One-on-one GRE math tutoring
Whether you're bad at math or you only need help with the tough stuff, Vince and Blake are happy to help and can tailor our instruction to your particular needs and situation. Not only can we teach GRE math to you, but even more importantly, we can show you what and how to study on your own, because let's face it, talking through math questions with a tutor only goes so far. However, the combination of tutoring AND a customized GRE math study plan can be quite powerful for score improvement.
We'll start off with a free 15-minute phone call to discuss your situation, challenges, and goals, and from there, develop a study and tutoring plan to make the most of the time you have. Contact us here!
Military members get a 15% discount.
What’s actually on the GRE math section (Quant)
First: GRE math is not calculus. It’s mostly high school algebra + arithmetic + some statistics/probability.
Second: the GRE isn’t a “school math test.” It’s a reasoning test disguised as math. Which is why plenty of smart people get wrecked by it.
What ETS says is tested
- Arithmetic (fractions, percents, ratios/rates, exponents/roots, number properties, etc.)
- Algebra (equations/inequalities, functions, coordinate geometry, word-problem setups)
- Geometry (triangles, circles, area/volume, coordinate geometry)
- Data analysis (stats + probability + interpreting graphs/tables)
It also helps to know what’s not on the test: ETS explicitly says the quant content doesn’t include trig, calculus, or other higher-level math.
The question types you’ll see
- Quantitative Comparison (Quantity A vs. Quantity B)
- Multiple choice (select one)
- Multiple choice (select one or more)
- Numeric entry
- Data Interpretation sets (questions tied to the same graph/table)
Timing
The current GRE has two quant sections: 12 questions in 21 minutes, then 15 questions in 26 minutes. It’s also section-level adaptive, meaning how you do in section 1 influences the difficulty of section 2.
Why people struggle with GRE math
- They don’t have automatic fundamentals. If fractions/percents/ratios still take effort, timing becomes impossible.
- They translate word problems poorly. The GRE loves disguising basic concepts in wordy clothing.
- They treat Quantitative Comparison like normal algebra. QC is its own weird thing.
- They do everything the “school” way. Too many steps, too much computation, not enough strategy.
- They lose points to process. Careless errors, bad scratchwork, and sloppy setup are silent score killers.
- They practice a lot… but review weakly. If you don’t squeeze your mistakes for information, you’ll keep repeating them.
In tutoring, we’re basically doing two things: (1) fixing your foundation and your process, and (2) teaching you the GRE-specific shortcuts so you stop doing expensive math when cheap math will do.
A simple GRE math study plan
Tutoring helps a lot, but most score improvement happens between sessions. Here’s the basic framework we use.
- Build (or rebuild) your foundation. If it’s been years since you’ve done math, you don’t start with “hard GRE questions.” You start with the concepts and get them to the point where they feel easy.
- Drill by topic. Do clusters of questions on one concept until you stop missing the same thing.
- Switch to official ETS questions sooner than you think. Third-party questions are fine for repetition, but ETS questions are the real game.
- Add timing last. First get accurate. Then get fast. And when you do timed work, practice in realistic chunks (12 in 21 minutes; 15 in 26 minutes).
- Review like it matters. Your error log is basically your private score-increase machine.
Free GRE math resources on this site
Testimonial
"Vince was a great resource and support for my GRE prep, helping me get to a 165 on the GRE Quant. We met several times via Zoom, where he patiently broke down specific quant concepts and walked through several high yield verbal strategies with me. I really appreciated his weekly study plan emails, which provided structure to my test prep, and willingness to send thoughtful and quick email responses to questions as they came up. I would definitely recommend Vince for anyone looking to improve their GRE score." - Emma Goodman (read this review on Google Maps)
Meet GRE tutor Vince Kotchian
GRE prep is literally all I do.
I grew up in Connecticut and completed the honors program at Boston College. I moved to San Diego in 2007, and I’ve been working full-time as a test-prep tutor ever since. I've scored a perfect 170 in verbal and a 167 in quant on the GRE.
