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To apply for a master’s, MBA, JD, or PhD program, you may be considering taking the GRE. Your GRE score is a critical element of your application, so earning a good score is paramount. To put your best foot forward, you will need a solid start to your GRE preparation. If you’re wondering if a GRE 3-month study plan can lead to success, read on! In this article, we’ll help you to develop an effective study schedule to keep you on track.
With the many demands on your time, you will need to create a GRE study plan that balances your many commitments—from school and work to family and friends—with your need to prepare for the GRE. During this time, you’ll also need to pay attention to finishing your application package.
In this article, we’ll look at the many factors to consider for creating an effective GRE prep schedule. This will include a personalized GRE study plan, specific study materials, and effective study tips and strategies for optimizing your time and effort.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- GRE Basics
- Your 3-Month GRE Study Plan
- Summary
- What’s Next?
GRE Basics
Let’s first learn the GRE basics: time, sections, topics, questions, and other pertinent details.
First, remember that the GRE is 1 hour, 58 minutes long. There is no break.
Next, note that the GRE consists of three sections: the Analytical Writing section is always presented first, and it is followed by either a Verbal Reasoning or a Quantitative Reasoning section.
Next, let’s look at these three section types in more detail.
KEY FACT:
The GRE is 1 hour, 58 minutes long, and there is no break.
Analytical Writing
The Analytical Writing section is 30 minutes long. You are given one “Analyze an Issue” writing task. Using a basic word processor, you will respond to a prompt by evaluating the issue, addressing its complexities, and developing an argument to support your views. You can learn more about the Analytical Writing task in this article.
KEY FACT:
The Analytical Writing section assigns you one “Analyze an Issue” writing task, which you must complete in 30 minutes.
Verbal Reasoning
Verbal Reasoning is presented in 2 sections, with a total of 27 questions. In the first section, you will have 18 minutes to answer 12 questions. In the second section, you will have 23 minutes to answer 15 questions. You are tested on Reading Comprehension (RC), reasoning, and vocabulary.
Overall, the Verbal Reasoning section of the GRE measures your ability to evaluate and analyze passages and your ability to understand the meaning of words, sentences, and texts. These skills are assessed in 3 question formats:
- Reading Comprehension (RC): About half of the 27 Verbal questions are RC. You will be presented with short and long passages, which you must analyze and summarize, and about which you will draw conclusions. You also will identify the weaknesses and strengths of a position presented in the passage.
- Text Completion (TC): About 7 questions of the 27 Verbal questions are TC. Sentences or passages contain 1 to 3 blanks, and you must choose the correct vocabulary word (in context) from the answer choices for each. Note that there is no partial credit: if a TC passage contains multiple blanks, you must correctly fill each blank to get the question correct.
- Sentence Equivalence (SE): About 7 questions of the 27 Verbal questions are SE. A single sentence consists of just 1 blank, and you must identify the 2 choices (out of 6) that, when inserted into the blank, produce a sentence with the same meaning. Much like in multiple-blank TC questions, there is no partial credit. To get an SE question correct, you must choose both correct answers.
Ultimately, the key to answering TC and SE questions successfully is strong knowledge of words and their meanings.
KEY FACT:
The Verbal Reasoning section includes Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence questions.
Quantitative Reasoning
Quantitative Reasoning is presented in 2 sections, with a total of 27 questions. In the first section, you will have 21 minutes to answer 12 questions. In the second section, you will have 26 minutes to answer 15 questions. Notably, the topics of arithmetic, algebra, data analysis, and geometry are tested. In addition, you are provided with an on-screen, 4-function calculator.
The Quantitative Reasoning section of the GRE tests your ability to use math knowledge and skills to solve problems. The following math topics are tested on the GRE:
- Arithmetic
- Ratios and Percents
- Rates, Work Problems, and Unit Conversion
- Number Properties
- Linear and Quadratic Equations
- Roots and Exponents
- Inequalities and Absolute Value
- Functions and Sequences
- Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability
- Overlapping Sets and Combinations/Permutations
- Geometry
- Coordinate Geometry
To perform well on the GRE Quant sections, you need to be familiar with 4 types of math questions:
- Multiple-Choice, Single-Answer: 5 answer choices, 1 of which is correct
- Multiple-Choice, Multiple-Answer: given several answer choices, choose all that are correct
- Numeric Entry: fill in the blank
- Quantitative Comparison (QC): given 2 quantities, determine the relationship between them.
