Your first session is diagnostic and collaborative. Your tutor will review your target score, timeline, and any practice test results you have, then assess your strengths and weaknesses across the Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing sections. Together, you'll establish realistic goals and design a personalized study plan that fits your schedule and learning style.

Timing is one of the most common GRE challenges, and tutors help you develop section-specific strategies. For Verbal Reasoning, you'll learn to quickly identify question types and allocate time wisely. In Quantitative Reasoning, your tutor will teach you when to estimate versus calculate, and how to recognize time-consuming traps. Regular timed practice tests under your tutor's guidance build the stamina and rhythm you need to manage all three sections confidently.

Absolutely. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who customize their approach based on your profile. If you're strong in Verbal but struggle with Quantitative, your tutor will focus on building foundational math skills and test-specific strategies. If it's the reverse, they'll help you develop reading stamina and critical reasoning techniques. Many students benefit from balancing time between sections to achieve a competitive overall score.

Practice tests are essential to GRE prep—they familiarize you with the test format, help you identify weak areas, and build test-day confidence. Most tutors recommend taking a full practice test every 1-2 weeks once you've covered foundational material, then reviewing your results together to pinpoint patterns in your mistakes. The official ETS practice tests are the most reliable indicator of your actual GRE performance.

Test anxiety often stems from uncertainty about question formats or time management, both of which tutoring directly addresses. By practicing under timed conditions, learning proven strategies, and building mastery in weak areas, you'll feel more confident and in control. Your tutor can also teach you stress-management techniques specific to test day, like pacing strategies and mental reset tactics between sections.

Most students benefit from 8-16 weeks of tutoring, meeting 1-2 times per week, depending on their starting score and target. If you're aiming for a top program, you may want more time to refine your score. Your tutor will help you create a realistic timeline based on your baseline performance, the programs you're applying to, and your application deadlines.

The Analytical Writing section requires both strong reasoning and clear communication—skills that benefit greatly from personalized feedback. Your tutor will teach you the structure and timing for both the Issue and Argument essays, then review your practice essays to identify patterns in your logic and writing. Regular practice with detailed feedback helps you internalize what strong analysis looks like and build confidence in this often-neglected section.