As a student who is looking to pursue their Masters/PhD, a question that one often encounters is: When do I take theGRE? The GRE can be taken at any point throughout the year, depending on the availability of the slots in a particular centre. There is no clear-cut answer to the question of when to write the GRE, but Jamboree would like to give you a few pointers to help make your decision.
Asking the following questions will give you a deeper insight into your preparation for the GRE exam and how it fits into your plans. Go step by step, and make sure you consider all factors before making a decision.
How prepared are you?
As a test-taker, you need to gauge your level of preparedness and make sure you are giving your best shot at the GRE.You can take diagnostic/sample tests and practice questions which will help you evaluate whether you are exam-ready. After all, there is no point in writing an exam when you are not adequately prepared.
The GRE tests your critical thinking, quantitative reasoning and language skills. Thus, based on your strengths, you will need to work to improve your math, vocabulary and/or writing abilities. Often, students find the GRE vocabulary difficult, and spend too much time on learning new words. At Jamboree, however, we believe in working smart: Our GRE prep method focuses on building your strengths and helping you with strategies to crack the GRE questions in a less time-consuming manner.
Begin Your GRE Test Prep With Jamboree!
When do you plan on pursuing your masters?
Most Indian students think about taking the GRE during the final year of their undergraduate studies. Remember that GRE exam scores are valid for a period of 5 years. This means that if you do well, you can even gather 2-3 years of work experience and apply to the University of your choice.
At Jamboree, we understand that students come from different backgrounds and therefore have different aspirations. While some students prefer to do their masters immediately after their undergraduate course, others like to wait and gain some work experience before delving into the more complex world of Masters’ degrees. Neither approach is better than the other, but students should factor in their plans towards prepping for the GRE:
Students who prefer the option of studying immediately after their undergrad like to continue their education primarily because they believe in momentum--- they do not want to have a stop-start in their education.
Students who take the route of experience first like to muster more practical and on-ground knowledge before they go for their master's program.
Either way, the GRE scores are valid for a period of 5 years, therefore, the timing of your master's program and when you take the exam is absolutely critical.
When are the application deadlines?
Application deadlines are listed on every university website; students need to research the college-specific application requirements and deadlines well in advance. Most universities have their application deadlines set in December or in January but do remember that this might vary from institution to institution.
There are different components to a complete application, which include the Statement of Purpose, Letters of Recommendation, transcripts etc., along with your GRE score. The process of creating a completely rounded application takes time and requires intensive and rigorous preparation.
Let us assume that you are looking to secure admissions into a university in the fall of 2025. Your application deadlines would be somewhere between December 2024 and January 2025. This means that you should plan on completing your GRE latest by November 2024. You also need to bear in mind that if you do not score well in your first attempt, you would need to retake the examination and the GRE can be taken only once every 21 days.
In order to give yourself enough time to prepare, take a diagnostic test and understand where you stand. This will give you enough time to plan ‘backwards’, and schedule your test with enough time for your applications.
How much time do I have to prepare for the GRE?
There are different kinds of test takers who attempt the GRE. A few of them are college students, while others just take the test to add to their professional qualifications.
Here, we focus on only those students who take the GRE as a part of their university application process. Now, for those who are either working professionals or parents, you will need to plan your preparation schedule around your work and other personal commitments, which might be a really demanding task. If you are a college-going student, you might have more time to attend GRE classes and integrate test prep into your schedule. Either way, ensure that you plan well in advance. Prudence is well advised: Lots of applicants miss deadlines due to an unplanned schedule. As we have already mentioned, planning backwards is the key to your success story.
The decision of when to take the GRE is completely dependent on the student. A student must be aware of factors that are personal, subjective, and those parameters which cannot be ignored; the requirements set by the university. A combination of subjective and objective factors should be key determinants for you to plan your journey.
It was one of the best experiences I have had. The best thing about the Greater Noida center is that the faculties make an extra effort to ensure you achieve your target score.
I got a lot of individual attention and therefore was able to improve. I’m thankful to Jamboree for helping me achieve good marks in GRE.
Rushi Tej
I can refer you for the best Gmat coaching
Akash Behl
I joined Jamboree, Pune in July 2017 for the weekday batch. Though I was fairly comfortable with Quant, I had little idea on how to score well in Verbal. I am immensely thankful for Shreyas Sir, the Verbal faculty at Jamboree, who helped me in figuring out the right approach to master the Verbal section. He was almost always available to not only discuss course-related queries but also counsel on the universities that I should look out for.
After around 3 months of classes, and multiple section and full tests, I took the GMAT on October 25, on which I scored a 670. Exhausted from the rigorous academics, I had made up my mind to continue with the score. But, Shreyas Sir persuaded me to try for a second attempt. Reluctant at first, I followed his advice and took the second attempt on December 11. The moment when I received the score is still vivid.
With a 720 (V42, Q50), I had joined the club and if it was not for the consistent push from Shreyas Sir, I wouldn't have taken the plunge.
Of all the hard jobs around, one of the hardest is being a good teacher.
And I will be forever thankful to Shreyas Ramakrishnan for where I am right now.
Shefalee Shet
My counselor (Shagun Kansal) was very good. She helped me with every single thing since the start. She explains very well. Professional, prompt and well-spoken.
Sanjana Gautam
I joined Jamboree about a month back. It has been a great experience. They have accomodated around my internship schedule . The resources are very close to the actual test. Both the teachers are extremely helpful. I gave my GRE last week and secured 325/340.
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