Best Ways to Study for the GREs

Ah, the GREs. The graduate school admissions test that strikes fear into the hearts of many. But fear not, with the right study techniques and resources, you too can conquer the GRE and get into the grad school of your choosing. In this post, I'll share some of the best ways to study for the GREs, along with specific examples, study techniques, and resources to help you on your journey.

Fist, let's talk about the different sections of the GRE. There are 3 main sections: the verbal section, quantitative section, and analytical writing section. The verbal section tests reading comprehension, vocabulary, text completion, and more. The quantitative section tests math concepts. There's also an analytical writing section, but we won't be focusing on that in this post.

Now, onto the good stuff. Here are some of the best ways to study for the GRE:

Take practice tests

Before you start studying, take a practice test to get a baseline of where you're at. The official GRE website has free practice tests that you can take online, or you can buy a book of practice tests. Your baseline score will give you an idea of how much you need to improve and provide a data point for you to compare to once you start studying and improving.

It is best to recreate the environment of a real test when taking any practice test to get as close to the real thing as possible. This includes timing yourself, taking bathroom breaks, and even setting the AC to an uncomfortable temperature.

It can't be stressed enough how important practice tests are however, you also probably want to space them out so that you don't use all of them up at the beginning of your study journey.

Some great resources for practice tests include (free and paid):

- Official GRE Website: The official GRE website offers two free online practice tests that simulate the test-taking experience. They also offer a paid PowerPrep Plus package which includes two additional practice tests with advanced features, such as score analysis and the ability to skip questions.

- Magoosh: Magoosh offers a free online GRE practice test as well as a paid premium plan that includes access to six additional practice tests. The premium plan also includes video lessons, customized study plans, and email support.

- Kaplan: Kaplan offers a free GRE practice test as well as several paid options, including a self-paced course and a live online course. Their practice tests are adaptive, meaning they adjust to your skill level and give you questions that are appropriate for your ability.

- Manhattan Prep: Manhattan Prep offers a free online GRE practice test as well as several paid options, including a self-study course and an interactive online course. Their practice tests are adaptive as well.

- Princeton Review: Princeton Review offers a free GRE practice test as well as several paid options, including a self-paced course and a live online course.

Create a study schedule

Once you know where you stand, create a study schedule that works for you. Maybe you'll study for an hour each day after work, or maybe you'll dedicate weekends to studying. Whatever works best for you, make a plan and stick to it. Consistency is key.

Use flashcards

One of the best ways to study vocabulary for the verbal section is to use flashcards. There are plenty of apps and websites that offer GRE-specific flashcards, or you can make your own. Shameless plug: Flashcard Lab is a Google Sheets add-on that allows you to customize the study material to your liking, is simple and easy to use. It also comes with the most popular 600 GRE words as flashcards for you to start studying. If you're already familiar with Google Sheets, you don't have to learn any other software and it's super easy to customize your study material. Try it out for free (mobile app too).

Here are some examples on how you can use flashcards to study for the verbal section:

1. Vocabulary Building: This one is the most obvious as there's a lot of challenging vocabulary on the GREs. Make flashcards with a word on one side and its definition, synonyms, and antonyms on the other.

2. Sentence Completion: Write a sentence with a blank space on one side and the correct answer and explanation on the other.

3. Analogies: Make flashcards with two words on one side and the relationship between them on the other.

Here are some examples of flashcards for the quantitative section:

1. Formulas: Make flashcards with formulas for geometry, algebra, and arithmetic on one side and an example problem using the formula on the other.

2. Concepts: Make flashcards with math concepts such as fractions, percentages, and ratios on one side and examples of problems using those concepts on the other.

3. Properties: Make flashcards with math properties such as commutative, associative, and distributive on one side and examples of problems using those properties on the other.

Read challenging material

To improve your reading comprehension skills, read challenging material like academic articles or dense novels. Pay attention to the structure of the text and try to identify the main points and arguments. Here are some resources for improving reading comprehension:

The New Yorker: The New Yorker is a weekly magazine known for its long-form journalism and literary fiction. Its articles are well-written and cover a range of topics, from politics and current events to arts and culture.

The Atlantic: The Atlantic is a monthly magazine that publishes essays, reviews, and commentary on a variety of topics, including politics, science, and technology. The articles are often long and in-depth, making them good practice for the longer reading passages on the GRE.

The Economist: The Economist is a weekly news magazine that covers international news, business, finance, and politics. Its articles are written in a sophisticated style and often require a good understanding of economics and world events.

Scientific American: Scientific American is a monthly magazine that covers science and technology. Its articles are written for a general audience and often require a good understanding of scientific concepts and terminology.

Practice math problems

For the quantitative section, practice is key. Work through math problems and equations to improve your skills. The official GRE website has a list of math topics that will be covered on the test, so use that as a guide.

Take breaks

Studying for the GRE can be intense, so don't forget to take breaks. Go for a walk, grab a snack, or do something that relaxes you in between study sessions.

Get a study group

Studying with a group can be a great way to stay motivated and learn from others. Plus, it can be more fun than studying alone.

Stay positive

Remember, the GRE is just one part of your grad school application. Don't let a low score discourage you, and keep a positive attitude throughout the process.

Reward yourself

Finally, don't forget to reward yourself for all your hard work! Whether it's a night out with friends or a new book, treat yourself for all your GRE studying efforts. Burnout is definitely a problem and study too hard might even be counter productive. It's all about balance but don't procrastinate.

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So there you have it, some of the best ways to study for the GRE. With the right attitude and resources, you can tackle this test and get accepted into the grad school of your dreams. Happy studying!