Many students struggle with time management, as you only have 30 minutes per essay to plan, write, and review. Others find it difficult to distinguish between the two essay types or to identify logical fallacies in the Argument task. A third common challenge is organizing complex ideas clearly under pressure. Personalized tutoring helps you develop efficient writing strategies and practice under timed conditions so these challenges become manageable.

Score improvement depends on your starting point and effort level, but most students see meaningful gains with focused practice. If you're struggling with essay structure or argument analysis, tutors can help you develop a systematic approach that significantly strengthens your writing. Consistent practice with feedback—identifying your specific weaknesses and addressing them—typically leads to 1-2 point improvements on the 0-6 scale within 4-8 weeks.

Your first session typically focuses on assessment and strategy. You'll likely write a timed essay (or two) so a tutor can evaluate your current strengths and weaknesses—whether that's argument construction, time management, or identifying logical flaws. From there, the tutor will create a personalized study plan that targets your specific needs and fits your timeline before test day.

Practice tests are essential because they simulate the real testing experience and help you build stamina and timing skills. Working through full-length practice essays under timed conditions reveals patterns in your writing—where you tend to rush, where you lose focus, or where your arguments become unclear. Tutors can review your practice essays in detail, provide targeted feedback, and help you refine your approach before test day.

A common approach is to spend 5 minutes planning your essay (outlining key points), 20 minutes writing, and 5 minutes reviewing for clarity and errors. However, the exact breakdown depends on your writing speed and comfort level. Expert tutors can help you develop a personalized timing strategy based on your practice essay performance, ensuring you allocate time where you need it most.

The Issue essay asks you to take a position on a general statement and support it with reasoning and examples. The Argument essay requires you to critique someone else's argument by identifying logical flaws, unsupported assumptions, and weak evidence. The Argument task is typically more analytical, while the Issue task is more persuasive. Understanding these distinctions and practicing both formats is key to performing well on both tasks.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in GRE preparation and can work with your schedule. You'll complete a brief profile about your goals, current score, and test date, and then get matched with a tutor experienced in Analytical Writing instruction. Your tutor will customize lessons to address your specific challenges, whether that's essay structure, argument analysis, or test anxiety.