I've co-authored GRE prep books and created GRE courses and apps, but I spend most of my days working with people one-on-one. I enjoy tutoring since it's a conversation, and discussion is actually what makes the process so valuable. It lets me follow what you're thinking and focus on what you need most, whether that's content (like understanding math concepts), strategy (like figuring out if a reading comprehension answer choice is right or wrong), timing, or even something like study skills, test anxiety, or test-taking skills. Plus, I can give you support and reassurance during what can be a stressful process.
My specialty is helping MBA applicants get their scores above the 320 mark. If you're applying to a competitive program and want to give yourself every possible chance to score well, I'm your guy. Of course, I am happy to work with anyone as well.
Vince is a true GRE specialist - he's one of the very few tutors out there who ONLY teaches GRE prep. His publications include Barron's 6 GRE Practice Tests, LinkedIn's GRE prep course, and the apps "GRE Math Knight" and "GRE Vocab Cartoons". He also teaches for GregMAT+ and is a moderator of the GRE subreddit.
Rates: You can either pay for tutoring with Vince hourly at $295 per hour, or pay a flat fee of $2900 for his flexible tutoring package:
- In the flexible tutoring package, you can schedule 1 hour of tutoring each week for six months.
- Tutoring appointments are Monday through Friday as early as 9:30 a.m and ending no later than 6 p.m. Pacific time.
- The $2900 can be paid all at once or in four payments of $725.
- Hourly tutoring or personalized study plan clients can convert to the flexible package and subtract what you've already paid from the $2900.
- Not sure it's right for you? After our first meeting (but before our second), you can get a complete, no-questions-asked refund.
- My 15% active duty military discount does apply to my hourly tutoring rate, but it does not apply to the flexible plan.
The package also includes a free hour of personal statement tutoring with Lauren Hammond, our graduate admissions essay expert!
If you're interested in working with him for private GRE tutoring via Zoom, please contact us with a description of your situation, and we'll set up a free 15-minute consultation.
P.S. Still need to write your personal statement? Learn more about how our admissions essay expert, Lauren Hammond, can help.
"I came to Vince having just decided to apply to grad school and wanting to take the GRE 5 weeks from our first conversation. I was fortunate to do private tutoring with Vince himself. With Vince’s expertise, thoughtful structure, and efficient set of resources, I raised my score by 10+ points and reached my personal goal. I frankly could not have accomplished this goal without Vince in this timeframe. I would 100% recommend any of Vince’s services and guidance for anyone looking to do better on the GRE." - Claire Watanbe
Meet GRE tutor Blake Jensen
Blake: I’m a native San Diegan, father, and an aficionado of basketball, vintage video games, pitchy karaoke, and lecturing my son on how much better Star Wars was "back in the day." I played college basketball at St. Mary’s College and Whittier College, where I earned my B.A. in Psychology in 2002.
Having been a full-time test prep coach for over 15 years, I have seen just about every type of student and tutoring situation. This allows me to give my students exactly what they need to reach their goals.
My years of experience have also led me to coach my students a little differently than most. A lot of test prep revolves around how to answer a question. While that is a necessary component, identifying what is needed to answer a question is at least as important, especially for timed tests like the GRE. I show my students how to look at the test the way I do, to the patterns and tendencies of the test to make them faster and more accurate.
GRE tutoring with Blake is $275 / hour (or $248 / hour for 15 or more hours).
He meets clients in his Carmel Valley office, or online via Zoom.
"I worked with Blake Jensen at Vince Kotchian test prep to improve my GRE quantitative score. Within 6 weeks of tutoring, I saw a 9 point improvement on the quantitative section! Blake was prepared, professional, and ready to answer any questions I had during the process in addition to being highly flexible given my full time employment. I am grateful for his help and would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone who needs a boost when studying for the GRE." - Max Kramer
GRE Math Tutoring FAQ
We specialize in helping MBA and JD applicants get 160+ quant scores to apply to top ten programs, but we're willing to work with anyone with the discipline to work hard.
160+ quant is rarely about “advanced math.” It’s usually about doing the normal math with discipline and good decisions.
- Stop missing easy and medium questions. Your score can’t climb if you’re donating points to basics.
- Get Quantitative Comparison under control. QC is where a lot of people bleed points for dumb reasons.
- Learn to bail. One 3-minute time sink can cost you two other questions.
