GRE prep: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What gre prep is

GRE prep helps graduate school applicants prepare for a standardized exam covering verbal, quantitative and writing sections, with practice and strategy. Applicants book it when a program requires the test, when a first practice score is lower than the target, or when the writing section is the part they dread.

Signs you need it

  • The verbal section feels like a vocabulary test, and reading passages take too long
  • Quantitative practice has gaps in algebra or data interpretation that cost points
  • The writing section feels unclear, and the essay responses are not organized
  • The applicant has a test date set and no plan for the weeks before it
  • Practice scores have stopped rising after weeks of self-study

What the pro does

  • Runs a timed diagnostic and reviews the score for each section with the applicant
  • Teaches verbal reasoning, reading strategies and the question types that appear most often
  • Works on quantitative content gaps and the strategies for the problems the exam uses
  • Coaches the writing tasks, with a clear structure for the argument and the time limit
  • Reviews each practice test with the applicant and sets the next focus for the next session

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Length of each session and how many sessions are in a series
  • Whether the course is a short workshop or a longer program over several months
  • Whether sessions are in person or online
  • Private tutoring versus a small group class
  • Whether practice tests, writing reviews and score reports are included
  • How much content review the applicant needs before the strategy work

What a written quote should spell out

  • Number of sessions, session length and the start date
  • Whether practice tests and writing reviews are included
  • Whether sessions are in person or online, and what materials are used
  • Cancellation and make-up policy
  • Whether the tutor will share progress reports with the applicant

Questions to ask before you hire

  • How do you start, and what will the first diagnostic show?
  • How do you teach the verbal section, with its question types and strategies?
  • How do you help with the writing section, and do you review full essays?
  • Do you use official practice materials, and how do you get them?
  • How many full practice tests will we do, and when?
  • What is your own background in the subjects the exam covers?
  • What improvement is realistic for me, and how will we measure it?

Red flags

  • Promises a set score or a specific jump in points
  • Uses unofficial questions and claims they are the real exam
  • Writes the writing samples for the applicant to submit
  • Pushes a long package of sessions before a diagnostic test

What you can do yourself

An applicant can take full timed practice tests, review every wrong answer and keep a log of mistake types. Use the test maker's official practice materials, which are often free, and practice writing a timed essay once a week. Hire a tutor when one section is far behind the others, when writing feedback is needed, or when the applicant needs a clear strategy for the time limit.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required to tutor for a graduate admissions exam privately. Ask whether the tutor has teaching experience or an advanced degree, and check with your state or local licensing agency only if the program has its own rules for test prep services.

GRE prep questions

How long should I study for the GRE?

It depends on your starting point and your target. Ask the tutor to run a diagnostic test first, then build a plan with a test date and steady weekly practice.

Does my writing need a tutor's help?

A tutor can give feedback on structure and clarity, and check that your argument follows the task. Your own ideas and wording should be yours, and the program's rules on outside help apply to any submitted work.

Do I need to know advanced math for the quantitative section?

The quantitative section tests high school math with reasoning. A tutor can review the content you need and teach the strategies the exam uses.

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