The three main challenges are pacing (managing 36 questions in 65 minutes), understanding nuanced grammar rules in sentence correction, and extracting key information quickly from dense reading passages. Many students also struggle with the adaptive nature of the test—harder questions appear as you answer correctly, which can shake confidence. Personalized tutoring helps you develop efficient strategies for each question type and build the stamina to maintain focus through the entire section.

Your first session focuses on assessment and planning. A tutor will review your diagnostic test results (or administer one if needed), identify your specific weak areas across reading comprehension, sentence correction, and critical reasoning, and understand your target score and timeline. From there, you'll develop a customized study schedule and begin working on the question types where you need the most support.

Practice tests are essential—they help you understand the test format, build stamina, and measure progress over time. Most students benefit from taking 4-6 full practice tests throughout their preparation, starting with untimed tests to focus on accuracy, then moving to timed tests to refine pacing. A tutor can review your practice test performance to spot patterns in your mistakes and adjust your study focus accordingly.

Timing strategy is learnable—it's not just about speed but about knowing when to invest time and when to move on. Effective strategies include spending more time on sentence correction questions (which tend to be shorter) and less time on complex reading passages, plus learning to recognize question patterns that appear frequently. Tutors help you develop personalized pacing benchmarks based on your strengths and practice timed sections until the strategy becomes automatic.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about question formats—both things tutoring directly addresses. By practicing with authentic GMAT questions, understanding the logic behind correct answers, and building a track record of improvement on practice tests, you develop genuine confidence that carries into test day. Many students also benefit from learning specific breathing and focus techniques that a tutor can teach during your sessions.

Look for tutors with strong GMAT scores (typically 90th percentile or higher on Verbal), proven experience teaching test prep, and familiarity with the current GMAT format and question types. It's also valuable to find someone who understands learning science principles like spaced repetition and practice testing, and who can explain the grammar and logic rules clearly. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who meet these standards and can customize their approach to your learning style.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of focused preparation, dedicating 5-7 hours per week to study and tutoring combined. If you're starting with a lower baseline score or aiming for a top percentile, you may want 12-16 weeks. A tutor helps you create a realistic timeline based on your starting score, target score, and available study time, then keeps you accountable to that schedule with structured sessions and homework.