Power-Stuying for the GRE: Enter the High Score Echelon by Studying Smarter, Not Harder

The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) are a cause of stress, angst, and dismay for thousands of college students, recent graduates, and young professionals each year. There is no denying the fact that a GRE score can literally open or close the doors to grad school and subsequently make or break a student’s graduate education. So much pressure focused on one day’s performance can lead even the smartest students to study for the GRE in unhealthy ways that only look as if they could help, whether through intensive late-night panic sessions, repetitive and pointless practice tests, or flipping through disorganized prep books.

However, a quality GRE study program engages the student in test preparation using a series of systematic and progressive steps that, when followed, almost guarantee higher test scores and the ability to reach their full potential.

It’s no secret that tutors and teachers who regularly take the GRE for tutoring/teaching purposes can regularly score in the 99th percentile, often with perfect scores. Is this because they are smarter than everyone else? As a tutor who scored in the 99th percentile on the GRE, I can confirm that we are not! No, rather it is because we practice the GRE questions day after day, we know what to expect from the test and we approach it from a relaxed and systematic point of view.

However, it is important to note that this does not mean that there is a “one size fits all” solution. People learn more effectively in different ways, and what works for one person may or may not work for you. That’s why, in the first days (or even weeks) of studying, you should periodically review your study methods to refine them and find what works best and most efficiently for you.

That said, however, there are several systematic steps anyone can take that are proven methods to maximize your GRE score and potential.

Start with a practice GRE

Practice tests are available from a wide variety of sources, including books available at your local bookstore or on the official Educational Testing Services (ETS) website. You will take many practice tests throughout your preparation for the GRE, but starting with a practice test before you even start studying is a vital and crucial step that will tell you where your strongest areas are, where your weakest areas are. and even (in some ways) how to study.

Take GRE practice under real simulated test conditions. That means giving yourself approximately four to five hours (actual test time is 3 hours and 45 minutes not including several short breaks) of time alone, sit in a quiet place, and fill out the actual test form (or take it at a computer, if you are taking the computer-based exam). This is very important for a number of reasons, including giving you a sense of timing and reducing stress on what to expect.

Once you have a final score on your first practice test, you’ll be able to set your goals for increasing that score and analyze your results to focus your study on the areas where it’s most needed and most effective.

Set aside time each day to study questions and questions on the GRE.

The word “daily” is VERY important here; study daily, and this will keep the concepts and, more importantly, the pitfalls and mistakes fresh in your head. Your future is important and you should take it seriously. Putting in a few hours a day for a few weeks may seem like a hassle, but it’s a small sacrifice to earn a GRE score that can open doors for the rest of your life.

That said, you shouldn’t study for more than 3-4 hours a day, except when taking practice tests. The concept of “diminishing returns” applies to both GRE study programs and economics, and after four hours of study, you’ll just get tired and forget what you learned in the first hour. Instead, give yourself enough time (two months or so is a good goal) before the test to squeeze in a few hours of study per day. Take one day off a week and go do something that takes your mind off the exam for a bit. Your brain can use rest, and believe it or not, it will often come back stronger after a day of rest.

This applies with extreme importance in the week before the exam. Don’t follow what others are doing and start doing intensive all-night sessions in the week or days right before the exam. This will get you out, and the concepts and responses will begin to work together. By test day, you may feel prepared, but you’ll never get your full potential score if you use the “cram” method.

Get high-quality study materials.

I have seen time and time again students both on the internet and in my classes/tutoring sessions talking about “low cost” or “free” study GRE programs. I have to be blunt here, folks: The GRE is all about your future and potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more) in potential earnings, folks, without figuring out your commute to class or how to repaint your bedroom. Get the best and use the best. Leave the experimentation to tutors and teachers who can publish reliable reviews based on long experience.

While many students prefer to use full in-person study GRE classes through Kaplan, Princeton Review, or private tutors, keep in mind that incredibly high-quality study programs are out there that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. If you’re on a tight budget, you should at a minimum have a high-quality prep book. I usually recommend the GRE prep books from Kaplan, Barron, or the Princeton Review. These books are great and cost less than $20.

Of course, many students choose to use these books in combination with a private class or tutoring, and if you can afford it, this may be one of the best options out there. But the important thing here is that you should not try to study for the GRE without guidance. It’s not about ego or intelligence; it’s about experience, and if you haven’t taken the GRE before, or only took it once or twice, let the people who have taken it many times and dedicated their careers to helping students score higher guide your study.

Practice makes perfect

While GRE study exercises are great for learning material and strengthening your weak areas, there’s no substitute for real exercises—except for a simulation, of course! Take practice exams under simulated conditions at least once every two weeks. That means taking it at the same time of day, in a quiet place, and in the same format as the actual test (computer or paper).

I know, I know, and I hear it all the time: four or five hours is a long time to spend on this, and you have a job and/or a career and a life. But it’s so important that you prove yourself in real test conditions that it’s worth it, and if you only have time to study or take a practice test, do the latter. Review your answers, either immediately or the next day, and learn how and why you missed any of the questions you asked.

Keep track of the stumbling questions you can’t answer in less than a minute. These are the types of questions you should focus your efforts on to be faster and more accurate.

Get plenty of rest, exercise, and eat right. Every day

Your brain works best when it’s well-rested and well-nourished. This means you need to eat a balanced diet with plenty of protein and vitamins, get 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night, and get at least some physical exercise to help blood flow (increased blood flow to the brain means faster and more intelligent). brain function). Try to study at night or just before you go to sleep, as your brain will continue to process what you have studied while you are unconscious.

Exercise is also important. You don’t need to be a gym freak, but get the blood flowing to your brain at least once a day with a good long walk, a brisk jog, or even some rigorous exercise if you want.

This becomes especially important as exam time approaches. A minimum of 8 hours of sleep the night before the GRE is absolutely mandatory. I tell each of my students that if they don’t get 8 hours of sleep the night before the GRE, I will chase their dreams forever!

Track your performance and goals

Tracking your goals and performance is important to build confidence and make sure you’re studying on the right track. Be realistic but optimistic about your goals: It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to increase your GRE score from average to perfect in just a couple of months, but you can certainly increase it substantially.

conclusion

I hope you found this article helpful as a good starting point on your GRE journey! Best of luck to you in your pursuit of a graduate degree, and I look forward to hearing from you when you’ve crushed the GRE and gotten into your first-choice graduate school!