If you're interested in equipping your student with expert SAT Reading test prep services, Varsity Tutors can set you up with comprehensive SAT Reading courses you may want to learn more about. We specialize in helping students of all ages and ability levels develop the study habits they need to reach for academic success, a dedication that has established us as a leader in the SAT Reading test prep industry.
The SAT is a high-stakes exam used by colleges and universities across the United States as one factor in the competitive admissions process. It is comprised of four sections, one of which assesses a test-taker's critical reading ability. This section is combined with the Writing and Language section and scored on a scale from 200-800 that represents one half of a student's final grade on the SAT. This "Verbal" score may prove particularly important if your student intends to major in a subject such as History or Literature. If you feel that your student could benefit from dedicated SAT Reading prep, taking an SAT Reading class may be just what they need to pursue their educational goals.
SAT Reading test preparation may begin by emphasizing the most important skills students need on test day. The bulleted list below breaks down the skills students might review in an SAT Reading course:
- Command of Evidence
- Find evidence in the passages that supports answers or provides the basis for a sound conclusion
- Understand how authors present their arguments with evidence
- Identify relationships between text and accompanying data
- Words in Context
- Utilize context clues to understand what a word or phrase means
- Identify how word choices affect tone, style, and meaning
- Analysis in History/Social Studies and in Science
- Understand the meaning of the passage
- Draw inferences and conclusions
How Can SAT Reading Test Prep Near Me Help My Student Improve Their Study Efficiency?
One-on-one SAT Reading prep allows students to spend as much or as little time on each of the above skills as they might need to. For instance, if your student is a wizard when it comes to using context clues to decipher the meaning of an unfamiliar word but has a harder time with historical analysis, their SAT Reading test prep can concentrate on historic passages to help improve their SAT Reading preparation efficiency.
Similarly, SAT Reading tutors can go over each type of passage that may appear on your student's exam. Topics are drawn from a variety of sources, including U.S. and World literature, historical documents related to the founding of our country, passages about the social sciences (economics, psychology, sociology, etc.), and the sciences (biology, Earth science, physical science, etc.). Each of these requires a unique approach that SAT Reading prep can equip your student for.
Can SAT Reading Tutors Near Me Prepare My Student For Every Section On The Test?
Yes! For instance, the Literature passage may require students to identify how a fiction author uses word choice to define the tone of a piece, as well as how that tone impacts the overall message of the work. If your student could be more sensitive to details like these, SAT Reading classes may review active reading techniques such as highlighting the most important points to help quickly identify them.
Similarly, some questions may require students to infer additional info from the details provided in a work, even if they aren't directly stated. If your student could use a refresher on how to use the information provided to draw accurate conclusions, they may review questions like these with their SAT Reading class.
The second passage on the SAT Reading section is typically drawn from the early history of the United States. Authors such as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams followed grammatical rules and mechanical conventions that seem completely foreign to modern audiences, potentially tripping your student up. If the student in your life could use some help deciphering older material, their instructor might provide sample passages they can practice with during their SAT Reading test prep.
If your student is one of the many who finds history boring, they might review how historical concepts such as the American Revolution impact their daily lives. After all, modern American politics, economics, and ideals can all be traced back to the Founding Fathers. If your student becomes legitimately interested in the passage they are reading, they may feel more engaged and ultimately get more out of their SAT Reading preparation.
The third passage on the SAT Reading section deals with the social sciences. Many high school students haven't formally studied topics such as sociology or psychology yet, leaving them without a frame of reference for the questions on this section. Therefore, students might choose to review some basic concepts during their SAT Reading prep to get a sense for what this portion expects of them.
Likewise, this is the first section of the exam where a chart or graph could appear. The SAT Reading section never asks math questions, but students are required to interpret information presented in graphical form. If your student has a hard time looking at a bar graph and using that information to answer questions, they may want to spend some SAT test prep time practicing it. Similarly, a section may consist of a graph and a short reading passage. If your student could more effectively blend two distinct information sources in order to draw solid conclusions, they can review how to do so in an SAT Reading course as well.
The final pair of passages on the test deal with the sciences. They tend to be dense, with a lot of potentially unfamiliar words and complicated supporting ideas. Students may utilize SAT Reading tutoring sessions to practice identifying the main idea in such works, giving them something to focus on as they read further.
While the SAT Reading section does not expect students to have any prior knowledge of the material, having a background to draw on may make it easier to place scientific articles into their proper context. Accordingly, working on common scientific concepts such as life cycles or gravity during SAT Reading test preparation could prove beneficial even if it does not directly appear on the test.
