Your first session focuses on assessment and planning. Tutors will review your current score (if you've taken a practice test), discuss your target score and graduate program goals, and identify which Verbal sections challenge you most. You'll likely work through a few sample questions together to understand your reasoning patterns, then create a customized study plan that fits your timeline and learning style.

Reading Comprehension on the GRE requires both speed and deep understanding—two skills that benefit greatly from personalized instruction. Tutors teach you how to identify main ideas quickly, distinguish between supporting details and central arguments, and answer inference questions accurately. They'll also help you manage pacing so you're not rushing through passages, which is a common source of errors.

These question types test vocabulary in context, not just memorization. Expert tutors teach you to use context clues to predict answers before looking at choices, which helps you avoid trap answers. They'll also help you build a strategic vocabulary list focused on words that actually appear on the GRE, rather than studying random word lists. With guided practice, most students develop confidence in these sections within 4-6 weeks.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of preparation, meeting with a tutor 1-2 times per week. Your specific timeline depends on your starting score, target score, and how much independent practice you do between sessions. Tutors help you create a realistic study schedule and track progress with practice tests, so you'll know if you need more time before test day.

Test anxiety often stems from unfamiliar question formats or feeling unprepared. Tutors build confidence by walking you through every question type repeatedly until they feel routine, and they teach time-management strategies specific to Verbal sections. Many students also benefit from taking full practice tests under timed conditions with their tutor, which simulates test day and reduces anxiety when you sit for the actual GRE.

Practice tests reveal your actual pacing, identify patterns in the questions you miss, and help you get comfortable with the test interface. Tutors use your practice test results to pinpoint whether you're struggling with specific question types or running out of time. Taking multiple full-length practice tests throughout your prep—especially the official ETS tests—is one of the most effective ways to predict your real score and build test-day confidence.

Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who have deep expertise in GRE Verbal and understand the test's unique challenges. When you get matched with a tutor, you can discuss their experience with GRE prep, their approach to teaching reading comprehension and vocabulary in context, and how they track progress. Most tutors offer flexible scheduling to fit around your work or classes while you prepare for graduate school.