Score improvement depends on your starting point, study consistency, and the specific areas you need to strengthen. Most students see meaningful gains—often 5-10 points or more on the 130-170 scale—when working with a tutor who identifies weak areas and builds targeted strategies. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction helps you focus on the concepts and question types that challenge you most, rather than reviewing material you already understand.

The Quantitative section gives you 62 minutes to answer 40 questions—less than 2 minutes per question on average. Many test-takers struggle with pacing because they either spend too long on difficult problems or rush through questions and make careless errors. A tutor can help you develop strategic approaches, like knowing when to skip a question, how to estimate answers, and which problem types to tackle first based on your strengths.

The best way is to take a full-length practice test under timed conditions and review your results by topic—geometry, algebra, data analysis, and so on. This shows you exactly where you're losing points. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who can analyze your practice tests, pinpoint patterns in your mistakes, and create a focused study plan that addresses your specific gaps rather than trying to review everything.

Your first session is typically diagnostic and collaborative. The tutor will discuss your target score, timeline, and any specific concerns—like anxiety with certain question types or time management issues. Many tutors will review a practice test or sample questions to understand your current level and problem-solving approach, then outline a personalized study plan tailored to your needs and goals.

Practice tests are essential. They help you get comfortable with the format, build test-taking stamina, and reveal which topics and question types trip you up. The ETS (test maker) provides free official practice tests, which are the most accurate predictor of your actual score. A tutor can guide you on when and how to take practice tests, how to review them effectively, and how to adjust your study focus based on your results.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or unsure of your approach to unfamiliar question types. Working with a tutor builds confidence through repeated practice, clear strategy explanations, and success on progressively harder problems. You'll also learn time management techniques and mental strategies to stay calm during the test, which directly improves your performance and reduces stress on test day.

Most students benefit from 2-3 months of consistent preparation, though this varies based on your starting point and target score. A typical schedule might include 3-4 tutoring sessions per week combined with independent practice between sessions. Your tutor can help you create a realistic timeline, balance Quantitative prep with Verbal and Writing sections, and adjust your schedule based on your progress and test date.