UPDATED 2020
Effectively Preparing for the GRE
GRE, short for Graduate Record Examination, is one of the many standardized tests that evaluate the candidate’s reasoning and analytical skills in mathematics, reading and writing. It’s required for admission by most graduate schools with the exception of medical school and law school.
You need to prepare well for the GRE to increase your chances of getting accepted by the grad school of your dreams. Here are some GRE preparation tips to help you study for the exam the right way.
Develop a Study Plan
There are three main sections in the GRE: Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. Before you can start preparing, you need to come up with a study plan to make sure you don’t procrastinate and put the time you have on your hands to good use.
Create a schedule that you can stick to every day and set goals for yourself so that you can track your progress and feel motivated every step of the way. It’s better to target each section of the test on separate days to make sure nothing gets mixed up.
When you have a schedule, you’ll be able to keep track of time and feel accomplished after you reach all your targets. You’ll stay focused and you won’t get stressed out like you would have if you’d started your preparation without a plan in place.
Prepare a Study Sheet
A study sheet is just like a cheat sheet except a couple of pages longer. Since you’re not allowed to take any studying material with you inside the exam room, you need to prepare a study sheet that you can look through after you’re done with your preparation. It will help you remember the most important rules for all three sections.
When you’re studying for the exam, note down any rules or tips you come across on a separate set of notes. Organize them into different sections. This sheet will come in handy for quick reference before the exam. You can also create flashcards as they’re easy to go through.
Take a Practice Test
The only way you can be sure that you’ll perform exceptionally well on your exam is by taking a full-length and realistic practice test. Time yourself so that you can see if you need to pick up the pace or not.
You’ll find out if there are certain areas that you need to pay special attention to. You’ll also become familiar with the format of the exam. After reviewing the test, you can easily understand where you went wrong and how you can avoid making the same mistakes in the actual exam.
Taking the practice test before coming up with a study plan is ideal for you if you need to get the most preparation done in the least amount of time. This way, you’ll figure out your problem areas and set priorities for your study plan.
Bottom Line
Even the best study plan won’t help you get closer to your targets if you don’t make active efforts to achieve them every single day. Studying for the GRE can be easy if you go into it with the right attitude. Follow the tips mentioned above to pass your exam with flying colors. Good luck!