guide over and over without being able to retain the information, it could be that they need something that better suits their learning needs. SAT tutors can lead them to the materials that better align with their needs.

Tutors can help students study more efficiently as well. With a study plan, students can have a breakdown of what they need to focus on. It can be as detailed of a plan as your child needs it to be. For instance, if your child only has a few weeks before the test, it's important that they make the best use of that time. A tutor can give them a daily breakdown that can help them focus on the topics and skills that will benefit them most. There's nothing like a quickly approaching test to get you searching for an SAT reading tutor near me. Help your student feel more prepared by working with an SAT Reading tutor.

One of the best things about working with a tutor is flexibility. Tutors can work with your schedule. Fitting everything into a normal day can be hectic as is. You can reach out to your tutor to find the time that works best for everyone. If your child works best in the early evenings, then it makes sense to try to set their tutoring sessions up for that time.

If you've been searching for "SAT Reading tutoring near me," it's likely that you are aware of the importance of the test. Students are facing increasing competition for places at universities. A good score can help them stand out, and even give them the possibility for certain scholarships. Perhaps it's time that you stop searching for "SAT Reading tutors near me" and give Varsity Tutors a call. We can help answer your questions and connect your student with a quality tutor who can help put them in the driver's seat of their academic future.