Mastering GRE Prep: Strategies and Tips for Success

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Are you a busy professional wondering how to balance a demanding job with the much-dreaded Graduate Record Examination (GRE) preparation? If yes, then this blog is for you. Adding GRE prep to your packed schedule might seem daunting, but it is manageable. With strategic planning, disciplined study habits, and effective time management, you can effectively prepare for the GRE without compromising other areas of your life.

This blog is your hands-on guide to help you ace the GRE prep even with a hectic schedule. We will explore study planning tips, timelines, and best practices to help you maximize your test prep efforts and achieve your target score.

#1 Planning for the test

The test scores are valid for 5 years, so irrespective of which intake you are planning, you can start your prep keeping in mind your job commitments. Avoid scheduling your GRE prep during the busy periods at your job. Choose a lean period that is relatively less demanding with fewer deadlines and targets. The good news is that the GRE is a reasoning exam that tests your analytical thinking abilities and not your verbal or quant ability. So, don’t get overwhelmed and procrastinate the GRE preparation; plan it today, and start working for the future you have dreamed of.

#2 Know your target score

The path becomes clearer when we know our goal and work backward. The score you need depends on the specific graduate programs you’re applying to. Top-tier programs might have higher score expectations, while others might value a well-rounded application more. So, start by shortlisting the courses and universities you’re aiming for and identifying their respective GRE score cut-offs.

These cut-off scores should guide your target score and form the foundation of your GRE exam preparation strategy. Once you have a clear goal, plan your study schedule to align with it, determining how much time and effort you’ll need to invest to achieve the desired result.

#3 Get acquainted with the format

Understanding the test format well helps avoid any last-minute surprises and manage your time per question. GRE is a computer-adaptive test consisting of sections testing verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. Remember, it is section adaptive not question adaptive, which means your performance in section one decides the difficulty level of section two. Better accuracy in the first section will lead to a harder second section, while poor performance in the former will lead to an easier second section. Your score depends not only on the accuracy but also on the difficulty level of the question.

Remember that the GRE test is not specific to any academic discipline, but tests your executive functioning skills. That means, your success in the GRE exam depends on your ability to gather and arrange the information you have and basis that, solve the problems efficiently.

#4 Assess your baseline score

Before your GRE prep, take a full-length practice test to see where you stand. Ensure the practice test is taken under conditions similar to the actual exam to help you gauge your focus and stamina for the 1-hour 58-minute exam experience. Analyze the score; this score becomes your baseline score, the starting point of your GRE prep.

Identify your strengths and weaknesses in each section and design your study plan accordingly. If Quant is your strength, focus on increasing that score while working on the Verbal part and vice-versa.

#5 Devise Your GRE Study Plan

Use your baseline score to create a personalized study schedule. Set realistic goals and timelines based on your capabilities and constraints. Allocate a dedicated number of hours and specific times for GRE prep, but be flexible to adjust it based on progress and other commitments. Make a comprehensive timetable that incorporates daily practice; spaced repetition schedule to reinforce learning; regular active recall sessions through flashcards, quizzes, or mock tests; and time for reviewing your mistakes. Your study plan must be in tandem with your college deadlines.

Depending on when you are taking the exam, dedicate approx. 10-12 hours per week to 2-3 hours per day with longer study sessions on your day off. Focus more on studying consistently for shorter periods than intensely working sporadically. It is noteworthy that success on the exam lies not only in your knowledge of the content but also in your approach to the test itself. So, formulate effectivetest-taking strategies that can help you maximize your score.

#6 Resources

With limited time at hand, you need to work smartly and choose the study material wisely amidst the abundant material on the internet. Don’t rely on random websites and only use the resources that are credible, accurate, and aligned with your study goals and learning style. You don’t have to learn all the words in the dictionary but focus on GRE-specific vocabulary. Look for the right resources to practice vocabulary, which is an important part of the verbal section and demands dedicated practice time. Same for Quant, focus on GRE-type questions. While preparing for your Verbal and Quant, simultaneously work on your Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section. For this, you can download the ‘issue topics’ from the ETS portal.

Leverage technology and use online tools that are the best fit for you. Be mindful while choosing the resources: look for something that provides a step-by-step framework of learning:

• Learn the basic approach to solving different types of questions.
• Practice the approach on different difficulty-level questions to master the nuanced techniques.
• Work on building concept-wise and section-wise accuracy.
• Refine the approach and take timed practice questions for accuracy and time management.
• Write a few full-length mocks and analyze your performance.

#7 Ace Your Time Management for prep and the exam

You are the only person who knows your strengths and weaknesses the best. Use this knowledge to choose your study time when your brain is at its best and is most active to focus for 1-2 hours at a stretch. It can be early mornings, evenings, or late nights. See what works best for you: short, frequent sessions of 20-30 minutes or long, infrequent once-a-day type sessions. Use time blocking and divide your day into specific time slots for work, family, and study. Micro-learning during lunch breaks, commuting, and while waiting for a meeting can help.

Set mini-goals and create small, daily, or weekly goals focused on mastering one concept at a time. Mini deadlines keep you on track and provide a sense of accomplishment. Choose a distraction-free environment and avoid the urge to multitask to ensure your time is used in the most effective and efficient manner. Be mindful and keep track of time even during practice sessions. Here are some time management tips for GRE exam preparation.

#8 Chart your progress and create an error log

It’s not about the number of mocks you have taken but how you have worked on your mistakes and learned from them. After taking the tests, meticulously review your mistakes, chart your progress, and identify areas that need improvement. Self-evaluation not only helps objectively assess the effectiveness of your study plan and preparation strategies but also gets you accustomed to the test’s format and time constraints.

Create an error log to take notes on the mistakes you’ve committed. Concentrate on areas where improvement is most needed, whether it’s quantitative skills, verbal reasoning, or the type of questions or concepts. Along with the errors, write “to-the-point strategies and last-minute hacks” for every idea that is tested to help you solve the question better. These notes will be your go-to document a day before the test.

#9 Tame Your Anxiety

In my decade-long experience, I have observed the performance of brilliant students suffer because of their anxiety issues. It’s important to identify and acknowledge the physical and emotional signs of test anxiety, such as increased heart rate, sweating, or difficulty concentrating. To control anxiety issues, it is important to tune your biological clock in accordance with the test timing so that you can be completely attentive during the exam and give it your best shot. Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga to calm your nerves. Use the power of visualization and visualize yourself calmly answering questions, staying focused, and nailing the test.

#10 Invest in a good mentor

Since time is of the essence here, an accomplished GRE tutor can help make the best use of your time by streamlining your study process, offering personalized feedback, and tailoring their teaching to your specific needs. A GRE tutor can help you break down the whole section and help you figure out which concepts to work on, and how to manage time efficiently, and become your accountability partner to keep you on track and committed to your study goals. You can take online GRE classes and stay ahead in your GRE preparation.

In conclusion, preparing for the GRE along with a demanding job can be incredibly stressful. By following the abovementioned guidelines, you can tackle the exam with confidence and achieve your desired GRE goals. Remember, you are not alone in this situation, Jamboree is there to help you at every step of the way.

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