Your first session focuses on assessment and goal-setting. A tutor will review your baseline knowledge, discuss your target score, and identify which sections (Chemical and Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Psychological Concepts, or Reading Comprehension) need the most work. You'll also establish a realistic timeline and study schedule tailored to your medical school application deadlines.

Timing is one of the biggest challenges on the MCAT since you have roughly 1.5 minutes per question. Tutors help you develop section-specific strategies—like identifying which question types to tackle first, when to skip and return, and how to manage the reading comprehension section efficiently. Regular practice with full-length timed tests, combined with strategic feedback, helps you internalize pacing without sacrificing accuracy.

This is extremely common, and personalized tutoring is ideal for addressing uneven performance. A tutor can focus intensively on your weaker sections while maintaining your strengths, rather than spending time on material you've already mastered. They'll also help you understand whether your struggles stem from content gaps, question interpretation, or timing issues—each requires a different approach.

Practice tests are essential for MCAT prep—they help you identify weak areas, build stamina for the 7.5-hour exam, and get comfortable with the question format and pacing. Tutors typically recommend taking full-length practice tests every 1-2 weeks during your study period, then reviewing them thoroughly to understand not just what you got wrong, but why. This targeted review is where most score improvement happens.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about question formats. Tutors build confidence by ensuring you deeply understand the material, practice under realistic test conditions, and develop strategies for managing stress during the exam. Knowing you've thoroughly prepared and practiced with a tutor can significantly reduce anxiety on test day.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of consistent MCAT preparation, though your timeline depends on your baseline knowledge and target score. Students in Buffalo with access to personalized tutoring often need less total study time because tutors help you focus on high-impact material rather than studying inefficiently. Your tutor will help you create a realistic schedule that fits your medical school application timeline.

Look for tutors with strong MCAT scores (typically 510+), medical school admission experience, and proven success helping other students improve. Ideally, they should be familiar with the current MCAT format, understand common student pitfalls, and have experience teaching across all four sections. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who meet these standards and can provide personalized instruction tailored to your needs.