Score improvement depends on your starting point and study intensity, but most students see meaningful gains with focused preparation. Many students improve by 5-10 points with structured practice, while some gain 15+ points with consistent effort over several months. The key is identifying your specific weak areas—whether that's reading speed, argument analysis, or grammar patterns—and targeting those directly rather than studying all three sections equally.

Most students struggle with pacing, especially in Reading Comprehension where dense passages consume valuable time. Critical Reasoning questions often trip up test-takers who don't recognize argument structures or common logical fallacies. Sentence Correction challenges vary widely—some students miss subtle grammar rules, while others overthink straightforward questions. Personalized tutoring helps pinpoint which of these areas is holding you back.

Most students benefit from 4-12 weeks of focused preparation, depending on their baseline skills and target score. A typical study schedule includes 2-4 hours per week of practice, with at least one full-length practice test every 1-2 weeks to track progress. Working with a tutor can accelerate this timeline by helping you avoid common mistakes and focus your effort where it matters most.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who diagnose your specific weaknesses—whether you're rushing through Reading Comp, missing Critical Reasoning patterns, or struggling with grammar rules. Rather than generic test prep, personalized instruction targets your exact pain points, teaches you efficient problem-solving strategies, and builds the confidence you need on test day. Tutors also help you develop a realistic study schedule and practice test strategy tailored to your timeline.

Practice tests reveal patterns in your mistakes and help you build stamina for the full 65-minute section. They're essential for identifying whether you're making careless errors, misunderstanding question types, or simply running out of time. Taking practice tests every 1-2 weeks and reviewing them with a tutor helps you track real progress and adjust your strategy before test day.

Test anxiety often stems from uncertainty about question types or fear of running out of time. Working with a tutor builds confidence by ensuring you've seen every question format multiple times and have proven strategies for each. Mock testing under timed conditions helps normalize the pressure, while tutors can also teach you stress-management techniques like strategic skipping and pacing checkpoints to keep anxiety in check.

Connect with Varsity Tutors to get matched with an expert tutor who specializes in GMAT Verbal preparation. Most tutors offer a free initial consultation to understand your goals, current score, and timeline, then create a personalized study plan. You can start with as few as one session per week or increase frequency as your test date approaches.