Score improvement depends on your starting point and study consistency, but most students see meaningful gains—often 5-10 points or more—within 8-12 weeks of focused preparation. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction helps you identify specific weak areas (like inference questions or comma rules) and develop targeted strategies rather than studying broadly. Your improvement accelerates when you work with a tutor who can diagnose exactly which question types trip you up and why.

Many students struggle with Reading Comprehension pacing—trying to memorize passages instead of understanding main ideas—and with Critical Reasoning, where spotting logical flaws requires careful reasoning. Sentence Correction trips up test-takers who rely on ear rather than grammar rules, especially with complex modifiers and pronoun agreement. A tutor can help you shift from intuition-based answers to systematic strategies, like annotating passages efficiently and identifying argument structures before evaluating them.

With 65 minutes for 36 questions, you have roughly 1 minute 45 seconds per question—but timing varies by question type. Reading Comprehension passages require 3-4 minutes to read and understand, leaving 1-1.5 minutes per question; Critical Reasoning typically takes 2-3 minutes; and Sentence Correction should take 1-1.5 minutes. Effective timing comes from practicing full sections under test conditions and learning to recognize when you're stuck and should move on. A tutor can help you calibrate your pace and identify which question types drain your time.

Practice tests are essential—they reveal your actual pacing, identify weak question types, and build test-day stamina. Taking full-length practice tests (or at least full Verbal sections) every 1-2 weeks helps you track progress and get comfortable with the adaptive format. Beyond full tests, drilling individual question types in timed sets helps you refine strategies without the pressure of a complete exam. A tutor can review your practice test results to pinpoint patterns in your mistakes and adjust your study plan accordingly.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of consistent preparation, studying 5-7 hours per week, though this varies based on your starting score and target. If you're aiming for a top MBA program, you may need 12-16 weeks to reach a competitive Verbal score of 40+. Working with a tutor accelerates progress by focusing your study time on high-impact areas rather than reviewing concepts you've already mastered, often condensing preparation timelines by 4-6 weeks.

Test anxiety often stems from uncertainty about question formats or fear of running out of time—both manageable with preparation and strategy. Practicing under timed, test-like conditions builds confidence and makes the real exam feel familiar. A tutor can help you develop a pre-test routine, teach you to recognize when anxiety is slowing you down, and give you permission to skip difficult questions strategically. Many students find that mastering one or two question types deeply reduces anxiety significantly.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in GMAT Verbal and understand the specific challenges of each section. When you start, share your target score, current strengths and weaknesses, and timeline—this helps ensure you're matched with someone experienced in your exact needs, whether that's mastering Reading Comprehension or conquering Critical Reasoning. Your tutor will personalize your study plan and track progress toward your MBA program goals.