Your first session focuses on assessment and goal-setting. A tutor will review your background, understand your target business school and score goals, and likely administer a diagnostic practice test to identify your strengths and weaknesses across Quantitative, Verbal, and Analytical Writing sections. This baseline helps create a personalized study plan tailored to your needs.

This is extremely common—many students excel in Quantitative reasoning but struggle with Reading Comprehension, or vice versa. Personalized tutoring allows you to spend more time on your weaker sections while maintaining your strengths. A tutor can also help you develop section-specific strategies, like critical reading techniques for Verbal or data sufficiency shortcuts for Quant, to maximize your overall composite score.

Test anxiety often stems from unfamiliarity with question formats and time pressure. Tutors help by building confidence through repeated exposure to authentic GMAT questions, teaching proven pacing strategies for each section, and practicing timed drills that simulate test conditions. Many students find that understanding the test structure and having a concrete strategy significantly reduces anxiety on test day.

Most test-prep experts recommend taking 4-6 full-length practice tests spaced throughout your study period, with at least 2-3 closer to your test date. Practice tests serve two purposes: they help identify remaining weak areas and build test-day stamina and confidence. Your tutor can help you interpret practice test results to refine your strategy and focus on high-impact improvements.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of consistent preparation, though this varies based on your starting score and target. Students aiming for top business schools (700+) often need 12+ weeks, while those targeting 600-650 may need 6-10 weeks. Working with a tutor can accelerate progress by focusing your efforts on high-impact areas rather than studying broadly.

Look for tutors with strong GMAT scores (typically 700+), proven teaching experience, and familiarity with the latest test format and question types. Ideally, your tutor should have helped multiple students achieve their target scores and be able to explain complex concepts clearly. When you connect with Varsity Tutors, we match you with expert tutors who meet these standards and fit your learning style.

Effective Verbal strategies include active reading techniques (annotating key ideas and author tone), understanding question types before diving into passages, and practicing elimination of wrong answers rather than hunting for perfect ones. Many students improve significantly by learning to identify argument structure in Critical Reasoning and recognizing common trap answers. A tutor can teach you these strategies and help you apply them consistently under timed conditions.