Is There Any Way SAT Reading Tutoring Near Me Can Help My Student Understand The Test's Formatting?
Absolutely! In fact, the structure students can expect on exam day is often one of the first topics discussed in SAT Reading courses. The SAT is a traditional pencil-and-paper exam, so it's just like other tests your student has taken in school. If your student occasionally deals with test anxiety, this sameness may be emphasized during SAT Reading courses to help them relax on exam day.
Students have 65 minutes to answer 52 multiple-choice questions (and read their associated passages), so time management is also an important consideration on exam day. If your student practices their active reading skills during their SAT Reading prep, the notes they take may be a faster reference if they need to double-check an answer. Likewise, many student go over the test's directions during SAT Reading prep so that they don't need to waste any valuable exam time reading them.
Many students also go over test-taking strategies during SAT Reading classes to improve their self-confidence heading into the exam. For example, reading the questions before their associated passage can help guide your student's reading as they know exactly what they looking for. Likewise, some multiple-choice items contain the information required to answer something else on the exam. If your student is vigilant about looking for these opportunities, they could answer a question correctly that they otherwise may have missed!
Most importantly, students can take practice exams during their SAT Reading preparation to gain firsthand experience with the test. If your student consistently performs better on one portion of the exam than another, future SAT Reading test prep sessions can gloss over where they are performing well to spend more time on your student's areas of opportunity. Some students also find it easier to manage the time available to them once they have experienced what it feels like for themselves during SAT Reading test prep.
If you're interested to see the types of questions your student may see on exam day, here's a sample question from the SAT's Reading component:
- This question is based on a provided written passage with an accompanying graph
- The passage most strongly suggests that researchers at the Martin Prosperity Institute share which assumption?
- Employees who work from home are more valuable to their employers than employees who commute.
- Employees whose commutes are shortened will use the time saved to do additional productive work for their employers.
- Employees can conduct business activities, such as composing memos or joining conference calls, while commuting.
- Employees who have lengthy commutes tend to make more money than employees who have shorter commutes.
- The passage most strongly suggests that researchers at the Martin Prosperity Institute share which assumption?
If you feel that the student in your life may have had a hard time with that question, it's not too late to enroll them in an SAT Reading course and help them prepare for test day.
What Kind Of SAT Reading Test Prep Solutions Near Me Does Varsity Tutors Offer?
Varsity Tutors can refer you to two different SAT Reading classes to help students pursue their dreams. First, we offer private SAT Reading tutoring services. Working with private SAT Reading tutors allows students to learn at their own pace, as there is no time limit on how long they may spend on a given concept. In contrast, many competing SAT Reading test preparation products follow set curricula with little to no flexibility to adapt to an individual student's needs.
Any questions your student has may also be answered immediately during one-on-one SAT Reading prep, allowing any misunderstandings to be corrected before they have a chance to spiral out of control. A private tutor can also take the time to get to know your student, incorporating their interests and learning style into their SAT Reading test prep to improve study efficiency.
For instance, it might prove beneficial for your student to begin by concentrating on passages about topics they are interested in to make SAT Reading prep more engaging. Less interesting passages may then be gradually incorporated into SAT Reading test prep to provide a more realistic sense of what the actual exam might be like.
Alternatively, you might want to look into one of our group courses. These are essentially an SAT Reading class consisting of the instructor, your student, and several other students preparing for the same test. Students are free to interact with each other as well as their teacher, potentially creating a collaborative learning environment that helps everybody pursue their academic goals together. Multiple students also split the cost of a group course, giving you more value for your SAT Reading test prep dollar.
Group courses also tend to be a little more formal than other SAT Reading preparation options, providing an extra bit of structure that some students may appreciate. Most importantly, all group course attendees can book private time outside of their standard SAT Reading prep with the teacher to go over anything that isn't sticking for whatever reason. That's right: your student can study in a group setting without compromising their right to individualized SAT Reading prep!
Either way, your student can study on our proprietary Live Learning Platform, an online classroom leveraging powerful features such as video chat functionality to provide a face-to-face learning experience without the headache of trying to get together in person. We believe that no student should need to rearrange their life just for SAT Reading test prep and design all of our SAT Reading prep products to accommodate your schedule to the greatest degree possible.
If you would like more information about our SAT Reading test prep options or simply want to talk it over with an expert, Educational Consultants are standing by to help you in any way they can. Choose Varsity Tutors for all of your SAT Reading prep needs!

