Score improvement depends on your starting point and how much time you dedicate to practice outside of class sessions. Students typically see 20-50 point improvements (on the 260-340 scale) when they actively engage with the curriculum and complete practice assignments. The key is identifying which sections need the most work—whether that's Quantitative, Verbal, or both—and targeting those areas with focused practice.

The Quantitative section often challenges students who haven't studied math in years, especially geometry and data interpretation questions. The Verbal section requires both strong reading comprehension and vocabulary knowledge, which can be tricky under timed conditions. The Analytical Writing section intimidates many students simply because essay writing feels less familiar than multiple-choice questions. A 5-week prep class helps you tackle whichever section is your biggest obstacle with targeted strategies and practice.

Practice tests serve two critical purposes: they help you understand the actual test format and timing constraints, and they reveal exactly which question types and content areas need more work. Taking full-length practice tests under timed conditions also builds test endurance and helps reduce anxiety on test day. Most 5-week prep classes incorporate multiple practice tests so you can track progress and adjust your study strategy based on real data.

Pacing is one of the most common challenges on the GRE because you have limited time per section—about 1.5 minutes per Verbal question and 2 minutes per Quantitative question. A good prep class teaches you to recognize when to skip difficult questions and come back later, rather than getting stuck and losing time. Practice tests help you internalize the right pace for each section so you can answer as many questions correctly as possible within the time limit.

Your first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment to understand your baseline score and identify your strongest and weakest areas across all three sections. You'll learn about the test format, question types, and scoring system, then begin working on foundational strategies for at least one section. This session sets the roadmap for your 5-week journey and helps you understand what to expect from the full prep experience.

Most students benefit from 5-10 hours of focused study outside of class sessions during a 5-week prep program. This includes completing assigned practice problems, reviewing explanations for questions you missed, and taking timed practice tests. The exact amount depends on your starting score and target score—students aiming for a 160+ on Quantitative or Verbal typically need more practice time than those targeting a 150.

Look for tutors who have strong credentials in the subject matter, ideally with a background in education, standardized test prep, or advanced academics. Many experienced GRE tutors have scored in the 90th percentile or higher on the test themselves and understand the nuances of each section. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who can teach both content knowledge and strategic test-taking approaches tailored to your specific needs.