- Fix your process. Clean setups and clean scratchwork prevent “I knew how to do that” mistakes.
- Practice in realistic timed chunks. Don’t train for a different sport than the one you’re about to play.
Start with concepts, not hard GRE questions. Get the basics solid first (especially arithmetic and algebra), then drill by topic, then move into official-style questions. If your fundamentals aren’t automatic, timing becomes impossible.
No. ETS is explicit that GRE quant doesn’t include trig, calculus, or other higher-level math.
GRE quant content falls into four buckets:
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Arithmetic (fractions, percents, ratios/rates, exponents/roots, number properties)
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Algebra (equations/inequalities, functions, coordinate geometry, translating word problems)
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Geometry (triangles, circles, area/volume, coordinate geometry)
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Data analysis (stats + probability + interpreting graphs/tables)
It’s the “Quantity A vs. Quantity B” format. They’re deceptively simple, and they punish people who compute too much instead of reasoning. The key skill is knowing when you can compare without doing full algebra.
In our GRE quant tutoring sessions, talking through the nuances of practice questions not only allows us to explain, in detail, the strategies that work, but those conversations also allow us to see what you're thinking and adjust our instruction minute-by-minute - something you can't easily get from a big class and that you certainly can't get from a GRE video course.
Conversation is what makes private tutoring so valuable. It allows us to see the best way to help you, whether the problem is content, strategy, timing, test anxiety, or even your personal approach to studying and test-taking.
All tutoring includes detailed study planning and uses official ETS practice material.
In stark contrast to our competitors who tend to employ a rotating cast of 23-year-olds, Vince and Blake each have 15+ years of experience. Vince spends 100% of his time working with GRE clients, unlike most GRE tutors (who are often GMAT tutors who merely dabble in GRE prep).
Yes. Every client gets a study plan plus specific assignments between sessions. The goal is to make each session a feedback loop, not a standalone event.
Yes. We use official ETS material for the core of practice because ETS questions have a distinct “feel” that third-party questions don’t reliably replicate. Third-party questions can be useful for repetition, but official questions are the real game.
That usually means you’re losing points to one of these:
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sloppy setup or scratchwork
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careless errors under time pressure
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over-computing (doing expensive math when cheap math will do)
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weak QC instincts
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bad timing decisions (staying too long on the wrong problems)
Tutoring focuses heavily on process and decision-making, not just “content.”
Here are some of the benefits:
- A study plan and schedule tailored to your specific situation and adjusted as you go
- Talking through questions with someone with several years of experience with the GRE and its many quirks
- We get straight to what YOU need to improve your score as efficiently as possible
- Math explained in plain English
- Accountability and encouragement :)
It depends on your foundation and how much you can practice each week. If you’re already solid on fundamentals, you can often make meaningful gains in a couple of months. If your basics are rusty, improvement is still straightforward—it just takes more reps to rebuild automaticity.
We usually recommend about 10-15 hours of tutoring, with about half of that spent on math. That's enough time for us to talk through the strategies for each type of question and go over a few practice tests with you. Of course, some people need fewer or more than 10-15 hours. Given that tutoring is pretty expensive, we'll optimize everything based on your situation to give you the most bang for your buck.
Most of our clients spend between $2250 and $2900 on GRE tutoring with us. If you're active duty military, we offer a 15% discount on any purchases, as well.
Since tutoring is a significant investment for most people, we want to do everything in our power to make sure it works! We work to make sure our clients always have a clear picture of what it takes to improve and what they should be working on between tutoring sessions, and we'll always be straight with you in terms of whether your goals and timeframe are realistic.
Most people, given a typical tutoring plan and a couple of months to study, increase their GRE quant scores about 5 - 10 points. Some people improve way more -- or way less -- than that. A lot depends on how much study time OUTSIDE of tutoring the person has, and how effectively they use that time.
When you hear about a huge score increase, it's often because the person had a strong math knowledge base and just needed to figure out how the GRE worked... and/or because they truly worked their ass off! The converse is also often true: people who never learned the math concepts the GRE tests will generally have a much tougher time and need a longer-term study plan.
You can count on us to be honest about your potential given your situation, goals, and progress with the material, and to give you every resource we know of to help you improve, including a completely personalized homework / study plan.