While there are many different GRE prep books and courses out there, most of them are overpriced and few will actually tell you anything you can't find out for free online. While these books are certainly helpful for GRE study sessions, you can also use some of your tried and true study methods for your GRE prep review sessions. Here are some GRE study tips that will help you raise your score without raising your stress level...
First, think of the GRE like any other standardized test when it comes to the material you’re going to be tested over. Expect to find just about everything on the GRE that you can think of, including math, vocabulary and critical thinking skills. It’s not necessarily a broad test, but it will test you over many different areas and topics. This isn’t like a final for a class – you’ll need to know a really good array of information to be successful.
The key to GRE review is to find out what kinds of questions will be asked and how the different sections of the test will be set up. For this, a GRE study book is incredibly helpful, although you can find many sample study questions online. Many of these prep books and websites include questions that were used on previous versions of the GRE, so you'll be able to see exactly how things are worded and how questions will appear. It’s even more helpful to find a GRE review computer program, since the GRE is done electronically now – this way, you’ll see exactly how the test will look.
Once you know what subjects will be covered and how the questions will be asked, it’s time to start reviewing. The first thing you want to do is set up a GRE study schedule. Don’t let yourself put it off and start studying the week before the test! In fact, it’s a good idea to give yourself a solid two months or more to prepare. Set aside a time two or three times a week for GRE review, but don’t try reviewing the whole day. Instead, review in sessions of an hour and a half or so. Any longer than that and you’ll start to get exhausted and you won’t retain as much information.
While reading over material multiple times can help cement the information in your mind, flashcards are an even better way of learning information. By reviewing small bits of information multiple times, you’ll find that you retain the information better. In addition to reading it, studies show that if you write out the information multiple times, you’ll retain it even better, so grab a pen and start writing out key vocabulary words and definitions.
Once you’ve worked through the whole GRE book, try taking a GRE practice exam. This first practice exam will show you what areas you might be weak in, allowing you to focus your next few weeks’ GRE study sessions on these topics. Just don’t forget to review the other areas a little as well so that you don’t forget anything. Then take another practice test and see if you’ve improved. Repeating this method will help get you ready for the real GRE.
