The Quantitative section gives you 35 minutes for 20 questions—about 1.75 minutes per question. Many students rush through easier problems to save time for harder ones, which backfires. A better strategy is to work steadily, flag difficult questions to return to, and focus on accuracy first.

Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can teach you pacing techniques, help you recognize time-wasters, and build speed through strategic practice. They'll also help you decide when to guess and move on versus when to push through a problem.

For students in Los Angeles preparing for the GRE, the biggest hurdles typically include:

• Word problems—translating English into equations and managing multi-step logic
• Data interpretation—quickly extracting information from graphs and tables under time pressure
• Quantitative Comparison questions—the unique format throws off students who expect traditional multiple choice
• Geometry reasoning—especially problems requiring spatial visualization

A personalized tutor can diagnose which of these are holding you back and build targeted practice around your specific gaps.

Most students benefit from 6-12 weeks of preparation, but this varies. If you have a strong math foundation, you might need just 6-8 weeks focused on test-specific strategies and question formats. If math has been challenging, 12+ weeks allows time to rebuild fundamentals alongside test prep.

A tutor can assess your starting level and create a realistic timeline for your goals. They'll help you decide whether to focus purely on Quantitative or balance it with other sections, and structure your weekly practice schedule for steady improvement.

Practice tests serve different purposes at different stages. Early on, take a diagnostic full-length test to establish your baseline and identify weak areas. Mid-prep, take section-specific practice under timed conditions to build speed and stamina. Near test day, take full-length tests to simulate exam conditions and track progress.

Don't just take tests and move on—the real learning happens in review. A tutor can help you analyze your mistakes, spot patterns in what you're missing, and adjust your study plan accordingly. This turns practice into actual skill-building rather than just generating scores.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or unfamiliar with question formats. The antidote is targeted practice and confidence-building. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can demystify the section, walk you through strategies repeatedly until they feel natural, and help you build a realistic sense of what you can accomplish.

Regular timed practice under low-stakes conditions (with a tutor) makes test-day conditions feel familiar. You'll also learn mental strategies like how to handle difficult questions without spiraling, and how to recognize when to move on. Confidence comes from preparation and practice.

A personalized tutor can do far more than explain concepts. They'll diagnose your specific weaknesses, teach you GRE-specific strategies (like estimation and strategic guessing), work through timed practice questions with you, help you review mistakes to spot patterns, and build confidence through targeted feedback.

Tutors can also adapt to your learning style, adjust pacing based on your progress, and keep you accountable to your study plan. If you're juggling work or other commitments while preparing for graduate school, a tutor helps you make the most of limited study time.