The fourth type of question—Quantitative Comparison—is unique to the GRE and requires a bit of practice before you will feel comfortable with it. Also, you can read more about Quantitative Comparison questions in this article.
KEY FACT:
The Quant section of the GRE tests you on 20+ math topics in 4 different question types.
Your 3-Month GRE Study Plan
Let’s now home in on some of the details of the 3-month study plan.
First Week: Set the Stage for GRE Success
In the first week, you will set the stage for your successful 3-month run at the GRE by completing a variety of activities. Let’s look at each of them.
Get Registered
First, register at the ETS website. While you’re registering, read as much as you can about the GRE. And, while you’re there, be sure to order your 2 free PowerPrep tests and the PowerPrep Test Preview Tool. Later, you can order the remaining 3 paid tests.
TTP PRO TIP:
Before you begin your GRE studying, register at the GRE website and download the free practice tests.
Determine Your Target and Baseline GRE Scores
Next, you will want to determine your target GRE score. First, visit the websites of the graduate programs that interest you to find the average GRE score of students accepted to your desired programs.
Next, determine your baseline GRE score. Do this by taking your first official practice GRE that you downloaded from the ETS website. Before you take your practice test, learn about the structure and format of the GRE by opening the free PowerPrep Test Preview Tool, also available for free at the ETS website.
Finally, compare your target GRE target score to your baseline GRE score. The difference will give you an indication of how much time and effort you will need to invest in the next 3 months.
TTP PRO TIP:
Once you determine your target GRE score, take a practice test to get your baseline GRE score.
Choose Your Study Materials
Next, look for the best study resources available. You might consider buying some GRE test prep books, hiring a private tutor, or joining a GRE study group. However, your best bet is to find an online study course, such as the Target Test Prep GRE self-study course.
In general, an online course is a one-stop shop for GRE success. You are provided with a structured study schedule, in-depth study material, instructional videos, review questions, analytics, flashcards, error trackers, and a host of other services. Because 3 months may be a stretch for you, a good online course will streamline and organize your studying.
Set Up Your Daily Activities
You have 2 items requiring daily attention: vocabulary words and math formulas and facts. Memorization is key for both, and flashcards are the best way to memorize the information.
You can use paper flashcards, electronic flashcards, or a combination of both. For vocabulary, you might find it more convenient to use a pre-made flashcard deck to save time and effort. Essentially, all GRE vocabulary lists, no matter the source, are similar. Thus, it’s not necessary to create your own list. Instead, use what is already available. You might set a goal of learning 10 new words each day, which would yield about 900 words mastered in 3 months. Many GRE experts agree that this is not an unreasonable goal.
TTP PRO TIP:
Pre-made flashcards of GRE vocabulary words will save time and effort.
For math, you might want to make a personalized flashcard deck. As you progress through your math learning, identifying and then writing down the formulas, concepts, and procedures for the math topics that are challenging to you will be beneficial. By writing this information on flashcards, you are summarizing and organizing, which is the first step to learning and memorizing.
Review your flashcards daily! Learn today’s new vocabulary words, and review those you learned yesterday. Regarding math flashcards, your deck may build more slowly, but it still is important to review the cards as they are created. Commit to spending the first 5 to 10 minutes of each daily study session flipping through your flashcard decks.
TTP PRO TIP:
Spend at least 5 to 10 minutes each day learning and reviewing your vocabulary and math flashcards.
The 2 Phases of GRE Preparation
There are 2 distinct phases that comprise your GRE prep course schedule: the learning phase and the practice test phase. In Phase 1, the learning phase, you will spend at least 2 months studying and learning the Quant and Verbal topics that are tested on the GRE.
In Phase 2, the practice test phase, you’ll take full-length practice exams to learn whether your study and preparation have been effective.
Keep these 2 phases separate. Except for taking a practice exam in the first week to establish your baseline score, take additional practice exams only after you have completed the learning phase.
Take additional practice exams only after you have completed the learning phase.
Once more: Take additional practice exams only after you have completed the learning phase. If you take a practice exam prematurely, the results will be meaningless. For example, let’s say you take a practice exam before learning inequalities, and you miss 4 inequalities questions. So, what does that really tell you? Nothing you didn’t already know, since you aren’t strong in the topic of inequalities yet!
Remember, there are only 5 official practice tests: 2 free and 3 that can be purchased from ETS. After you take 1 practice test to establish your baseline score, you’ll have only 4 remaining official tests. Save these for the final month of your GRE preparation.
