Time management on the GRE is critical—you have roughly 1.5-2 minutes per question depending on the section. Expert tutors help you develop section-specific pacing strategies, like identifying which question types to tackle first based on your strengths, when to skip and return to difficult questions, and how to avoid getting stuck on single problems. Regular timed practice tests are essential for building the stamina and rhythm you'll need on test day.

Test anxiety typically decreases with familiarity and confidence, which personalized tutoring builds through repeated exposure to real question formats and adaptive practice. Tutors help you develop a study schedule that allows for spaced repetition—a learning science principle that strengthens retention and reduces test-day surprises. They also work with you on mental strategies like breaking complex problems into manageable steps and managing the pressure of timing.

This depends entirely on your baseline strengths and target score. Many students find Verbal more challenging because it requires both content knowledge and nuanced reading comprehension under time pressure, while Quantitative tests fundamentals you may not have used since high school. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who diagnostic your strengths through practice tests and then allocate study time based on your specific weak areas and graduate program requirements.

Most students benefit from taking 4-6 full-length, timed practice tests during their prep period to build stamina and identify patterns in their mistakes. Each practice test should be followed by a thorough review—not just checking answers, but understanding why you missed questions and adjusting your strategy. Tutors help you analyze these results to focus your remaining study time on the most impactful improvements.

The Analytical Writing section requires you to construct coherent arguments under strict time limits (30 minutes each for two essays), which is unfamiliar to many test-takers. Beyond writing quality, you're evaluated on how well you analyze arguments and identify logical flaws—a skill that benefits greatly from targeted practice with feedback. Tutors help you develop a template-based approach that balances structure with authentic analysis, and they provide detailed feedback on drafts to strengthen your score on this often-overlooked section.