How to prepare for the GRE Exam

If you’ve applied for studies abroad, especially in the United States, you’ll need to provide a GRE score with your application. This is mandatory for any graduate, law, or business qualification. Taking the GRE test and providing the scores boosts your chances of getting accepted at a university. But, you might wonder how to prepare for the GRE test and achieve a good score to maximise your chances of acceptance. It can be daunting thinking about all the preparation that is required. 

Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it seems. With discipline and practice, you can achieve your dream of studying abroad. ETS, the official GRE administrator, offers free materials to help you prepare. In addition, here are some useful tips to get you started on your GRE prep journey.

Preparing for the GRE Exam

The GRE tests are computer-based and come in the following versions:

• General tests
• Subject tests for specific subjects like physics, mathematics, and psychology
• At home tests
• Shorter GRE test - launched recently

Before You Start

• Check how much time you have available to prep for the GRE. You must plan for eight or 12 weeks at a minimum for GRE preparation.
• Plan and schedule your prep time - on average, about four to five hours daily.
• Go through the pre-test procedures like registration, scheduling of appointments, fee payment, etc.

Understanding the GRE Test Sections

Understand and familiarise yourself with the structure, format, and sections of the GRE. The GRE general test consists of the following sections:

How to Prepare for the Verbal Reasoning Section

This section determines your ability to:

• Analyse and evaluate written content and draw conclusions.
• Analyse relationships between words, concepts, and sentences.

The questions in this section use various formats, including MCQs and relate to:

• Reading comprehension for reading, understanding, and summarising passages.
• Text completion for completing sentences or passages.
• Sentence equivalence for concluding passages based on incomplete content.

Tips and Tricks

A general tip to master this section is reading, reading, and more reading. Since verbal reasoning questions are taken from several sources, it’s good practice to read different material to familiarise yourself with different types of content.

• Actively practice reading articles, magazines, newspapers, books, academic journals, literary content, and more.
• Practice reading critically, ask yourself questions and evaluate your answers.
• Enhance your vocabulary as it’s most crucial for understanding the meaning of texts. Use several methods like flashcards, vocabulary or word games, etymology, word lists, etc. to memorise words and their meaning. Practice reading material that is challenging to understand.
• Practice completing sentences based on given texts.
• Train yourself to look for clues in the surrounding text to infer the context.
• Take your time to read the passages carefully before answering. Answer based only on the information provided in the text. Do not rely on your own opinions.
• Review the answer choices before selecting the answer.

How to Prepare for the Quantitative Reasoning Section

The quantitative reasoning section evaluates your ability in:

• Understanding basic mathematical concepts and quantitative information.
• Quantitatively analysing, reasoning, interpreting, modelling, and solving problems through mathematical models.

The questions in this section include MCQs, numeric entry, and comparison questions. These pertain to:

• Arithmetics and algebra
• Geometry concepts
• Data analytics, including statistics and probability
• Quantitative reasoning questions based on either real-world situations or mathematical settings

Tips and Tricks

This may be one of the tougher sections in the GRE to do. However, with practice, you can master it! Here are some of the tips you can follow:

• Build a foundation in mathematics - study and understand math fundamentals, such as algebra, arithmetic, geometry, and data analysis. Focus on number systems, ratio proportions, averages, etc.
• Memorise mathematical formulae and rules to save time during the exam.
• Develop mathematical skills like mental math to improve your speed and efficiency during calculations.
• Do not use unwanted computations. Practice using estimations and comparisons to arrive at answers.
• Understand that geometric figures given in the exam may not be to scale, so practice redrawing the figure while keeping the known aspects fixed.
• For complex comparisons, try breaking down and simplifying the equations or expressions.
• Keep using problem-solving methods and strategies to handle various types of mathematical problems.
• Use the calculator sparingly and as needed only.
• Train yourself to quickly scan the questions and answers for questions related to approximations.
• Don’t spend too much time on questions, especially those related to data interpretation. Briefly read each question and note down key aspects.

How to Prepare for the Analytical Writing Section

The analytical writing section assesses your ability in:

• Analytical writing and critical thinking
• Articulating complex concepts clearly and supporting them with examples and correct reasoning
• Having a sustained discussion on topics

There is only one question in this section, which relates to evaluating and analysing an issue. You must present reasons and arguments to support your analysis. This is an essay-type question, split into:

• Issue analysis section - to analyse the given issue and develop arguments with examples
• Argument analysis section -to analyse arguments based on instructions.

Tips and Tricks

This section requires extensive practice and preparation. However, it can be mastered with a few tricks and tips:

• Review and understand sample essays, topics, essay responses, commentaries, and scoring guides.
• Practice essay writing with clear structure, format, examples, proof, arguments, and reasoning.
• Practice critical thinking skills.
• As before, keep reading voraciously and expanding your vocabulary to help write better.
• Keep some time for revisions at the end. Proofread your essay and check for typos, grammatical errors, language, expression, reasoning, etc.

Common Considerations to Keep in Mind

In general, following these measures will help you prep for the GRE test efficiently:

• Practice is key.
• Become familiar with the GRE questions and answer them all. Don’t spend a lot of time on complex or difficult questions. Scan, eliminate, and move on. 
• Manage your time wisely and efficiently. Practice writing essays, solving problems,  and answering questions within the time limits given for each section and question.
• Simulate the GRE test experience by taking mock exams, sample tests, tutorials, and more.
• Go through GRE sample questions and other official materials from the official GRE ETS website. Check these out:

○        The Official GRE revised General Test, 2nd Ed

○        GRE Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning Sample Questions

○        The Official GRE test prep guides - a complete listing

○        Analytical writing sample topics (issue analysis) and Analytical writing sample topics (argument analysis)

○        Official GRE Mentor Course with POWERPREP PLUS

○        Math Review prep materials

○        POWERPREP Practice tests

○        Manhattan Prep GRE Strategy Guides

○        Khan Academy® Instructional Videos: Free Preparation for the GRE Quantitative Reasoning Measure

○        GRE Complete Prep - How to Score 330+ for Top Grad Schools

• Use several learning methods to prep for the GRE, such as online courses, simulation tests, forums, mobile or personalised learning, and so on.
• Relax and stay calm.

GRE Slot Booking

You can take the GRE General test once in 21 days, five times within a year (rolling 12-month period).

Tip: Book on time or in advance to get your preferred slot. Follow these steps to book your GRE slot:

1. Before booking a slot, register on the official GRE site (ets.org). Go through the registration information and policies on the site
2. Create your ETS account with your credentials and other contact details
3. Log in to your ETS account
4. Select the Schedule Your Test tab
5. Select GRE General Test
6. Enter your postal code and select a date range
7. Click Search Locations and select your desired test location from the list of available centres.
8. Pay the registration fees.

Contact IDP for Help with the GRE

Passing the GRE test and achieving your dream score is not an impossible task. All it takes is a lot of reading, practice, and time management. There are many tutorials and guides to help you in your quest. Moreover, our expert education counsellors at IDP are always there to answer any queries you have or lend a hand should you need more help. Reach out now for expert guidance.

Editor's note: This article was originally published in August 2015 by our content writer, Kavitha Vijayavelan. We have since revised it to include up-to-date information and ensure its comprehensiveness.