How to Prepare for GRE Exam in 2018?

GRE general test is a standard admission requirement for many graduate schools and B-schools. The GRE general test evaluates your executive functioning skills such as analysing data, thinking critically and solving problems. The way you prioritise and organise the given information is essential as it helps you to solve problems effectively. This article will give you tips for each section in GRE that will help you while preparing for the exam as well as during the exam. And will also give you a few advise that will help you to prepare for the GRE exam in a month.

GRE preparation strategies

1) Tips to prepare for GRE verbal section

GRE verbal reasoning section consists of three questions: reading comprehension, sentence equivalence and text completion. These questions measure your ability to analyse and examine the given material and extract useful inferences from it. It also assesses how you interpret the relationship between words, phrases and concepts. In the new format, more emphasis is given the written comprehensions -- How you read and what you understand out of it. Hence you need to understand the meaning of words, sentences and structure of the entire text.

GRE vocabulary

For a GRE success, you first need to deal with the vocabulary. If you are not familiar with any of the answers given, it will be challenging for you to answer sentence equivalence and text completion questions. You need even stronger vocabulary to parse the problematic passages that you will come across in the reading comprehension.

To learn vocabulary start with simple memorisation. Make use of flashcards to memorise words. Don't be dazzled just by learning few new words in a day.  You can not remember the words by studying them once. You need to keep revising them again and again. Also, make sure that you understand the words in context so that you know how to use them. This method will help you remember the words and their meaning.

The next step is to work on the vocabulary in context. Start writing sentences with the words that you have learned, to understand how they can be used in a context. Also, try to read top publications to know how the words you learned are employed there.

Reading comprehensions

Studies have shown that candidates that have a philosophy and liberal arts background ace the GRE verbal section because of their narrative and academic writing skills. Reading about subjects during your free time might be boring, but the effort will surely pay off. Hence read a lot to improve your reading comprehension. Don’t just concentrate on the quantity, read topics that are similar to what you will face during the GRE. Try to read newspapers, articles, subject-related books and abstracts from scientific studies. Learn to figure out the primary hypothesis and the results of the study from the abstract, as science passages are being often asked.

Signal words and phrases

Signal words are transitions that show whether the previously presented information is going to be supported, contradicted and clarified. Signal words and phrases will help you select the correct answer from the given options. They also help you parse the meaning of complex passages by providing you with the essential contextual information about the sentence or passage.

Here are a few common groups of GRE signal words -

• However/although -- offer a caveat or mitigation
• Indeed/furthermore -- provide further support or emphasis
• By contrast/rather/instead -- providing a different perspective, counterpoint, or purpose.

Understand what you are reading and give a thought to what the signal word is indicating.

2) Tips to prepare for GRE quant section

The quant section of GRE consists of Calculus and its applications (50%), Algebra (25%), Maths and geometry (25%). Quantitative reasoning measures your problem-solving abilities on the basic concepts of math. During the test, you will be provided with an on-screen calculator. In case of paper-based test, calculators will be provided to you at the test centre. It also assesses how you comprehend quantitative information, interpret, analyse, and find solutions by applying basic mathematical concepts. Hence you need to know undergraduate level real-life problems, word problems, mathematical problems and more.

GRE math practice

Practice a lot of GRE math available online as well as in prep books. The GRE calculator that they provide during the test is a simple scientific calculator. Try using common calculators over fancy ones when practising math. This way you won’t rely on features that you won’t have access to on the test day. You will also get used to solving the problems with the specific calculation functions available to you. Take timed practice tests to get the experience of the actual GRE quant section. By doing this, you will know where you stand regarding pacing, and help you provide valuable practice of doing the questions under time pressure.

Scratch paper

When taking computer-based practice tests or sections out of books, practice using separate sheets of scratch paper to do your calculations. This will sharpen your scratch paper strategy and also get used to doing your calculations on a separate piece of paper before test day. It is necessary that you write neatly and clearly on the paper. If you haphazardly scribble down calculations in all directions, you increase the chances of misreading something you have written. Hence practise you calculations using scratch paper.

Analyze your mistakes

It is always important to analyse your mistakes in GRE prep. it is essential that you identify your weaknesses on a micro-level. To know your struggle with questions on exponents is not enough -what about the exponents you find tricky? Is it subtraction, addition, multiplication or division? Do you have trouble working with exponents with the same base, or different bases? These are subtly different weaknesses, and you need to address these issues very carefully to be able to get that perfect score. Take precise notes on any questions you go wrong.  Also, write down the strategies that you use to solve the problem so that it helps you to do a quick revision on the test day.

