Your first session focuses on understanding your baseline and goals. Expect to take a diagnostic practice test or review your recent scores, discuss your target business school and program requirements, and identify which sections (Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, or Analytical Writing) need the most attention. This assessment helps tutors create a personalized roadmap for your preparation timeline and study strategy.

Pacing is one of the biggest challenges on the GMAT, and tutors teach you specific strategies for each section. You'll learn how to quickly identify question types, recognize when to guess strategically versus invest time, and practice under timed conditions regularly. Many students improve their scores simply by managing the 3 hours and 15 minutes more effectively, rather than learning new content.

Absolutely. Many students are strong in one area but struggle with another—for example, excelling in Quantitative but finding Critical Reasoning challenging. Tutors can customize your sessions to focus on your weakest section while maintaining your strengths through strategic practice. This targeted approach is especially helpful if you're short on time or have limited prep budget.

Practice tests are essential—they're how you build stamina, identify patterns in your mistakes, and get comfortable with the adaptive test format. Most tutors recommend taking a full practice test every 1-2 weeks during your prep period to track progress and adjust your study focus. Between full tests, you'll work on targeted drills for specific question types and concepts.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about question formats. Tutors build confidence through repeated exposure to real GMAT questions, teaching you to recognize patterns and trust your reasoning process. They also help you develop a pre-test routine and mental strategies to stay calm under pressure, so you can access the knowledge you've built during prep.

Look for tutors with strong GMAT scores themselves (typically 700+), proven experience helping students reach their target scores, and familiarity with the current test format and question types. Many experienced GMAT tutors have business school backgrounds or have helped dozens of students through the application process. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who have demonstrated expertise and a track record of student success.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of consistent preparation, though this depends on your starting score and target. If you're aiming for a top-tier program requiring 700+, you might need 3-4 months; if your target is 650, 6-8 weeks of focused study often suffices. A tutor can assess your baseline and create a realistic timeline based on your specific goals and available study hours per week.