Your first session focuses on assessment and planning. Your tutor will review your diagnostic test scores, understand your target medical schools and timeline, and identify which sections (Chemical and Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Psychological Concepts, or Reading Comprehension) need the most attention. Together, you'll create a personalized study roadmap that fits your schedule and addresses your specific challenges, whether that's pacing issues, content gaps, or test anxiety.

Timing is one of the biggest challenges MCAT test-takers face, and it's highly learnable. Your tutor will teach you section-specific pacing strategies—like how to quickly identify passage structure in CARS or which chemistry problems to skip and return to—and then have you practice these techniques under timed conditions. Through repeated practice tests with feedback, you'll develop the rhythm and confidence to work through all four sections without rushing or running out of time.

Tutors use a combination of diagnostic practice tests, question-by-question analysis, and conversation to pinpoint exactly where you're struggling. They'll look at patterns—do you miss certain question types consistently? Is your performance worse under time pressure? Are there specific science topics that trip you up?—and then focus your study time on those gaps rather than reviewing material you already know well. This targeted approach is much more efficient than generic test prep.

Practice tests are essential for MCAT preparation because they simulate the real exam experience and reveal your true strengths and weaknesses. Your tutor will recommend a testing schedule, review your results in detail to understand why you missed questions, and help you apply those lessons to future practice tests. The goal is to use each practice test as a learning tool—not just a score—so you're continuously improving your accuracy and speed.

The best MCAT tutoring balances both. While you need solid foundational knowledge in chemistry, biology, physics, and psychology, the MCAT also tests your ability to read passages quickly, eliminate wrong answers strategically, and manage time under pressure. Your tutor will address content gaps where they exist, but will also teach you the strategic thinking and question-analysis skills that separate good scores from great ones.

Most students benefit from 3-4 months of focused MCAT preparation, though this varies based on your starting point and target score. Your tutor will help you create a realistic weekly schedule that balances content review, practice questions, and full-length practice tests. A typical approach might include 10-15 hours per week of study, with tutoring sessions used to clarify difficult concepts, review practice test mistakes, and refine your test-taking approach.

Absolutely. Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about your approach, both of which tutoring directly addresses. As you work through challenging material with expert guidance and see your practice test scores improve, your confidence naturally grows. Your tutor can also teach you specific strategies for managing stress on test day, like pacing techniques that keep you calm and mental checkpoints to refocus if you feel overwhelmed.