Your first session focuses on understanding your baseline skills, goals, and test timeline. A tutor will typically review your diagnostic test results (or administer one), identify which sections—Quantitative, Verbal, or Analytical Writing—need the most work, and discuss your target score and application deadlines. From there, you'll develop a personalized study plan that breaks down the GRE into manageable topics and practice strategies tailored to how you learn best.

Pacing is one of the most common GRE challenges, and tutors address it by teaching you to recognize question types quickly, prioritize easier questions, and know when to move on. You'll practice timed drills on specific question formats, learn strategic skipping techniques, and build stamina through full-length practice tests under real conditions. Over time, this deliberate practice trains your brain to work faster without sacrificing accuracy.

Absolutely. Many students are stronger in one area and need targeted help in another—for example, some struggle with Verbal Reasoning comprehension while others find Quantitative word problems challenging. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can focus entirely on your weak section, drilling specific question types, building content knowledge, and refining your strategy for that area. You can also start with one section and expand to others as needed.

Practice tests are essential—they show you exactly what the real exam feels like and reveal patterns in your mistakes. A tutor helps you use them strategically: taking full-length tests under timed conditions, reviewing every wrong answer to understand why you missed it, and adjusting your study plan based on results. Rather than taking tests randomly, a tutor guides you to space them out, focus on specific weaknesses between tests, and track your progress toward your target score.

Yes. Test anxiety often stems from uncertainty about what to expect or lack of confidence in your preparation—both things tutoring directly addresses. By practicing under realistic test conditions, mastering question formats, and building a solid study plan, you'll feel more prepared and in control. Tutors also teach practical techniques like pacing strategies and question-selection approaches that reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed during the actual exam.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of focused preparation, though this varies based on your starting score, target score, and how much time you can dedicate weekly. If you're aiming for a competitive score for graduate school, plan for 15-20 hours of study per week, which a tutor helps you structure efficiently. A tutor can assess your timeline during your first session and create a realistic schedule that gets you test-ready without burnout.

Look for tutors with strong GRE scores themselves, experience teaching test prep, and familiarity with the current exam format and question types. Ideally, they should have a track record helping students improve scores and understand both the content (math, reading, writing) and test-taking strategy. Varsity Tutors connects you with experienced GRE tutors for students in Buffalo who can demonstrate their expertise and teaching approach during your first session.