TTP PRO TIP:
Don’t waste practice exams by taking them prematurely.
If you want to ensure that you’re fully prepared to crush the GRE on test day, you’ll need a study strategy that involves learning GRE content first. Then, you will refine your abilities with plenty of practice. So, let’s talk about study strategies for the learning phase of your GRE preparation.
The Learning Phase: Months 1 and 2
During the learning phase, you will cover the background material to prepare you for answering GRE questions. During these 8 weeks, you will want to study the 20+ major math topics and the Verbal topics of reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and mastering as many as 1,000 vocabulary words.
Determining how much time you can spend each day on your prep is important. No matter your background, you should commit at least 2 hours each day to your GRE prep.
A 2-hour study session might include your flashcard review (10 minutes), your math studying (80 minutes), and Verbal studying of RC passages or TC/SE practice (30 minutes). As you can see, this schedule assumes that you like to have a change of pace during each study session, with time devoted to both Quantitative and Verbal topics.
As an alternative, you might want to devote entire study sessions to only math or only Verbal. This would allow you to completely immerse yourself in a particular topic for the entire session, which could lead to deeper learning and a more productive study period. The choice is yours.
By and large, you need to do what is most comfortable for you. Just remember to review your vocabulary and math flashcards every day.
TTP PRO TIP:
Commit at least 2 hours each day to GRE studying.
Next, let’s discuss how to get the most out of your learning phase.
Tips for a Successful Learning Phase
During the learning phase, you will want to squeeze as much learning out of every minute as possible. Thus, you will want to follow these useful strategies for successful preparation during the learning phase.
Strategy 1: Use Topical Studying
By following a linear, topic-by-topic approach to GRE prep, you’ll be using the most highly recommended method to ensure that you properly learn each GRE subject.
The premise of topical studying is to learn one topic at a time, and then practice questions on just that topic before moving to the next one. As a result, you’ll start with the fundamentals and work your way up to more advanced concepts.
TTP PRO TIP:
Topical studying is the best way to progress from the fundamentals to more advanced concepts of each topic.
Strategy 2: Alternate Between Quantitative and Verbal Study
While it’s a good idea for some students to separate Quant and Verbal study during their GRE prep, we don’t recommend studying GRE Quant and Verbal at entirely different times. For example, it would not be a good idea to study just GRE Quant for the first 2 months of prep and then study just Verbal for the next 2 months. Notably, retention of the material will be more difficult with such large gaps in coverage.
Alternating between Quant and Verbal provides students adequate time and space between topics to retain what they’ve learned and keep their preparation on track. In addition, it prevents the study process from becoming monotonous. It helps to keep learning interesting, allowing us to keep a positive attitude toward our study sessions.
TTP PRO TIP:
Alternate between covering Quant and Verbal topics to increase your retention.
Strategy 3: Take Notes During Your Prep
During the learning phase, it is critical to take notes as you learn new topics. Too often, students take the passive way out by reading or watching videos about concepts without doing anything else to reinforce what they’re learning. By and large, your learning is not optimized when you study passively!
The best way of becoming active during your studying is by taking notes as you learn new concepts. The act of restating a concept in your own words makes you think more deeply about what it means. After all, the more you have to think about what you’re learning, the more you’ll remember. So, when you read a lesson or watch a video solution, put your brain to work by taking notes.
Taking notes has 2 additional benefits: you’ll have a written record for later reference, and you’ll have a base of information for making your flashcard sets.
TTP PRO TIP:
Avoid passive study by taking notes.
Strategy 4: Review What You’ve Learned
To ensure retention, you must frequently review the GRE topics you’ve already covered. We’ve already stated that you don’t want to let so much time pass since you last covered a topic that you forget it. You risk losing knowledge as you go through your study plan if you don’t review previous topics regularly.
Be sure to include periodic review quizzes in your GRE study plan. In addition to your daily flashcard review, the quizzes will help you refresh what you’ve learned. By reviewing the results of the quizzes, you can determine whether you’ve lost information from any previously learned topics.
In fact, students enrolled in the TTP GRE course begin every new chapter with a review quiz that includes 10 questions based on several of the prior chapters they’ve studied. Notably, these quizzes give students a valuable opportunity to review what they’ve learned. As a result, important concepts are less likely to be forgotten.