3) Tips to prepare for GRE analytical writing section

Analytical writing comprises of two separate questions: Analyze an argument and Analyze an issue that examines your calibre to think critically about a topic, analyse and articulate your thoughts in written form and understand a given circumstance and write your response for it. The test also assesses how well you present your opinion on a given topic, with supportive statements, reasons, examples and explanations. Hence authentically answer the question and back it with evidence.

Practice writing

Write practice essays with pre-existing samples. Choose essay prompts to practice from ETS and then compare your responses to the anchor ones that have already been scored by ETS. Understanding the GRE writing rules is essential for doing well in the test because that’s what the GRE essay graders will be using to score your responses. Sometimes it can be challenging to take the abstract ideals of a rule and see how your writing measures. Instead, it is easier to see how you have done when you compare your writing to how others have written on the same topic.

To start with think of a topic that you want to write. Then spend a few minutes coming up with a roadmap instead of thinking of words, the compelling examples, and the nuanced logic. Practice writing in general, once you are done outlining. Make a habit of writing regularly and keep a journal of your thoughts and opinions. Try writing your reactions to things you have read or heard. This will allow you to become more comfortable with writing and improve your GRE AWA essay scores.

Editing your practice essays

During the GRE, writing word processor has no spell check, no grammar check, and no auto-correct and it’s likely for you to make some mistakes when you are writing your essay, especially if you are typing fast. It’s okay to make a few small errors, but if your essay has spelling and grammatical errors, that makes it difficult to understand, you might end up having a negative effect on your score. Though you won’t get much time to edit your essay on test day, if you sedulously edit your practice essays you will be more aware of your mistakes, both grammatical and logical. By correcting these mistakes will be prepared for them in the future and will also make the writing and logic more explicit.

Improve grammar

ETS clearly states that the quality and clarity of thought matters, and not the grammar. But the two are closely related. In case you are struggling to articulate something and end up breaking a grammatical rule, you will sacrifice clarity. Even minor grammatical errors such as incorrect pronouns, subject/verb agreement will impair the overall quality of your writing.

The vocabulary that you learn for GRE verbal can also be used in your AWA essays to improve your performance.  You need not use the full range of vocabulary that you find throughout the GRE verbal section. Merely mastering the use of the most common GRE words can boost your AWA GRE scores.

Test day tips to ace the GRE exam

Knowing about the test structure, scoring pattern and the adaptive nature of the test is not enough. After months of preparation, there are chances of getting low GRE scores. Here are a few simple tips most people won't tell you!

1) Verbal reasoning section

• During the exam when reading the first and last paragraph of the passages pay extra attention, as they usually contain more answers and facts.

• While reading the passages try to take notes or jot the keywords. This will save your time and don’t have to hunt for answers repeatedly.

• First, read the questions before you go on to the passages so that you will find answers easily from the passage.

• When you practise for the test, try to set yourself a specific time to complete the reading comprehension.

• Note down the number of answers that you have to write for each question. Do not cross the limit as it might lead to loss of score.

• For text completion questions, visualise the image behind the sentence. This will help you to pick your answer and also opt for the right form of grammar.

• If you find a long sentence try to break it and understand every part of it to get your answers faster.

• If there is more than one blank, fill in the latter one and then fill the first blank and also use synonyms from the given options to complete the sentences.

• Check, how many answers you have been asked for because sentence equivalence of GRE might have more than one right answer.

2) Quantitative reasoning section

• When preparing for the GRE quant section, start with school level maths. If you practice more of elementary maths, you will become more confident.

• Jot down all numbers and figures on the scratch paper, instead of solving the quant section mentally during the final GRE test.

• Try to solve each sum stepwise and then state the last answer to enhance the scope to score.

• For data analysis questions, translate written English into a mathematical problem and solve. Save some time as this process is complicated and onerous.

• If you have some time left, try back solving the GRE math problems after you complete.

• Do not depend on the calculator while preparing for the GRE quant section.

• When you solve algebra problems, a common mistake is not changing the signs depending on the calculation. Be cautious about this.

• Mug up formulas that will help you to solve the quant section faster and easier, especially for algebra and geometry.

• For geometry problems, recreate diagrams on the paper and then answer the same.

• Solve practice papers within the time limit for accuracy and correctness. And make maximum use of the scratch paper to minimize mistakes and maximize GRE score.

3) Analytical writing section

• Of the one hour allotted, spend ten minutes on mapping how and what you will write.

• Stick to the points or arguments you make when you are writing. If you differ from those or change your view in the midway, you might lose score.

• Show the examiner your understanding and knowledge of English by filling your essay with different forms of sentence construction and unique vocabulary.

• Split the GRE essays into paragraphs. Each para should contain only one fact or content, for easy understanding. Also, make sure that the connecting phrase has meaning and context. Jumping between paragraphs without links in between might affect your GRE score.

• In both the writeups, make sure that the intro and the ending are dominant. Make it rigid and fill it with facts and strategic writing.

