Most test-takers benefit from spending 3-5 minutes planning their essay and 22-25 minutes writing and revising. This balance gives you time to organize your thoughts and structure a coherent argument while leaving room to catch errors and refine your language. Personalized tutoring can help you find the timing approach that works best for your writing speed and thinking style.

Students often struggle with time management, trying to write perfect first drafts instead of planning ahead, or failing to address the specific prompt requirements. Others lose points by providing weak evidence, making unsupported generalizations, or not acknowledging counterarguments. Working with a tutor can help you identify which patterns affect your writing and develop strategies to address them.

Score improvement depends on your starting point and effort level, but most students see meaningful gains within 4-8 weeks of focused practice. If you're starting around 3.5-4.0, reaching 5.0-5.5 is realistic with consistent work on essay structure, evidence quality, and time management. A tutor can create a targeted plan based on your specific weaknesses and help you practice with real GRE prompts.

In "Analyze an Issue," you present your own perspective on a debatable topic and support it with reasoning and examples. In "Analyze an Argument," you critique someone else's argument by identifying logical flaws, unsupported assumptions, and missing evidence—you don't share your own opinion. Both require clear organization and strong evidence, but they demand different critical thinking approaches that benefit from targeted practice.

Effective practice means writing full timed essays under test conditions, not just reading sample responses. After each essay, review it for clarity, logical flow, and evidence quality—ideally with feedback from someone who understands GRE scoring standards. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors experienced in GRE Analytical Writing who can review your essays, identify patterns in your writing, and guide you toward the 5.0+ range.

Your first session typically involves taking a diagnostic practice essay under timed conditions, which your tutor will review to identify your strengths and specific areas for improvement. You'll discuss your target score, timeline, and any concerns about test anxiety or time management. From there, your tutor will create a personalized study plan focused on the skills and strategies that will have the biggest impact on your score.

Baltimore has excellent libraries and community centers where you can access quiet study spaces and GRE prep materials. Many local colleges and universities also offer test prep workshops. Combining these resources with personalized tutoring gives you a well-rounded approach—tutoring for targeted feedback and strategy, and independent practice time to build confidence and fluency with the essay formats.