The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) stands as a crucial gateway to graduate school admission, influencing not only acceptance decisions but also fellowship and assistantship opportunities. For aspiring graduate students in the St. Louis area, achieving a competitive GRE score can make the difference between admission to their dream program and disappointment.
At Mackler Associates, we understand the unique challenges the GRE exam presents and the importance of thorough GRE prep. Our comprehensive GRE tutoring program is designed to help students master each section of this complex exam while building the confidence needed to perform their best on test day. Whether you need a dedicated GRE tutor or prefer private tutoring in small groups, we provide the personalized support that leads to GRE success.
The GRE General Test consists of three main sections, each requiring distinct skills and test prep strategies:
Verbal Reasoning: This section measures your ability to analyze and evaluate written material, synthesize information, and understand relationships between concepts and words. It includes reading comprehension, text completion, and sentence equivalence questions.
Quantitative Reasoning: The quantitative section tests mathematical skills and understanding of basic mathematical concepts. It covers arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis, emphasizing problem-solving and mathematical reasoning. Students often benefit from a specialized GRE tutor who can address the unique demands of GRE quantitative reasoning.
Analytical Writing: This section requires you to articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively. You’ll write two essays: one analyzing an issue and another analyzing an argument, demonstrating your ability to think critically and communicate effectively.
The GRE exam is unlike any test students have taken before. Success requires more than just academic knowledge; it demands specific test-taking strategies, time management skills, and familiarity with the computer-adaptive format. This is where professional GRE tutoring becomes invaluable.
Computer-Adaptive Challenges: The GRE’s computer-adaptive format means that your performance on early questions affects the difficulty of later questions. Understanding how to navigate this system strategically can significantly impact your GRE score.
Time Management Mastery: Each section has strict time limits, and many capable students struggle to complete all questions within the allotted time. Our GRE prep focuses on efficient approaches that maximize accuracy while managing time effectively.
Strategic Question Prioritization: Not all questions are created equal in terms of scoring impact. Learning which questions to focus on and which to approach strategically can optimize your overall performance.
Our GRE tutoring program goes beyond teaching content; we focus on developing the strategic thinking and test-taking skills that lead to score improvements:
Initial Diagnostic Assessment: We begin with a comprehensive diagnostic test that mirrors the actual GRE format. This assessment identifies your current strengths and areas for improvement, allowing us to create a personalized study plan.
Customized Learning Plans: Based on your diagnostic results and score goals, we develop a tailored GRE prep strategy that focuses your time and energy where they’ll have the greatest impact.
Section-Specific Strategies: Each section of the GRE requires different approaches. Our experienced tutor team are experts in teaching the specific strategies that work best for verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing.
Practice Test Integration: Regular practice tests under timed conditions help you build endurance and familiarity with the test format while providing ongoing assessment of your progress. Many students also find our private tutoring approach ideal for addressing individual challenges.
The Verbal Reasoning section often proves challenging for students who haven’t encountered this type of analytical reading in their undergraduate studies. Our GRE tutoring approach focuses on:
Vocabulary Development: While memorizing word lists isn’t sufficient, building a strong vocabulary foundation is essential. We teach strategic vocabulary acquisition methods that focus on high-impact words and root analysis.
Reading Comprehension Strategies: We help students develop efficient reading techniques that allow them to quickly identify main ideas, understand passage structure, and locate specific information under time pressure.
Critical Reasoning Skills: Text completion and sentence equivalence questions require understanding subtle meaning relationships. Our tutors teach students to analyze context clues and logical relationships effectively.
Many students assume their math background is sufficient for the GRE Quantitative section, but this section requires specific strategies and problem-solving approaches. Our private tutoring methods include:
Concept Review and Reinforcement: We review fundamental mathematical concepts that may have become rusty over time, ensuring a solid foundation for more complex problems.
Strategic Problem-Solving: GRE math questions often have multiple solution paths. We teach students to identify the most efficient approaches and avoid time-consuming calculations when possible.
Data Interpretation Skills: The quantitative section includes significant data analysis components that require interpreting graphs, charts, and tables accurately and efficiently.
The writing section requires skills that many students haven’t developed in their undergraduate programs. Our GRE tutor specialists focus on:
Argument Analysis: Students learn to identify logical flaws, evaluate evidence, and construct clear responses that demonstrate critical thinking skills.
Issue Discussion: The issue essay requires taking a position on a topic and supporting it with relevant examples and reasoning. We help students develop frameworks for organizing their thoughts quickly and effectively.
Writing Efficiency: With only 30 minutes per essay, students must learn to plan, write, and review their work efficiently while maintaining clarity and coherence.
Test anxiety can significantly impact GRE performance, regardless of a student’s preparation level. Our GRE private tutoring program includes strategies for managing stress and building confidence:
Simulated Test Conditions: Regular practice under timed, test-like conditions helps students become comfortable with the pressure and format of the actual GRE exam.
Stress Management Techniques: We teach students breathing exercises, positive visualization, and other techniques for managing test anxiety effectively.
Strategic Guessing: When time runs short or questions prove particularly challenging, knowing how to make educated guesses can protect your GRE score.
We understand that many GRE test takers are working professionals or graduate students with demanding schedules. Our tutoring program offers:
Evening and Weekend Sessions: We accommodate busy schedules with flexible session times that work around professional and academic commitments. Many students find our GRE private course format ideal for intensive preparation.
Intensive Preparation Options: For students with limited time before their test date, we offer intensive GRE prep programs that maximize progress in shorter timeframes.
Online and In-Person Options: We provide both in-person tutoring at our St. Louis location and online sessions for maximum flexibility.
The skills developed during GRE preparation extend far beyond the test itself:
Graduate School Readiness: The analytical thinking and writing skills developed during GRE prep directly support success in graduate coursework.
Research Skills: The ability to analyze complex texts and arguments is fundamental to graduate-level research across disciplines.
Professional Communication: The writing and analytical skills developed for the GRE translate directly to professional communication and critical thinking requirements in many careers.
For students also considering specialized graduate programs, our tutor team can provide guidance on GRE subject test requirements and preparation strategies.
Our students consistently achieve significant score improvements through our comprehensive preparation program. While individual results vary, students typically see substantial gains across all sections of the exam when they commit to our structured preparation approach.
We track progress carefully throughout the tutoring process, adjusting strategies based on practice test results and areas of continued challenge. This adaptive approach ensures that each student receives the support they need to reach their score goals.
The ideal GRE prep timeline varies depending on your current skill level, target scores, and application deadlines. Generally, we recommend beginning test prep 3-6 months before your planned test date to allow sufficient time for skill development and practice.
At Mackler Associates, we work with each student to develop a preparation timeline that aligns with their goals and constraints. Whether you need comprehensive GRE tutoring across all sections or focused work in specific areas, we can design a program that maximizes your score potential.
GRE success requires more than intelligence and academic preparation; it demands strategic thinking, efficient test-taking skills, and confidence under pressure. Mackler Associates provides St. Louis students with the expert guidance and comprehensive test prep needed to achieve their GRE goals.
Our experienced GRE tutor team understands the complexities of the GRE and has helped countless students achieve the scores needed for admission to their target graduate programs. With personalized instruction, proven strategies, and ongoing support, we’re committed to helping you unlock your potential on this crucial exam and achieve your target GRE score.
Ready to begin your GRE preparation journey? Contact Mackler Associates today at (314) 916-6516 to schedule your free consultation and learn how our expert GRE tutoring can help you achieve your graduate school goals.