Score improvement depends on your starting point and commitment, but most students see meaningful gains—typically 5-10 percentile points—within 4-8 weeks of focused preparation. Students who work with tutors to identify their specific weak areas (whether that's reading speed, argument analysis, or grammar patterns) and practice strategically tend to see faster progress than those studying alone. Your tutoring plan will be tailored to your baseline and target score.

The most common struggles are managing time across 36 questions, distinguishing between similar answer choices on Critical Reasoning, and handling dense academic passages in Reading Comprehension. Many students also underestimate Sentence Correction, which tests nuanced grammar rules rather than obvious errors. A tutor can help you develop pacing strategies, recognize question patterns, and build the grammatical intuition that separates good scores from great ones.

Most test-takers benefit from 4-12 weeks of focused Verbal preparation, depending on their starting level and target score. This typically breaks down to 5-10 hours per week of study, including practice tests, targeted drills, and tutoring sessions. Working with a tutor helps you use that time efficiently by prioritizing your weakest areas and avoiding common study mistakes that waste time without improving scores.

Practice tests are essential—they help you build stamina, identify weak question types, and get comfortable with the test format and timing. Taking full-length practice tests every 1-2 weeks allows you to track progress and adjust your study strategy. A tutor can review your practice test results with you, pinpoint patterns in your mistakes, and help you develop targeted strategies for the specific question types that are holding back your score.

Test anxiety often stems from uncertainty about question types or timing pressure. Working with a tutor helps you build confidence by becoming deeply familiar with every question format, practicing under timed conditions, and developing a reliable strategy for each section. Many students find that knowing they have a solid plan—and having practiced it dozens of times—significantly reduces anxiety on test day.

Your first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment to understand your baseline skills, learning style, and specific weak areas across Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, and Sentence Correction. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who use this information to build a personalized study plan aligned with your target score and timeline. You'll leave with clarity on your strengths, a roadmap for improvement, and concrete strategies to start applying immediately.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert GMAT Verbal tutors who understand the test's nuances and know how to help students master each section. You can specify your target score, preferred study schedule, and learning style, and we'll match you with a tutor whose expertise fits your needs. Whether you're preparing for your first attempt or aiming for a higher retake score, personalized 1-on-1 instruction accelerates your progress far beyond what group classes or self-study alone can achieve.