Marilyn: Scappoose SAT Reading test prep instructor
...a graduate of Reed College with a degree in Classics. I came to Portland five years ago all the way from New York city and fell in love with the community and landscape of the Pacific Northwest. I worked as a peer tutor in high school and college, and have tutored English, Math, Reading, Writing,...
Education & Certification
- Reed College - Bachelors, Classics
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Writing and Language
- +77 subjects

Gray: Scappoose SAT Reading test prep instructor
...former student at Dartmouth College who teaches the SAT, English, Computer Science, IB diploma classes, and more. I particularly like editing essays. Currently, I'm working towards a Bachelor's degree in Finance at Portland Community College. I have been a formal and informal tutor over the last eight years. My philosophy is that there are always...
Education & Certification
- Portland State University - Current Undergrad, Government
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- +24 subjects

Libby: Scappoose SAT Reading test prep instructor
...tutoring while I was still in high school through my school's tutoring center. Since then, I've developed a passion for tutoring. I find a lot of beauty in topics from Mathematics to Literature to Latin, and I love finding new ways to explain complex topics to students. I have a degree in Aerospace Engineering with...
Education & Certification
- University of Kansas - Bachelors, Aerospace Engineering
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Math
- +35 subjects

Ezra: Scappoose SAT Reading test prep instructor
...graduated Reed College with a BA in Philosophy. I worked as a peer tutor at Reed, but my tutoring experience goes back to my high school years, to when I volunteered to tutor elementary school and middle school students struggling with their schoolwork, and realized how significant a tutor can be in a student's life....
Education & Certification
- Reed College - Bachelors, Philosophy
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Math
- +79 subjects

Flynn: Scappoose SAT Reading test prep instructor
...ME student at MIT, I've learned a lot about math and science, and I'd love to share that knowledge with students here. I've taught over thirty students in standardized test preparation, English, German, and various kinds of math and science. It's very important to find teaching methods that meet students' individual needs,so the first meeting...
Education & Certification
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Math
- SAT Writing and Language
- Physics
- +46 subjects

Daniel: Scappoose SAT Reading test prep instructor
...name is Dan, I'm 24 years old, and I live in Portland, Oregon. I currently work overnight at homeless shelters, and hope to tutor consistently in my spare time. This fall, I will transfer into Reed College to study philosophy as a junior. I have taken the last four years off of school to travel,...
Education & Certification
- Reed College - Current Undergrad, Philosophy
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Math
- SAT Writing and Language
- +61 subjects

Jared: Scappoose SAT Reading test prep instructor
...a current junior at the University of Pennsylvania pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Cinema Studies. I enjoy tutoring because I understand firsthand the difficulties of preparing for college and the rigorousness of high school coursework, and as such am committed to helping young people overcome these obstacles to be the best students...
Education & Certification
- University of Pennsylvania - Bachelor in Arts, Economics
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Math
- ACT Writing
- Calculus
- +36 subjects

Sara: Scappoose SAT Reading test prep instructor
...a recent Mizzou graduate who is currently applying to medical schools. I have a Bachelor of Arts in English. After getting my degree from Mizzou, I completed all of my medical school prerequisites at the University of Missouri St. Louis last year. I have experience tutoring French, English, Pre-algebra, Chemistry and I have volunteered helping...
Education & Certification
- University of Missouri Columbia - Bachelor in Arts, English
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Math
- College Chemistry
- +40 subjects

Ammar: Scappoose SAT Reading test prep instructor
Mathematics is the key science to understand many sciences. It helps you be a critical thinker and challenges your mind.... I do my best to make the math concepts as simple as possible.... I have to know what level my student is at so I can design my plan specifically for him/her.... I explain all concepts and provide enough examples. I assign exercises to my students to solve. I provide them with their detailed key answers so they can solve (without looking at the answers), check, and learn from their mistakes.
Education & Certification
- Hashemite University - Bachelors, Math
- Portland State University - PHD, Applied Mathematics
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Math
- SAT Math Prep Course
- Data Science
- +52 subjects

Fisher: Scappoose SAT Reading test prep instructor
...passionate about the English language for my entire life. The seeds were planted, with the help of Thomas the Tank Engine, while I sat in my mom's lap. My dad's languorous voice reciting his poetry provided constant nutrition while my parents' help in editing my essays was the trellis. I came into my own throughout...
Education & Certification
- Whitman College - Bachelor in Arts, United States Government and Politics
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Math
- SAT Writing and Language
- English
- +95 subjects

