Score improvement depends on your starting point and study effort, but most students see meaningful gains with focused preparation. If you're starting around the 40th percentile, reaching the 60th-70th percentile is achievable with 4-8 weeks of targeted tutoring. Reaching higher percentiles (80+) typically requires more time and often benefits from personalized instruction to identify and address specific weak areas in your math foundation.

Buffalo students often struggle with time management—the 35-minute sections move quickly, and many test-takers spend too long on difficult questions. Other frequent challenges include rusty algebra skills, understanding what data interpretation questions are actually asking, and managing test anxiety when encountering unfamiliar problem types. Many students also underestimate the importance of learning GRE-specific strategies, which differ from how math is typically taught in school.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who start by assessing your current math skills and identifying your specific weak areas through diagnostic practice tests. From there, tutoring focuses on building foundational math concepts, teaching GRE-specific problem-solving strategies, and practicing with actual GRE questions under timed conditions. Your tutor will help you develop a personalized study schedule and track your progress toward your target score.

Practice tests reveal exactly where you're struggling—whether it's specific math topics, pacing, or test-day nerves—so your tutoring can be laser-focused on what matters most. Taking full-length practice tests under timed conditions also builds stamina and helps you develop realistic timing strategies for the actual exam. Most students benefit from taking 4-6 practice tests throughout their prep period to track improvement and build confidence.

With 35 minutes for 20 questions, you have roughly 1.75 minutes per question on average, but the best approach is to move quickly through easier questions and spend more time on harder ones. Expert tutors teach you how to identify which questions to attempt first, when to make an educated guess and move on, and how to avoid getting stuck on any single problem. Practicing with a timer during your study sessions is essential to developing this pacing instinct before test day.

Taking a full diagnostic practice test is the fastest way to pinpoint exactly which math topics and question types are giving you trouble. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who analyze your practice test results to categorize your mistakes—whether they're due to conceptual gaps, careless errors, or timing issues. Once you know your weak areas, tutoring can focus specifically on those topics rather than wasting time on material you've already mastered.

Much of test anxiety comes from feeling unprepared or uncertain about what to expect. Working with a tutor who familiarizes you with every question type, teaches you proven problem-solving strategies, and has you practice under realistic test conditions builds genuine confidence. Additionally, tutors can teach you specific techniques for managing stress during the test itself, like how to reset mentally after a difficult question and maintain focus throughout the section.