Score improvement depends on your starting point and how consistently you practice. Most students see meaningful gains (5-10 points on the 130-170 scale) within 4-8 weeks of focused preparation, especially when working with a tutor to identify weak areas and develop targeted strategies. Your improvement will accelerate if you combine tutoring sessions with regular practice tests and between-session homework—consistency matters more than total study hours.

Timing is one of the biggest challenges for GRE Quantitative test-takers, since you have roughly 1.5 minutes per question. A tutor can teach you which questions to prioritize, how to recognize when to skip and return to a problem, and which shortcuts and estimation techniques save time without sacrificing accuracy. Practice under timed conditions during tutoring sessions helps you build the automaticity needed to manage the clock confidently on test day.

The best way to identify weak areas is to take a full practice test and review your results by topic—geometry, algebra, word problems, etc. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can analyze your practice test performance, pinpoint patterns in your mistakes, and create a personalized study plan that prioritizes the topics where you're losing the most points. This targeted approach is much more efficient than reviewing everything equally.

The four question types—quantitative comparison, multiple-choice (single and multiple answers), numeric entry, and data interpretation—each require different strategies. For example, quantitative comparisons reward comparison shortcuts rather than full calculation, while data interpretation questions often require you to synthesize information from graphs or tables. A tutor can teach you the specific strategies and common traps for each format so you approach them confidently and efficiently.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about your approach to problems. Working with a tutor builds confidence through repeated exposure to question types, mastery of key concepts, and practice tests that simulate the real exam experience. When you know you've thoroughly prepared and have reliable strategies for every question type, anxiety naturally decreases, allowing you to perform closer to your actual ability on test day.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of preparation, with 2-3 tutoring sessions per week combined with independent practice. However, your ideal timeline depends on your starting score, target score, and how much time you can dedicate to studying outside of sessions. A tutor can help you create a realistic study schedule and adjust it based on your progress through practice tests and homework assignments.

Look for a tutor with strong GRE-specific expertise who understands the unique demands of the Quantitative section—not just general math knowledge. Ideally, they have experience helping students improve their scores, are familiar with common misconceptions and timing traps, and can explain concepts clearly while adapting to your learning style. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who meet these criteria and can start working with you right away.