Dylan: Scappoose SAT Reading test prep instructor
...Washington University in St. Louis for my undergraduate studies, earning a dual degree in Education and Spanish. My interdisciplinary course load also included several history, math, psychology, art, business, and literature classes. Professionally, I possess six years of truly diverse work and life experience. Since graduating from Wash U in 2014, I have helped open...
Education & Certification
- Washington University in St Louis - Bachelor in Arts, Education
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Math
- +29 subjects

Jeffrey: Scappoose SAT Reading test prep instructor
...to use my experience as an engineer to prepare the next generation of students to achieve their best in mathematics and science. In addition to my formal education, I have obtained a wealth of real-world experience that can benefit technically-minded students prepare for careers in science and engineering. As a Tau Beta Pi graduate from...
Education & Certification
- Cornell University - Bachelor of Science, Applied and Engineering Physics
- Cornell University - Masters, Engineering Physics
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Math
- IB Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation
- +43 subjects

Luke: Scappoose SAT Reading test prep instructor
...I first read 'Green Eggs and Ham' on my own, the English language has been my preferred subject of interest. From young excursions into the world of Brian Jacques' Redwall, my fascination for the written word grew into an obsession when I pursued as many English electives as I could in high school and, thereafter,...
Education & Certification
- University of British Columbia - Bachelors, English Honors
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- College Essays
- High School English
- +16 subjects

Maddie: Scappoose SAT Reading test prep instructor
...recent grad, I'm passionate about helping students succeed in whatever their goals may be! I have been tutoring English for foreign learners for the past several years, and as a language learner myself, I understand the challenges and needs that come with learning a new language. If you're looking for someone who can relate to...
Education & Certification
- Lewis & Clark College - Bachelor in Arts, Foreign Languages and Literatures, General
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- ACT Reading
- College English
- Fiction Writing
- +52 subjects

Rei: Scappoose SAT Reading test prep instructor
...candidate for a B.S. in Business Administration at Northeastern University. In addition to tutoring, I enjoy playing the tuba and learning about transportation engineering/planning. I'm also fully Japanese and can read, write, and speak the language. As someone who scored 1530 on the SAT and 800 on the Math II subject test, I'd love to...
Education & Certification
- Northeastern University - Current Undergrad Student, Business Administration and Management
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Math
- +16 subjects

Joel: Scappoose SAT Reading test prep instructor
...a third-year Psychology major at Reed College in Portland, OR. I work as a researcher in a cognitive neuroscience lab studying human perception, and I am interested in pursuing a graduate degree in neuroscience. I have always been drawn to tutoring and mentorship roles, beginning when I joined my high school's Advancement Via Individual Determination...
Education & Certification
- Reed College - Current Undergrad, Psychology
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- Test Prep
- +15 subjects

Aaron: Scappoose SAT Reading test prep instructor
...a graduate of San Francisco State University's Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing, and I received my Bachelor's degree in Literature at Texas A&M University. I've tutored students of different ages and backgrounds for several years. I focus primarily on the reading and writing portions of standardized tests, as well as English school...
Education & Certification
- San Francisco State University - Master of Fine Arts, Creative Writing
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- Adult Literacy
- Phonics
- +83 subjects

Kari: Scappoose SAT Reading test prep instructor
Hi! I am a certified elementary teacher available for online and local in person tutoring. I hold a master's degree in teaching and a bachelor's degree in Public Health Education. I currently teach English Language Arts in an International IB school.
Education & Certification
- Portland State University - Bachelor in Arts, Public Health Education
- Colorado State University- Global Campus - Masters in Education, Elementary School Teaching
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- Elementary School Reading
- Elementary School Math
- Middle School Reading Comprehension
- +35 subjects

Emilie: Scappoose SAT Reading test prep instructor
...name is Emilie and I'm a 2014 graduate of Barnard College. I have a B.A. in sociology and plan to enroll in graduate school to study public policy next fall. I've been tutoring French and writing for the past year, and I'm passionate about guiding people as they learn foreign languages or hone their ideas...
Education & Certification
- Barnard College Columbia University - Bachelor in Arts, Sociology
- Global Labor University Germany - Master of Public Policy, Labor and Industrial Relations
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- Elementary School Writing
- Middle School Reading Comprehension
- +44 subjects

Katie: Scappoose SAT Reading test prep instructor
...a Substitute Teacher in the Portland area. I graduated college with a Bachelors in Science for Secondary Education in Social Studies, and a minor in Spanish. I tutored professionally for two years in Denver primarily in ACT/SAT test prep and Spanish. I also enjoy tutoring math subjects. With my tutoring and substituting experience, I am...
Education & Certification
- Emporia State University - Unknown, Secondary Education Social Studies
Subject Expertise
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Math
- +82 subjects