Your first session focuses on assessment and goal-setting. A tutor will review your target score, timeline, and any practice test results to understand your strengths and gaps. This diagnostic approach ensures your personalized study plan addresses exactly what you need—whether that's mastering quantitative concepts, improving reading comprehension speed, or refining essay structure.

Pacing is one of the most common GRE challenges, and tutors teach specific strategies for each section. You'll practice timed drills to build speed without sacrificing accuracy, learn which questions to prioritize, and develop techniques for managing the adaptive test format. Regular practice under timed conditions helps build confidence so you're not rushed or second-guessing yourself on test day.

Tutors customize your prep to match your profile. If you're strong in quantitative reasoning but struggle with verbal comprehension, your tutor will allocate more time to reading strategies, vocabulary in context, and argument analysis. Conversely, if math is your challenge, you'll focus on concept review and problem-solving techniques. This targeted approach maximizes your score potential in both areas.

Most students benefit from taking 4-6 full-length practice tests spaced throughout their prep timeline, with at least 1-2 taken under strict test-day conditions. Tutors use practice test results to identify patterns in your mistakes—whether you're misunderstanding concepts, rushing, or misreading questions—and adjust your study plan accordingly. This data-driven approach is more effective than simply taking tests without analysis.

Test anxiety often stems from uncertainty about question formats or time pressure. Tutors build confidence by familiarizing you with every question type, teaching you to recognize patterns, and practicing under realistic conditions until the test format feels familiar. Knowing exactly what to expect and having a solid strategy for each section significantly reduces anxiety on test day.

Most students prepare for 8-12 weeks with consistent study, though your ideal timeline depends on your starting point and target score. Someone aiming for a top-tier program might need 12+ weeks, while others might be ready in 6-8 weeks. Tutors help create a realistic study schedule that fits your timeline and builds in adequate practice, review, and test-taking strategy work.

The Analytical Writing section includes two essays—Analyze an Issue and Analyze an Argument—each scored 0-6. Tutors teach you the structure and reasoning patterns that score well, help you practice writing under timed conditions, and provide detailed feedback on clarity, logic, and organization. Most students see significant improvement with targeted essay practice and revision feedback.