As a student who is looking to pursue their Masters/PhD, a question that one often encounters is: When do I take theGRE? The GRE can be taken at any point throughout the year, depending on the availability of the slots in a particular centre. There is no clear-cut answer to the question of when to write the GRE, but Jamboree would like to give you a few pointers to help make your decision.
Asking the following questions will give you a deeper insight into your preparation for the GRE exam and how it fits into your plans. Go step by step, and make sure you consider all factors before making a decision.
How prepared are you?
As a test-taker, you need to gauge your level of preparedness and make sure you are giving your best shot at the GRE.You can take diagnostic/sample tests and practice questions which will help you evaluate whether you are exam-ready. After all, there is no point in writing an exam when you are not adequately prepared.
The GRE tests your critical thinking, quantitative reasoning and language skills. Thus, based on your strengths, you will need to work to improve your math, vocabulary and/or writing abilities. Often, students find the GRE vocabulary difficult, and spend too much time on learning new words. At Jamboree, however, we believe in working smart: Our GRE prep method focuses on building your strengths and helping you with strategies to crack the GRE questions in a less time-consuming manner.
Begin Your GRE Test Prep With Jamboree!
When do you plan on pursuing your masters?
Most Indian students think about taking the GRE during the final year of their undergraduate studies. Remember that GRE exam scores are valid for a period of 5 years. This means that if you do well, you can even gather 2-3 years of work experience and apply to the University of your choice.
At Jamboree, we understand that students come from different backgrounds and therefore have different aspirations. While some students prefer to do their masters immediately after their undergraduate course, others like to wait and gain some work experience before delving into the more complex world of Masters’ degrees. Neither approach is better than the other, but students should factor in their plans towards prepping for the GRE:
Students who prefer the option of studying immediately after their undergrad like to continue their education primarily because they believe in momentum--- they do not want to have a stop-start in their education.
Students who take the route of experience first like to muster more practical and on-ground knowledge before they go for their master's program.
Either way, the GRE scores are valid for a period of 5 years, therefore, the timing of your master's program and when you take the exam is absolutely critical.
When are the application deadlines?
Application deadlines are listed on every university website; students need to research the college-specific application requirements and deadlines well in advance. Most universities have their application deadlines set in December or in January but do remember that this might vary from institution to institution.
There are different components to a complete application, which include the Statement of Purpose, Letters of Recommendation, transcripts etc., along with your GRE score. The process of creating a completely rounded application takes time and requires intensive and rigorous preparation.
Let us assume that you are looking to secure admissions into a university in the fall of 2025. Your application deadlines would be somewhere between December 2024 and January 2025. This means that you should plan on completing your GRE latest by November 2024. You also need to bear in mind that if you do not score well in your first attempt, you would need to retake the examination and the GRE can be taken only once every 21 days.
In order to give yourself enough time to prepare, take a diagnostic test and understand where you stand. This will give you enough time to plan ‘backwards’, and schedule your test with enough time for your applications.
How much time do I have to prepare for the GRE?
There are different kinds of test takers who attempt the GRE. A few of them are college students, while others just take the test to add to their professional qualifications.
Here, we focus on only those students who take the GRE as a part of their university application process. Now, for those who are either working professionals or parents, you will need to plan your preparation schedule around your work and other personal commitments, which might be a really demanding task. If you are a college-going student, you might have more time to attend GRE classes and integrate test prep into your schedule. Either way, ensure that you plan well in advance. Prudence is well advised: Lots of applicants miss deadlines due to an unplanned schedule. As we have already mentioned, planning backwards is the key to your success story.
The decision of when to take the GRE is completely dependent on the student. A student must be aware of factors that are personal, subjective, and those parameters which cannot be ignored; the requirements set by the university. A combination of subjective and objective factors should be key determinants for you to plan your journey.
I had written my GMAT once and got 710, a much above average score by normal standards, but short of my requirement to get into my dream b-school. The journey of every 10 marks beyond 700 is arduous, and to tread on the same I turned to Jamboree Chandigarh. My first interaction with Ajay Sir itself was so informative. I quickly signed up for the classroom program and began with my preparations. Teaching is top notch, setting the right tone and temperament to write the exam. Topics covered in the classes are all encompassing and comprehensive. Interactive doubt sessions are really helpful and teachers were so approachable and guided me throughout with scheduling, identifying my weak areas and recommending course of action for the same. The Jamboree Study material is one of the best I have seen. It covers all levels and following the same was a critical factor in my success. The library at Jamboree Chandigarh is one of its best features. It is well stocked and provided a nearly perfect environment for me to study. Mock tests are available in ample and helped me gauge my improvement over time. All these and my efforts bore fruit and I scored 740 in my second attempt. I am much more confident of securing admission in one of my dream schools and I only have Jamboree Chandigarh to thank for that.
Meghna Reddy
Had an extremely great experience with Jamboree. From orientation until I received my admission letter, the entire staff will beyond helpful and accommodative. Despite it being the pandemic, not once did they lose their morale or let it impact my admission process. Thank you.
Smit Tejani
Great faculty for GMAT prep and Great consulting services for b-school applications.
Faculty members are really student friendly and professional.
I also enrolled for their consulting services to get my B-School application ready. They offer depth in end to end application process. A good understanding of programs across the globe coupled with right support required to submit applications within the cramped up deadlines makes them probably one of the best service providers out there. My counsellor Aparna ma’am was helpful throughout the process, she would provide me with the best opinions. The writer Anila ma’am was also highly professional in helping me write the LORs and SOPs, the main USP of joining Jamboree is their years of experience and professionalism.
Priyanka Johri
I had a really great experience with Jamboree. They really walked with me to the whole process the classes and materials are really coherent and precise. My counselor Shagun Kansal persistently guided me in the application process, working side by side with my writer Rohini.
Overall I would highly recommend this institution.
Shruti Gupta
My experience with Jamboree has been phenomenal. I enrolled for the test series to prepare for the GMAT exam and found the lectures as well as the tests to be very accurate and useful. The institute really helped me with the exam preparation and the B-School Applications. I strongly recommend Jamboree institute to everyone.
act
