Your first session focuses on understanding your baseline and goals. Varsity Tutors connects you with a tutor who will likely review your GMAT background, discuss your target score and business school timeline, and assess which sections need the most work. Many tutors use a diagnostic practice test or review your previous attempts to pinpoint whether pacing, content knowledge, or test-taking strategy is holding you back.

Pacing is one of the most common GMAT challenges, and it's highly trainable with deliberate practice. Expert tutors help you develop section-specific timing strategies—for example, learning to recognize when to guess strategically on harder Quantitative problems versus spending time on solvable ones. Regular timed practice tests and reviewing your performance patterns help you build the rhythm needed to finish strong without sacrificing accuracy.

Your study focus should match your goals and starting point. If you're aiming for a top business school, you'll need strong performance across all sections, but many students benefit from front-loading work on their weakest area first—whether that's the Quantitative section, Reading Comprehension, or Analytical Writing. A tutor can help you determine the best sequence and allocate study time based on your target score and the schools you're applying to.

Most test-prep experts recommend taking 4-6 full-length practice tests under timed conditions before your official GMAT. This gives you enough repetition to build stamina and identify patterns in your mistakes, while spacing them out over several weeks allows time to apply feedback between tests. Your tutor can recommend which official GMAC practice tests to use and help you analyze your performance to focus on high-impact improvements.

Test anxiety often stems from unfamiliarity with the format or uncertainty about your abilities—both things personalized tutoring directly addresses. As you work through realistic practice questions and full tests with a tutor, you build confidence in your problem-solving process and develop strategies for managing pressure in the moment. Many students find that understanding the 'why' behind answers and having a clear game plan reduces anxiety significantly.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of focused preparation, though this varies based on your starting point and target score. If you're aiming for a competitive score at a top Pittsburgh-area business school, you might need more intensive study; if you're starting from a strong foundation, less time may suffice. A tutor can help you create a realistic study schedule that fits your work and personal commitments while building the skills you need.

Look for tutors with strong GMAT scores themselves, proven experience helping students improve, and deep knowledge of test strategy—not just content. Ideally, they should be familiar with the latest GMAT format, able to explain why answers are correct or incorrect, and skilled at identifying your specific weaknesses. When you connect with Varsity Tutors, you're matched with expert tutors who meet these standards and can customize their approach to your learning style.