Flashcards for the GRE: Strategies to Help You Ace the Exam

Are you gearing up for the GRE? Feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information you need to learn? But don't worry, with the right study tools, you can ace this test and gain admission into the graduate program of your dreams. And one of the most effective study tools? Flashcards!

In this post, we'll explore strategies for using flashcards to help you prepare for the GRE, along with some resources to get you started.

Create Your Own Flashcards

This can definitely be laborious work but creating the flashcards yourself is one of the most effective ways to learn any material. Why? By crafting your own flashcards, you'll be able to customize the content to fit your learning style and focus on areas where you need the most help.

Also, the actual process of creating the flashcards is active learning. You read the material and have to process and understand what you need to study and what is important to study. This will help you engage more deeply with the material. As you write out the concepts and definitions, you are reinforcing your understanding of them and building connections in your brain.

Here are a few tips for creating effective flashcards:

- Keep it concise: Use bullet points or short phrases to keep the information on your flashcards brief and to the point.

- Visuals are your friend: Including images or diagrams can help you remember information more easily.

- Mix it up: Don't just use words on your flashcards. Try using charts, tables, or other visual aids to help you organize information.

- Focus on key concepts: Don't try to cram everything onto a single flashcard. Instead, focus on the most important concepts or formulas. For example, for the GRE quantitative section, combinations and permutation questions are pretty popular. Here's are how some flashcards get help you review those concepts:

Front: Combination Formula

Back: nCr = n!/[(n-r)!r!]

Front: Permutation Formula

Back: nPr = n!/(n-r)!

Front: How many ways can you arrange 5 books on a shelf?

Back: 5! = 120

Use Spaced Repetition

Spaced repetition is a technique where you review information at increasing intervals over time. By spacing out your study sessions, you can help your brain retain information more effectively.

Several apps and websites use spaced repetition to help you learn such as Anki. These platforms use algorithms to determine when you need to review information and help you focus on the areas where you need the most help.

Use Pre-Made Flashcards

If you're short on time or don't want to create your own flashcards, you can find pre-made flashcards online. Several websites offer GRE flashcards for free or at a low cost, such as Magoosh, Kaplan, and Manhattan Prep.

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. Try it out for free (mobile app too).

Find a Study Buddy

Studying with a friend or classmate can help you stay accountable and motivated. You can quiz each other using flashcards or work together to create study materials.

Use Mnemonics

Mnemonics are memory aids that help you remember information by creating associations with existing knowledge. For example, to remember the formula for the area of a circle (A = πr²), you could use the mnemonic "Apple pies are square."

Take Breaks

Studying for the GRE can be overwhelming, so it's essential to take breaks to avoid burnout. Take a walk, exercise, or do something fun to clear your mind and recharge.

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Flashcards can be a powerful tool in your GRE prep arsenal. By creating your own flashcards, using spaced repetition, finding pre-made flashcards, studying with a buddy, using mnemonics, and taking breaks, you'll be well on your way to acing the exam and achieving your graduate school goals. Good luck!