Your first session focuses on understanding where you stand. You'll likely take a diagnostic practice test or review your recent scores to identify your strengths and biggest challenges across the three sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. From there, your tutor will create a personalized study plan that targets your specific needs and fits your timeline before test day.

Pacing is one of the most common challenges GRE test-takers face, especially on the Quantitative section where time pressure is intense. Expert tutors help you develop strategies like identifying which question types to tackle first, knowing when to skip and return to harder problems, and practicing with timed drills to build speed without sacrificing accuracy. The more you practice under timed conditions, the more automatic these strategies become.

That depends entirely on your baseline performance and target score. Some students struggle more with reading comprehension and vocabulary, while others find quantitative concepts challenging. Your tutor will analyze your practice test results to determine where you'll get the biggest score gains, then allocate study time accordingly—though most students benefit from balanced preparation across both sections.

Most experts recommend taking 4-6 full-length practice tests under timed conditions during your preparation. This gives you enough exposure to different question formats and helps you build stamina for the 3+ hour exam, while also revealing patterns in where you make mistakes. Your tutor can help you schedule these strategically—spacing them out to allow time for learning between attempts rather than cramming them all at once.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about question formats. Building confidence through repeated practice with real GRE questions—especially under timed conditions—significantly reduces anxiety because you know what to expect. Your tutor can also teach you mental strategies like breaking the test into smaller sections, managing self-talk, and developing a pre-test routine that helps you stay calm and focused.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of consistent preparation, dedicating 5-7 hours per week to studying. However, your ideal timeline depends on your starting score, target score, and how much time you can realistically commit. If you're aiming for a top program or need significant improvement, you might extend to 16 weeks. Your tutor can assess your baseline and help you create a realistic study schedule tailored to your goals and timeline.

Look for tutors who have strong GRE scores themselves, proven experience helping students improve their scores, and deep familiarity with the test format and question types. Ideally, they stay current with any GRE updates and can explain not just the right answers, but the reasoning behind test-maker logic. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in New Orleans who specialize in GRE preparation and have a track record of helping students reach their target scores.