Taking mixed-topic review quizzes will allow you to periodically assess your ability to apply what you’ve learned. The quizzes, which present problems from many topics, are similar to what you will see on the real GRE. At TTP, we compile our mixed sets strategically, so that our students never encounter topics they haven’t yet learned.
In addition to the shorter TTP review quizzes, students will periodically be presented with 40-question review tests covering topics from several previous chapters. In essence, these tests provide a review of previously learned topics and give students ample timed practice.
TTP PRO TIP:
Take periodic review quizzes and tests to help your brain recall and retain essential information.
Another way to regularly review past topics is by reviewing your error log. Let’s discuss that strategy now.
Strategy 5: Examine Your Error Log Each Week
You know the importance of reviewing every GRE question that you incorrectly answer. In addition, it’s equally important to track those incorrect answers. More importantly, you want to know why you missed those questions. You can’t afford to repeat mistakes!
The TTP course has a built-in error log that we advise students to review weekly. This review of your error log ensures that you fix errors and fill knowledge gaps. Additionally, this review prevents those knowledge gaps from affecting future learning and ensures that poor habits don’t become ingrained.
TTP PRO TIP:
Review your error log weekly to ensure that you fill in knowledge gaps and address bad habits.
After you’ve studied each GRE topic thoroughly, completed adequate practice sets of each topic, revisited previous topics in mixed sets, and fixed your weak areas, the learning phase of your preparation will be finished. At this point, you’ll be ready to move on to the second part of your GRE study strategy: completing full-length practice tests in the practice test phase.
The Practice Test Phase: Month 3
By month 3, you have finished the learning phase of your GRE preparation. At this point, you have covered all the material that is tested on the GRE, and you have (hopefully) mastered it. So, it’s time to put your learning to the test—literally!
Spread Out Your Practice Tests
Use the 4 remaining full-length practice exams from the ETS website. These exams will help you become familiar with the test-taking experience, build test stamina, establish your pacing, determine if you can hit your target score, and expose any remaining weak areas. Let’s be clear: using ETS practice exams to identify lingering weak topics works only because you have completed the learning phase.
By all means, your GRE practice test schedule should spread out your practice exams, leaving 5 to 7 days between exams. You don’t want to be in a situation that requires you to take all 4 practice tests in the same week. By spreading them out, you’ll have time between practice tests to identify and fix your weak areas. Also, you’ll give yourself a day or two to clear your head before your next practice test, a must for performing at the top of your game.
TTP PRO TIP:
Spread out your practice exams, leaving 5 to 7 days between exams.
If your 3-month study plan has left you significantly short of your score goal, you may need to rinse and repeat. By taking the practice tests, you’ll have a good idea of the topics that need more attention. So, you’ll need to create a new study plan that concentrates on the topics that have kept you from reaching your score goal. If you stay focused, you should have little difficulty in attaining that score increase that you need.
TTP PRO TIP:
If you miss your target score on practice exams, create a new study plan to focus on weak areas.
Summary
This article has guided you in creating a successful GRE study plan and preparing for the GRE in 3 months.
After learning basic information about the GRE, spend the first week of your 3 months setting the stage for success by performing these initial activities:
- Register at the ETS website and download their practice tests.
- Determine your target score by researching your desired schools’ GRE requirements/recommendations.
- Take the first ETS practice test to get your baseline score.
- Choose your study materials. You may find that an online course suits your needs perfectly.
- Set up your daily activities, such as reviewing and learning Verbal flashcards and Quantitative formulas.
Once you have set up your initial activities, begin the learning phase of your GRE preparation. Here are the strategies to use during the next 2 months:
- Use topical studying by learning only one topic at a time until you master it.
- Alternate between Quantitative and Verbal studying to keep learning fresh.
- Take notes as a means of actively learning.
- Review what you’ve learned, so you don’t forget previous material.
- Review your error log each week to keep from repeating mistakes.
The second and final phase of your GRE preparation is taking practice tests. Use the remaining free test from ETS and purchase the 3 additional ones. In your final month of GRE prep, take a practice test every 5 to 7 days. Analyze every question you miss, and review the appropriate study material to refresh your learning.
If you are still far from achieving your target score, consider making a revised study plan that covers the material that is still giving you trouble.
What’s Next?
One area of the GRE, or any timed test, that is a perennial issue for many students is getting the timing down. If you feel good about your GRE subject knowledge, but feel that you are too slow to answer questions, this article about improving time management for GRE is just for you!
