Score improvement depends on your starting point and effort level, but most students see meaningful gains with focused, personalized instruction. If you're struggling with foundational concepts, you might improve 5-10 points relatively quickly. If you're already scoring in the mid-range and aiming for a top score, improvement typically comes more gradually through targeted practice and strategy refinement. A tutor can help you identify which concepts are holding you back and create an efficient study plan.

Many students struggle with pacing—the section moves quickly and you need to balance accuracy with speed. Others find quantitative comparison questions confusing because the format is unfamiliar, or they lose confidence with geometry and data interpretation. A frequent issue is also overthinking problems; the GRE often rewards efficient, straightforward approaches over complex calculations. Tutors can help you develop test-specific strategies that address these exact pain points.

Practice tests are essential—they help you understand the question formats, build stamina for the full section, and identify which topics need more work. Taking full-length practice tests under timed conditions is especially valuable because pacing is a major challenge for many students. Beyond full tests, targeted practice on specific question types and content areas helps you build confidence. A tutor can review your practice test results to pinpoint patterns in your mistakes and adjust your study strategy accordingly.

This varies based on your starting score, target score, and how frequently you meet with a tutor. Many students benefit from 8-12 weeks of consistent tutoring sessions combined with independent practice. If you're working with a tight deadline or need intensive support, you might meet more frequently. The key is consistent, focused practice between sessions—a tutor helps you study smarter, not just longer.

Your first session typically focuses on assessment and goal-setting. A tutor will likely review your current performance, understand your target score, and identify which topics or question types are causing the most trouble. You might take a diagnostic practice test or work through sample problems to pinpoint specific gaps. This foundation helps your tutor create a personalized study plan tailored to your needs and timeline.

Test anxiety often stems from unfamiliarity with the format or lack of confidence in your skills. Working through practice problems and timed sections with a tutor builds both competence and confidence. Tutors can also teach you specific test-taking strategies—like when to skip a hard problem and come back to it—that reduce the pressure you feel during the actual test. Knowing you've practiced extensively under realistic conditions is one of the best antidotes to anxiety.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in GRE Quantitative prep and understand the specific challenges students face. You can share your current score, target score, and availability, and we'll match you with a tutor who fits your needs. Most students start with an initial session to assess where you are and build a customized study plan from there.