• Avoid abbreviations, cliched phrases, ornamental English completely.

• The day before GRE, keep checking all the trending news so that you may club in your GRE writeups.

Here's how to prepare for the GRE exam in a month

You can prepare for the GRE exam in a month if you have an excellent grip in English vocabulary and have read a lot of books and novels. Prepare a study plan to keep yourself on track and follow these preparation strategies - Prepare for 25 days, practice tests for four days and relax for one day, i.e., the day before the exam.

If your situation does not include advanced English and a "passionate reader" capability, you should start preparing for the test a bit early. The test is quite exhausting. It is about four hours long. The test will assess your mental as well as physical strength. So be well prepared for that - eat healthily and stay healthy.

• One month preparation might seem a bit difficult for a few, but again it is not impossible. Start with a practice test to get a sense of your level. There are several online prep courses, preparation books etc. These courses have all the materials split for one month such as question banks, practice papers. You can also start from the official guide to GRE to get an idea of the test since you are starting from scratch. At this point set a concrete goal. Find out the median GRE scores for the programs where you want to apply. Then prepare yourself to break that scoring plateau to get into the program and schools you want. Set specific targets of right answers that correspond with your score goals. If your score goal corresponds to roughly 15 correct answers out of every 20 questions, then make it a priority to answer those 15 questions correctly in every section. That does not mean you shouldn't answer other questions. If you think you can solve them quickly and save the remaining time to solve the questions that have a better chance to be correct.
• Once you have an idea about your baseline scores and know what kind of improvement you need to do, the next step is to tackle the fundamentals. Spend your first two weeks on the content. If you find it's taking too much time, you may have to postpone the test. Without the fundamentals, there's no point in going further. So, make a point of studying high-frequency vocabulary words. Most GRE books and websites have a list of words that you should master. In five weeks you won't become a vocabulary expert, but you can surely fill in some of the glaring holes in your word knowledge.
• A lot of arithmetic, algebra and geometry facts and formulas that are tested in the GRE are in the quant section, so most GRE study plans tend to be a bit lopsided in favour of the quant. All of these are not tested equally, so make sure you pay attention to high yield concepts like ratios, standard quadratic equations and special right triangles.
• Once you have got the content down the next step is test strategy. Employ strategies such as answering the multiple choice questions like plugging in numbers and working backwards. This will help to answer the same question in a few different ways and compare. It is also essential to remember that the GRE is mainly a reasoning test, so instead of jumping into a rote calculation, you should always try to think first and then make use of logic.
• The GRE heavily favours word problems and so learning how to solve stereotypical problem types such as overlapping sets, rates, weighted and unweighted averages, combined work, inverse variation etc. will fetch you more points.
• In the verbal section, make a point of setting time guidelines for reading comprehension passages and questions. Learn the various types of questions that come with reading comprehension and the trap answers that accompany them. Recognize question types, employ proper techniques for answering them and avoid common trap answers. These skills are perfected only with extensive practice. Give yourself a few days to learn and master the logical reasoning questions. These are very different from standard reading comprehension. Most GRE prep books don't provide enough valid reasoning practice, so look into some GMAT or LSAT critical or logical reasoning resources, since the question types are almost the same to what you will find in the GRE.
• In the final two weeks, concentrate entirely on practising. Take the second GRE powerprep test either halfway through your training or a week before you take the test.  Check out the online or CD ROM resources that come with your books for more computerised practice.
• The best way to practice for GRE quickly without using any resources is by the 5 question drill. In general, your timing needs to be flexible as some questions will merely take longer than others to solve. Hence you should maintain an average speed per question. The 5 question drill is a compromise between the two different aims. For the quant section, try to complete five questions every 10 minutes and for the verbal section complete five questions every 9 minutes. How you use this time is up to you, so long as you complete the questions by the end of the time. This also includes guessing the answers to the questions that you don't know. So practice timing and strategy by continuously working through the five questions in the required schedule until you get a feel for the general pacing of the test and the tough decisions you make to succeed. Make sure you are reading the questions and calculating carefully. Also, consider alternative solving strategies when you notice the solving method that you chose is too long.
• When there are few days left for the test, spend some time on areas that you may have neglected while practising. Also, work on strong areas so that you can keep your confidence high. Choose your templates and set timing guidelines for the essays. Practice the sentence completions, especially the questions in which you don't know all the words and have to work the difficult vocabulary.

Understand where and how the test is conducted: the testing centre, the order of the test - essays first, then the five quant and verbal sections. Also be familiar with the onscreen calculator you will have to use as calculators are not allowed. Try to take your last practice tests on a computer to recreate the test experience. Make sure you have your admission ticket and know how to get to the test centre. Finally, don't study the night before the test- get proper rest and stay healthy.