Score improvement depends on your starting point and study intensity, but most students see meaningful gains with focused preparation. Many students improve 50-100+ points on the overall GMAT with structured practice, and targeted verbal tutoring can help you identify and eliminate careless errors, strengthen argument analysis, and improve reading speed. The key is consistent practice with expert feedback to pinpoint your specific weak areas—whether that's grammar patterns, inference questions, or time management.

Students typically struggle with three main areas: Reading Comprehension (managing dense passages and tricky inference questions), Critical Reasoning (distinguishing between strong and weak arguments), and pacing (completing all questions without rushing). Many test-takers also find it difficult to spot subtle grammar errors in Sentence Correction or to avoid overthinking questions. Personalized tutoring helps you develop strategies for each question type and build the confidence to trust your reasoning under time pressure.

Most students benefit from 4-12 weeks of focused preparation, depending on their baseline score and target. A typical study schedule includes 3-5 hours weekly of practice, diagnostic testing, and strategy review. Working with a tutor accelerates progress by eliminating inefficient study habits and targeting your exact weak points, which often compresses the timeline while improving results. Your tutor can help you create a personalized study plan based on your current performance and business school deadlines.

Practice tests reveal your true strengths and weaknesses under timed conditions, helping you identify which question types drain your time or accuracy. They also build test stamina and reduce anxiety by familiarizing you with the format and pacing demands. Taking full-length practice tests every 1-2 weeks, then reviewing errors with a tutor, is one of the most effective ways to improve—you'll learn from mistakes and refine strategies before test day.

Your first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment to identify your current level, specific weak areas, and target score. A tutor will review your practice test results (or administer a baseline test), discuss your timeline and business school goals, and outline a personalized study strategy. You'll walk away with clear next steps, specific techniques to try, and a structured plan to maximize your preparation time.

Effective strategies include: for Reading Comprehension, mapping the passage structure before diving into questions; for Critical Reasoning, identifying the argument's assumption and evaluating answer choices against it; and for Sentence Correction, reading for meaning and testing answers systematically. Time management is critical—allocate roughly 1.5-2 minutes per question and flag difficult items to revisit if time permits. A tutor can teach you these strategies and help you practice them until they become automatic.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert GMAT Verbal tutors who understand the test's nuances and can tailor instruction to your learning style and goals. You'll work through a personalized approach that targets your specific challenges, whether that's mastering argument analysis or improving reading speed. Get started by sharing your current score, target score, and availability—you'll be matched with a tutor ready to help you succeed.