Your first session typically focuses on understanding your current level, learning goals, and timeline for test day. A tutor will likely review your practice test scores, discuss which sections challenge you most (whether that's CARS reading, chemistry, or time management), and create a personalized study plan. This diagnostic approach ensures your tutoring targets your specific weaknesses rather than generic review.

Each MCAT section—Chemical and Physical Foundations, Biological and Biochemical Foundations, Psychological Concepts and Social Behavior, and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)—requires different strategies. A tutor can teach you section-specific pacing techniques, help you recognize question patterns, and build content mastery where gaps exist. For example, CARS benefits from active reading strategies and timed practice, while chemistry sections often need systematic problem-solving frameworks.

Practice tests are essential—they're the best way to identify weak areas, build test-day stamina, and get comfortable with the actual exam format and timing. Most successful test-takers complete 8-10 full-length practice tests during their preparation. A tutor can help you interpret your practice test results, prioritize which content areas to review, and develop strategies for sections where you're losing points.

Pacing is one of the most common struggles—with 230 minutes across four sections, you need to balance thoroughness with speed. Many students either rush through questions and make careless errors, or get stuck on difficult questions and run out of time. A tutor can teach you triage strategies (knowing which questions to tackle first), help you recognize when to move on, and build your speed through targeted practice on question types that slow you down.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about your approach. Working with a tutor builds confidence through mastery—when you understand the content deeply and have practiced extensively, anxiety naturally decreases. Tutors can also teach you test-day strategies like managing time pressure, staying focused when questions feel hard, and maintaining composure during the actual exam.

Most students benefit from 3-4 months of dedicated MCAT preparation, though this varies based on your science background and target score. Many students start with self-study and add tutoring when they hit a plateau or realize they need focused help on specific sections. Starting tutoring early—even for a few sessions—can help you create an efficient study plan and avoid months of ineffective preparation.

Look for tutors with strong MCAT scores (typically 510+), medical school experience or acceptance, and proven teaching ability. Ideally, your tutor should understand not just the content but also test-taking strategy, question design, and how to teach efficiently within your timeline. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who have demonstrated mastery of the MCAT and the ability to help students improve.