Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about GRE tutoring, test preparation, and working with Dr. Donnelly.
Questions About Tutoring With Dr. Donnelly
Dr. Donnelly tailors every tutoring package to the student's needs, starting score, target score, and timeline. During your free consultation he will provide a transparent quote based on your personalised study plan. Most students invest between $1,500 and $5,000 depending on the scope of their programme.
Most students benefit from 8 to 12 weeks of focused preparation, though this varies based on your starting score and target. Students aiming for very competitive scores (325+) or those who need significant improvement may benefit from starting 3 to 4 months in advance. Dr. Donnelly will help you determine the ideal timeline during your free consultation.
Absolutely. Dr. Donnelly's online students consistently achieve the same significant score improvements as his in-person students. Using Zoom's screen-sharing and whiteboard tools, every session is fully interactive. Many students actually prefer the convenience of studying from home without a commute.
While results vary by student, most of Dr. Donnelly's students see improvements of 8 to 15 points on the combined Verbal and Quantitative sections. Students who commit to the full study plan and complete all assigned homework tend to see the greatest gains. Your expected improvement will be discussed during the free consultation.
Yes, the 30-minute consultation is completely free with no obligation. Dr. Donnelly will review your current standing, discuss your goals, and outline a personalised study strategy. There is no sales pressure — the consultation is designed to help you determine whether private tutoring is the right fit for your needs.
Sessions cover all three sections of the GRE: Verbal Reasoning (reading comprehension, text completion, sentence equivalence), Quantitative Reasoning (arithmetic, algebra, geometry, data analysis), and Analytical Writing (Issue and Argument essays). Dr. Donnelly also teaches test-taking strategies, time management, and how to approach each question type systematically.
Standard sessions are 90 minutes, which provides enough time for focused instruction, practice problems, and review. Some students opt for 2-hour sessions, especially when working through full-length practice sections. Session length can be adjusted based on your preferences and stamina.
Yes, Dr. Donnelly offers customised tutoring packages based on your goals and timeline. Packages typically range from 10 to 30 sessions and include a personalised study plan, homework assignments, practice tests, and email support between sessions. Individual sessions are also available for students who need targeted help in specific areas.
Dr. Donnelly provides all essential study materials and practice problems. He recommends that students also have access to the official ETS GRE practice tests (available free from ETS) and the Official Guide to the GRE. Additional resources may be recommended based on your specific needs, but you do not need to purchase expensive prep books or courses.
Questions About the GRE Exam
The GRE Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections are each scored on a scale of 130 to 170, in one-point increments. The Analytical Writing section is scored on a scale of 0 to 6, in half-point increments. The total combined score for Verbal and Quantitative ranges from 260 to 340. Most competitive graduate programmes look for combined scores of 310 or above. For more details, see our GRE scores page.
GRE scores are valid for five years from the date of the test. This gives you plenty of time to apply to graduate programmes. If your scores expire before you apply, you will need to retake the exam.
Yes, you can retake the GRE as often as every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous 12-month period. Many graduate programmes accept your highest scores, and with the ScoreSelect option you can choose which scores to send to schools. Dr. Donnelly can help you decide whether a retake is likely to benefit your application.