Score improvement depends on your starting point and study intensity, but most students see 5-15 point gains with focused preparation over 2-3 months. If you're starting below 150, you may see larger jumps; if you're already at 160+, gains become more incremental. Personalized tutoring helps you identify specific weak areas—whether that's vocabulary, reading speed, or question strategy—and target them directly rather than studying broadly.

Students typically struggle with three areas: managing time across 40 questions in 60 minutes, building sufficient vocabulary for text completion questions, and extracting main ideas quickly from dense academic passages. Many also find the two-blank and three-blank text completion questions frustrating because they require understanding how words relate logically. Tutors can teach you to recognize common word patterns and passage structures that make these questions more predictable.

Pacing comes down to knowing which question types to tackle first and when to move on. Most students benefit from starting with reading comprehension (where you can build momentum), then tackling text completion and sentence equivalence. Practice tests are essential—they train your brain to recognize when you're spending too long on a single question. A tutor can review your practice test performance to pinpoint where you're losing time and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Practice tests are critical—they're the only way to experience real test conditions, pacing pressure, and the adaptive nature of the GRE. Taking full-length practice tests every 1-2 weeks allows you to track progress and identify patterns in the questions you miss. Beyond just taking tests, reviewing your errors is where real learning happens; a tutor can help you understand why you chose wrong answers and teach you to recognize similar patterns on test day.

GRE vocabulary isn't just about memorizing word lists—it's about understanding how words function in context and recognizing word relationships. Effective strategies include learning word families (roots, prefixes, suffixes), studying words in sample sentences, and using spaced repetition to lock them into long-term memory. Tutors often recommend focusing on high-frequency GRE words first, then moving to more obscure terms, rather than trying to memorize every possible word.

Your first session typically involves taking a diagnostic test or reviewing your most recent practice test to identify your baseline score and specific weak areas. The tutor will ask about your target score, timeline, and any particular question types that frustrate you most. From there, you'll develop a personalized study plan that addresses your gaps—whether that's reading speed, vocabulary, or strategy—and establish a schedule for ongoing sessions and practice work.

Most students benefit from 2-4 months of preparation, working 5-7 hours per week, though this varies based on your starting score and target. If you're aiming for a significant improvement (20+ points), expect to invest more time. Personalized tutoring accelerates progress by helping you focus study hours on your actual weak areas rather than reviewing material you've already mastered, making your preparation more efficient.