Your first session focuses on assessment and strategy planning. Your tutor will review your target score, timeline, and any previous practice test results to understand your starting point and identify your strongest and weakest areas. You'll discuss which sections require the most attention—Quantitative, Verbal, Analytical Writing, or Integrated Reasoning—and create a personalized study plan with realistic milestones leading up to your test date.

Pacing is one of the biggest challenges GMAT test-takers face, and expert tutors teach you specific strategies for each section. You'll learn how to quickly identify question types, recognize when to guess strategically, and allocate time based on difficulty. Through timed practice problems and full-length practice tests, your tutor will help you develop the rhythm and confidence needed to manage the 3.5-hour exam without rushing or running out of time.

Absolutely. Many students connect with tutors to target specific sections where they struggle most—whether that's the Quantitative section's data sufficiency and problem-solving questions, the Verbal section's reading comprehension and critical reasoning, or the Analytical Writing Assessment. Your tutor can design sessions around your priorities, though they may recommend a brief overview of all sections to ensure a balanced approach to your overall score.

Practice tests are essential—they're the best way to identify weak areas, build test-day stamina, and track progress over time. Most students benefit from taking full-length practice tests every 1-2 weeks during their preparation. Your tutor will use practice test results to pinpoint exactly which question types and content areas need more focus, then design targeted lessons around those gaps rather than reviewing material you've already mastered.

Test anxiety often stems from unfamiliarity with question formats or uncertainty about your abilities—both things personalized tutoring directly addresses. As you work through challenging problems with expert guidance and see your practice test scores improve, your confidence naturally grows. Your tutor can also teach you test-day strategies for managing stress, such as pacing techniques, strategic guessing, and mental approaches that help you stay focused under pressure.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of focused preparation, though your ideal timeline depends on your starting score, target score, and how much time you can dedicate weekly. Students aiming for top business schools (650+) typically need more intensive preparation than those targeting a 550-600 range. Your tutor will help you create a realistic timeline based on your goals and current level, ensuring you're neither rushing nor over-preparing.

Look for tutors with strong GMAT scores themselves, proven teaching experience with test prep, and familiarity with the latest GMAT format and question types. Ideally, your tutor should have experience working with students at your current level and targeting your score range. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who understand both the content and the strategic test-taking skills needed to excel on the GMAT.