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You’ve set your sights on graduate school, a pivotal moment in your educational and professional journey. But first, you must tackle the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The GRE is a standardized test required for admissions into graduate programs worldwide and plays a significant role in the admissions process. Let’s explore a step-by-step GRE study plan for a 4- month success run.
To excel on the GRE, preparation is essential. While the timeline for GRE preparation can vary depending on an individual’s circumstances, a four-month preparation window is a healthy starting point for many, providing ample time to strategize and conquer the test’s critical sections. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through what your GRE study plan might look like over a 16-week period. From choosing the right study materials to fine-tuning your test-taking strategies, this plan will maximize your chances of achieving the scores you desire.
Before we jump into the study plan, it’s essential to understand the GRE itself. The exam consists of three main sections:
Each of these sections is scored on a scale of 130-170, adding up to a total score of 340. Additionally, there may be a separate score for the analytical writing, ranging from 0-6. The GRE is challenging not only because of the breadth of topics it covers but also due to the stamina it requires. With the main exams clocking in at around 3 hours and 45 minutes, including breaks, effective time management is crucial.
To begin, you should take a practice GRE exam. This will provide a baseline score and more importantly, will familiarize you with the test format and question types. The Educational Testing Service, who administers the GRE, offers free PowerPrep tests, which are highly recommended. After you’ve completed your practice test, take the time to analyze your performance and identify any areas of weakness.
Based on your diagnostic test, select materials that will help you reinforce your strengths and strengthen your weaknesses. Reliable study materials can include:
Ensure the materials you choose offer a good mix of strategy and content. You must understand the reasoning behind the questions, not just memorize answers or formulas.
You can try Kaplan books, Manhataan books 5 lb, Official GRE books, Barron’s high frequency words. Those are the most popular GRE books for exam preparation. Before stating anything, try to get idea about GRE exams from ETS GRE official website. which kind of questions you need to give focus and which kind of math’s are more important than others, you can get all of those ideas from ETS website.
With your materials at hand, you’ll now want to begin reviewing the content. Dedicate structured time to each section of the GRE. For instance:
For the analytical writing section, practice timed essays. There are two tasks in this section, the Issue task, and the Argument task. With at least one month to go, start to brainstorm and write essays in a timed setting.
For verbal reasoning, focus on vocabulary and reading comprehension. Use mnemonics for vocabulary and techniques like skimming and scanning for the reading comprehension questions.
For quantitative reasoning, work on the basics of arithmetic, algebra, and geometry, and then progress to more complex problem-solving. Do not rush through strategies that can simplify the process, such as back-solving or picking numbers.
Remember to review each section consistently and increase your study duration closer to the exam.
Critical Tip: Review frequently. Do not review all content for one section at once; review a little bit of each section, ensuring you keep all content fresh in your mind.
After reviewing the content, it’s time to implement strategies that will help improve your test-taking skills. Dedicate the necessary time to learn each part’s specific strategies:
Learn how to structure your answers effectively and succinctly within the time constraints. For doing better score in analytical writing, we can practice several books. Firstly, official GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions” by Educational Testing Service (ETS): This book contains real GRE analytical writing prompts along with sample responses and scoring guidelines. It’s an essential resource for understanding the expectations of the GRE writing section. Also, “GRE Analytical Writing: Solutions to the Real Essay Topics – Book 1” by Vibrant Publishers: This book provides in-depth analysis and solutions to real GRE essay prompts, helping you understand different approaches to writing effectively.
Understand how to approach text completion, sentence equivalence, and reading comprehension questions. You can also read the article about how you prepare for GRE verbal reasoning. We can solve different books for getting better score in verbal sections. Let’s explore those books-
“The Official Guide to the GRE General Test” by Educational Testing Service (ETS): This book is published by the makers of the GRE and contains real GRE questions, including verbal reasoning questions. It provides valuable insight into the format and types of questions you’ll encounter on the exam.
“Cracking the GRE Premium Edition with 6 Practice Tests, 2022″ by The Princeton Review: This comprehensive book offers strategies, techniques, and practice questions for all sections of the GRE, including verbal reasoning. It also includes access to online resources and practice tests.
“Barron’s GRE, 23rd Edition” by Sharon Weiner Green and Ira K. Wolf: Barron’s GRE prep book is well-known for its thorough coverage of GRE content, including verbal reasoning. It features practice questions with detailed explanations and strategies for tackling each question type.
“GRE Verbal Workbook” by Kaplan Test Prep: Kaplan’s Verbal Workbook focuses specifically on the verbal reasoning section of the GRE. It includes targeted practice questions, strategies for improving vocabulary, and tips for approaching different question types.
“5 lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems” by Manhattan Prep: While this book primarily focuses on practice problems for all sections of the GRE, it offers a significant number of verbal reasoning questions. It’s a great resource for honing your skills through targeted practice.
“GRE Prep Plus 2022: Practice Tests + Proven Strategies + Online + Video + Mobile” by Kaplan Test Prep: This comprehensive GRE prep book includes practice tests, strategies, and targeted practice for verbal reasoning, along with access to online resources.
Get comfortable with the various question types, like numeric entry, quantitative comparison, and data interpretation. You can get more details idea about quantitative part from our achieving excellence in GRE math article.
This period should be heavy on practice. Do as many practice questions as possible and simulate test conditions when you can. Make use of the official GRE provided materials but also consider investing in unofficial materials from reputable sources. Student can read same books as like we mentioned in verbal sections. Usually, official GRE books, Kaplan and Manhattan used a lot of getting better score in GRE.
By now, you should be ready for some full-length GRE practice tests. These will be a simulation of the real exam and should be timed and proctored. This is a great way to get accustomed to the endurance needed for the actual exam.
Analyze your performance in the full-length practice exams and simulate the same conditions you will face on the test day. If these exams are taking place at a testing center, familiarize yourself with the location and procedures to manage stress.
Critical Tip: Take the same breaks as you would during the actual GRE — timing and pacing are skills you should hone during these simulations.
After each full-length practice exam, review your answers and focus on areas that still challenge you. Reinforce those areas and continue with targeted practice in your weaker sections.
This is also the time to integrate the feedback from tutors or study groups, if you’ve been using them. Sometimes, a fresh perspective can provide insight that solo study cannot.
Critical Tip: Begin to taper your studying. You should be winding down and resting, not cramming more information.
In the last week leading up to your GRE exam, focus on review and relaxation. Trust in your months of preparation and know that you’re as ready as you can be. Stay mentally sharp by doing a little bit of review each day and making sure you’re getting enough sleep and eating well. The day before your exam is just as important as any other day in your study plan, so treat it as such.
Critical Tip: Do not study the day before your GRE exam. A well-rested mind will serve you much better than a tired one, no matter how much extra information you could squeeze in.
In addition to the structured plan laid out above, here are a few more tips to keep in mind:
By diligently following this 4-month GRE study plan, you’ll empower yourself with the knowledge and strategies needed to perform well on test day. Remember, the GRE is not just an examination of your current skills, but an opportunity to showcase your potential for growth and achievement in your field of study. Good luck!
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