Timing is one of the biggest challenges on the GRE—you have roughly 1.5 to 2 minutes per question depending on the section. A 5-week prep class emphasizes timed practice drills and full-length tests to build your internal clock and help you recognize when to skip a difficult question and move forward. Tutors work with you on strategic approaches like identifying easier questions first, managing the adaptive difficulty of the test, and knowing when to guess intelligently versus spending extra time.

The Quantitative section and Reading Comprehension often present the biggest challenges because they require both content knowledge and strategic thinking under time pressure. Many students find that Quantitative questions test unfamiliar problem-solving approaches rather than just basic math, while Reading Comprehension passages are dense and require careful inference skills. A personalized 5-week prep class identifies which specific question types (data interpretation, geometry, inference questions, etc.) are your weak points and provides targeted practice to build confidence.

Most effective 5-week prep programs include at least 4-6 full-length practice tests, ideally spaced throughout your study period so you can track progress and identify patterns in your mistakes. The official GRE PowerPrep tests are essential because they match the actual test format and difficulty. Beyond full-length tests, targeted practice on individual question types helps you build speed and accuracy before attempting complete exams.

Test anxiety often stems from unfamiliarity with the format and feeling unprepared for specific question types. A 5-week prep class reduces anxiety by ensuring you've seen and practiced every question format multiple times, so nothing surprises you on test day. Regular practice tests in timed conditions also build confidence—when you've successfully completed a full exam under pressure in your study sessions, the actual test feels more manageable.

Start with a diagnostic practice test to get a baseline score and see which sections and question types give you the most trouble. Review your practice test results carefully—don't just look at your overall score, but analyze patterns like "I struggle with geometry" or "I miss inference questions." Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who use this diagnostic data to create a personalized study plan that allocates more time to your weak areas while maintaining strength in topics you've already mastered.

A realistic 5-week schedule typically involves 10-15 hours of focused study per week, split between concept review, targeted practice drills, and full-length timed tests. Most students dedicate specific days to each section (e.g., Quantitative on Mondays and Wednesdays, Verbal on Tuesdays and Thursdays) with weekends reserved for full-length practice tests. Your personalized prep plan will account for your current baseline score and target score to determine how intensively you need to study each week.

Varsity Tutors connects you with experienced GRE instructors in the Akron area who specialize in test prep and understand the specific challenges of the GRE format. When you get matched with a tutor, you can discuss your baseline score, target score, and which sections need the most work—they'll design a 5-week curriculum tailored to your goals. Many tutors also offer flexible scheduling to fit your work and school commitments.