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GRE is a standardized test which is taken by graduates who are interested in pursuing Masters, MBA or other Doctoral degrees in the USA. For those who are planning their study abroad journey this is the first step towards attaining that. The GRE exam is administered and owned by ETS, which is Educational Testing Services. Knowing the basis of the GRE exam is not good enough to clear the exam, however while you plan to prepare for the exam many have this question in mind that how much time is required to prepare for the GRE? The answer to this question is that GRE exam preparation is not an overnight process, but it is a journey which can take months for you to succeed. In this article we will be discussing a few best GRE exam preparation strategies that can be your key to success.

The GRE test is not specific to any academic discipline, but your executive functioning skills are tested with this exam. Your success in the GRE exam depends on your ability to gather and arrange the information you have and try to solve the problems efficiently on the basis of the given information. The following GRE exam preparation tips and strategies can be helpful for you.

Reading Analytics Non-Fiction will be Beneficial

In order to succeed in GRE you should feed your mind with a balanced reading and study material. Along with proper study material, supplementary analytical non-fiction is important. It is seen that students who ace the verbal section of the GRE have the knowledge and are familiar with academic writing in their UG courses. These skills and knowledge of reading or familiarizing yourself with unrelated topics other than your major areas of interest will be helpful in the reading passages.

For you to ace the reading passage section of the GRE test, you need to be a highly skilled reader and those who are already familiar with a wide variety of tests will surely have an upper hand in this.

GRE Study Plan & Study Material

For those who want to know how much time it takes for a person to prepare for GRE actually varies from individual to individual. A minimum of three months of preparation is required though, however the most important thing is to create a study plan and stick to it.

As far as GRE study material is concerned, these days there is no dearth of study material on the internet, however it is very important to pick and choose your sources wisely and do not just pick study material from any random website. Mentioned below are few steps that you can follow while looking out for relevant material online:

  • If you are learning words then make sure you are learning the relevant ones that appear frequently in the GRE test. Jamboree offers GRE specific vocabulary and the vocabulary teaching method is focussed only on high frequency GRE words.

  • GRE reading comprehension is to be practiced well as the questions which come are of specific type. So, you need to prepare well for it.

  • Math questions asked in GRE have some specific questions, but the idea is that you must know how to solve these questions, else you will not be able to achieve the magical score.

  • Official GRE test prep material is to be used for reference and GRE test preparation.

  • Jamboree offers more than 150 hours of faculty interaction along with 51 hours of classes and more than 100 hrs of live webinars for GRE.

Attempt Practice Tests

GRE exam preparation often comes with stress for many. Each section is kind of manageable individually, but when it comes to taking up the whole exam it is no less than a marathon. You must be prepared well to take this test in one go and the best thing to do for this is build your stamina. insufficient stamina can lead to low scores which is why attempting practice tests on a regular basis is important. Not taking these tests is one of the biggest mistakes which GRE exam takers make. These tests will not only build your stamina, but also provide a baseline reference point for the actual exam.

Taking these tests will also help you pace up and is a highly recommended way to build your stamina. Make sure that you take these practice tests seriously and as close as possible to the actual GRE test. Accustom your brain to take the test in a realistic scenario.

Know your Weakness & Chart your Progress

Knowing your weaknesses well is the first step towards a great GRE score. However, just knowing is not important but you will have to work upon them to overcome the challenges you face. The GRE exam structure is like:

Analytical Writing : 30 minutes
Verbal Reasoning : (Two Sections)
Section 1: 12 questions, 18 mins
Section 2: 15 questions, 23 mins
Quantitative Reasoning (Two Sections)
Section 1: 12 questions, 21 mins
Section 2: 15 questions, 26 mins

Structure your study plan on the basis of this exam structure and target your weaknesses more effectively. Charting your progress is equally important and is an absolute necessity because this activity will help you in analyzing your GRE test preparation well. Objectively assess the effectiveness of your study plan and preparation strategies. Regular self-evaluation is necessary for each section and type of question.

Trust Your Instinct

Many times you may feel that you are stuck between two plausible answers. The first step is to analyze the problem and gather the information and then the process of elimination begins. But, still there is a chance that you are stuck between two options. In that case trusting your gut feel seems important and you can go with it. However, a shortcut can be only used if you have thoroughly and purposefully learned and practiced everything. As long as you have prepared well, trusting your gut instinct and going ahead with that may solve the problem.

Conclusion

These effective and best GRE exam preparation strategies can make you adaptable to the actual GRE test. It is the only general admissions exam which is internationally accepted by thousands of graduate schools. Following the strategies discussed above can actually sharpen your GRE preparation techniques and thus, you can expect the improvements in your GRE score.

FAQs:

  1. How long does it take to prepare for the GRE?

    2. The GRE exam preparation time varies from person to person.Usually, 3 months is what it takes to prepare for the GRE test. Moreover, sufficient time is required to practice for the GRE exam.

  2. Is GRE easy for Indian students?

    3. The difficulty level of the GRE exam for Indian students again depends on the exam preparation. For first timers, it will be challenging as the questions asked in the GRE are logically oriented and students are assessed on the basis of critical thinking.

  3. Is GRE exam tough or easy?

    4. The GRE exam is usually considered hard, but is less challenging than the GMAT.

  4. Can we use a calculator for the GRE test?

    5. There is an on-screen calculator which is provided to the candidates which can be of a huge advantage if used correctly.

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