When we talk about strategies and tips as to how to prepare for the GRE exam the very first thing that students should know is the nitty gritties of the GRE exam and should have a basic understanding of it. What actually is the GRE exam all about? GRE is the Graduate Record Examination which is a standardized test worldwide required for admissions into graduate programs of several top universities across the globe.

In order to secure your position at any of the top business schools etc. students must have a good GRE score as this gives you an edge over other applicants.

In this article we will be discussing more about the GRE exam and we will also talk about the tips and strategies as to how to prepare for this exam. First let/s understand the GRE exam prep and structure.

This exam assesses a candidate’s verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills. The test comprises of three major sections including:

Analytical Writing Assessment — This tests your writing skills

Verbal Reasoning — This tests your ability to think critically

Quantitative Reasoning — This tests your ability to work with numbers

Coming back to this about the strategies and tips as to how to prepare for the GRE exam, let’s first take a sneak peak into the time it takes for GRE preparation. This is quite a prominent question which stays on every candidate’s mind before they actually start the preparation. As far as the thumb rule goes one must give at least 2–3 months time of consistent preparation, however it actually depends on the individual and his familiarity with the concepts and schedule. Practice is quite an important part of the whole preparation strategy. So, one should never let go practice out of their hands.

GRE preparation can seem overwhelming to many because of the long list of vocabulary, however align yourself with the following:

• First thing is to get familiar with the exam structure and content
• Ease your study routine by setting small and achievable goals
• Work on both verbal and quant sections equally and focus on your strengths and weaknesses both
• Divide your time by either dedicating half a day for the GRE prep collective or preparing for a specific topic etc.
• Draft a study plan as per your weaknesses and strengths and start to work accordingly
• Choose the right study material as far as your GRE exam preparation is concerned

Strategies for GRE Exam Preparation

1. Turn your GRE exam preparation strategy into an interesting one by implementing some unconventional modes of preparation. You can try and implement a few out of the box preparation strategies.
2. Teach & Learn — Usually people say that by teaching something to any other person will actually make you the master of that concept. Explain or teach the GRE concepts to a friend as if you are teaching in a class full of students. This will solidify your basic concepts and your learning, however at the same time this methodology will help you identify your weak areas where you need to focus more.
3. Make Learning Fun — Make your exam preparation fun by turning your learning into gaming sessions. Set targets and challenges for your preparation just like you face in the actual exam and reward yourself with something after overcoming that huddle or a challenge just as if you are playing a game.
4. Mind Mapping — This is actually a great trick by which you can actually visualize your concepts. This can lead to concept retention.
5. Practice, practice and practice as this is the key to qualify the exam with great scores. No matter whether you are done with all study material or GRE vocab etc. practicing mock tests matters the most. Online resources offer GRE practice tests which are actually known as mock tests and these simulate the real exam as closely as possible.
6. Allow yourself some downtime as GRE preparation is a little tiresome thus, you will have to remember that rest is equally important. Try to take regular breaks in between exam preparation so that you can recharge yourself with whatever you like. It could be either going out for a wake, eating your favourite food or indulging in any hobby.

Conclusion

GRE exam preparation is a journey and it cannot be summarised in a few points. Every individual has their own way of doing it, but try incorporating the above mentioned points and you will surely be able to elevate your GRE exam preparation. So, go GRE test takers and adopt some unconventional ways of preparation.

As mentioned above, GRE exam preparation is a journey and not a process to complete in haste. Strategise, plan and prepare accordingly to achieve the desired results.