How to prepare for GRE?
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is an international standardised test that is an admissions requirement for most universities in the USA, UK, Canada, etc. into their bachelors, masters (or above) level courses. The test measures aptitude of your understanding in the areas of analytical writing, mathematics, and vocabulary.
There are three sections: Verbal Reasoning (reading comprehension), Quantitative Reasoning (mathematical comprehension), and Writing. The verbal and quantitative sections are scored on a 130–170 score scale, in 1-point increments. And the analytical writing section is scored on a 0–6 score level, in half-point increase. Preparing for the test can be exhausting as it most certainly decides whether you get the chance to get admitted in your desired college or not. The thumb rule is to practice regularly and be consistent; the last-minute study will not work. You should have at least six months in hand. Here are some tips for you:
Planning is everything
The first step to ace your test is to plan your study schedule according to your strengths and weaknesses. Familiarise yourself with the format and process of the examination. Build a definite timeline, defining the number of hours each day. It may not be possible to but try to perform at least 80% of your planned scheduled.
Determine your target score
Different courses require different GRE scores. Make a list, if not already of the graduate programs that you are interested in and check the GRE requirement. Keep in mind that your target score should be realistic and according to your strengths.
Find out your comfortable areas
GRE covers topics which you might have studied during your school/college time. You will find some subjects come naturally to you and others you might find difficult. However, make sure not to skip anything. First, concentrate on the areas you find difficult and then, move on to the areas you are comfortable with. When you start dedicating your time to those areas you struggle with but still review the fewer challenging sections, then you shall refine your skills in all subjects.
For the quantitative section, you must figure out whether you are naturally good with numbers or they exhaust you. For the first case, you can practice 30–60 minutes every day. On the other hand, for the second scenario, you must practice at least 2 hours a day for six months.
For reading and writing sections, refer a dictionary or WordWeb app to find and use new words. Making flashcards for difficult words to check them once in a while is very helpful. Make a habit of writing daily for 15–20 minutes. Get yourself a notebook and write on any topic for the first 15 days. After that, you can search for different types of issues and write on them.
Say Yes to mock tests
The number of mock tests you take will define how well you will do so in your final exams. It is advisable to keep the last preparation month only for practice. You’ll find numerous mock papers over the internet. At the same time, this will help you with time management. Try mimicking the actual GRE tests with the real conditions.
Additional tips:
- Utilise free times like while travelling on a train. Instead of going over social media, you can read or practice problems.
- Do not limit your studying only to weekends.
- Debrief your practice papers. It will help you recognise your patterns, weaknesses and strengths, etc.
- Practice both with and without a calculator. This will help you figure out when using a calculator makes you more accurate.
Shahjadi Jemim Rahman and Dawor Deka