Your first session focuses on understanding your baseline and goals. A tutor will typically review your diagnostic test results, discuss your target score and business school timeline, and assess which sections (Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, or AWA) need the most work. This helps create a personalized study plan tailored to your strengths and challenges.

Expert tutors break down each section's unique demands—whether it's data sufficiency logic in Quant, critical reasoning in Verbal, or time management across all sections. They teach you to recognize question patterns, avoid common traps, and apply test-specific strategies rather than just reviewing content. This targeted approach helps you gain confidence in your weakest areas.

Practice tests are essential—they simulate real test conditions, help you identify pacing issues, and reveal patterns in the types of questions you struggle with. Most tutors recommend taking full-length practice tests every 1-2 weeks during your prep timeline, then reviewing your results with your tutor to adjust your study strategy. This cycle of testing and targeted improvement is how most students see significant score gains.

Most students benefit from 2-4 months of focused preparation, though your timeline depends on your starting score, target score, and available study hours per week. Working with a tutor helps you use your study time more efficiently by focusing on high-impact areas rather than reviewing everything. Many students in Mesa preparing for MBA programs find that consistent weekly sessions combined with structured self-study accelerates their progress.

Absolutely. Test anxiety often stems from unfamiliarity with question formats or uncertainty about your approach. Tutors help build confidence by demystifying the test structure, teaching you proven strategies for each section, and using practice tests to build comfort with the pacing and pressure. As you see improvement in your practice scores, your confidence naturally increases heading into test day.

Look for tutors with strong GMAT scores themselves (typically 700+), experience helping multiple students improve, and familiarity with the current test format and question types. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who have proven track records in GMAT instruction and understand both the content and the strategic approaches that drive score improvements.

Personalized 1-on-1 instruction adapts to your specific weaknesses, learning style, and timeline—rather than following a one-size-fits-all curriculum. A tutor can spend extra time on your problem areas, skip content you've already mastered, and adjust strategies based on what's actually working for you. This focused approach typically leads to faster improvement than self-paced courses.