Most business school candidates benefit from 3-4 months of preparation, dedicating 7-10 hours per week to studying. However, your ideal timeline depends on your target score, starting baseline, and schedule. Tutors can help you create a customized study plan that fits your life—whether you're balancing work, classes, or other commitments—and help you use your study time efficiently through targeted practice rather than unfocused review.

The Quantitative and Verbal sections challenge most test-takers in different ways. Quant requires strong problem-solving and data interpretation skills, while Verbal demands reading comprehension speed and logical reasoning ability. The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) is often overlooked but benefits from practice. Working with a tutor helps you identify which specific question types trip you up—like sentence correction versus reading comprehension—so you can focus your practice where it matters most.

Full-length practice tests are essential—they're the closest thing to the actual exam and reveal your real pacing, time management, and mental stamina under test conditions. Most students benefit from taking 4-6 full-length tests throughout their prep, with focused review afterward. Tutors can help you analyze your practice test results to identify patterns in your mistakes, adjust your strategy, and track progress over time rather than just seeing a score number.

Test anxiety is common, but it's manageable with the right preparation and mindset strategies. Familiarity breeds confidence—practicing with real test conditions, timing, and question formats helps reduce anxiety significantly. Tutors can walk you through test-taking strategies like pacing, question triage (knowing which questions to attempt first), and mental reset techniques between sections. Building confidence through targeted practice and seeing real score improvements over time is often the best anxiety antidote.

Your first session typically involves a diagnostic assessment to understand your starting point, learning style, and specific goals. Tutors will ask about your target schools, desired score, and timeline, then likely review your practice test results to identify which question types and concepts need the most attention. From there, you'll develop a personalized study plan that breaks down your prep into manageable milestones. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors experienced in helping San Francisco students prepare for their target scores.

Score requirements vary widely by program. Top-tier MBA programs typically seek scores in the 700+ range (out of 800), while many solid programs accept competitive candidates in the 650-700 range. Your target score depends on your specific schools and overall profile. When you connect with a tutor, they can help you research your target programs' typical admitted student profiles and create a study plan geared toward your specific score goal, whether that's breaking 600, reaching 700, or pushing for an elite score.