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Odds are if you are applying to a master’s or PhD program, you need to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Many law or business schools also accept the GRE score as an acceptable alternative to the LSAT or GMAT score. A great performance on the GRE can put you at the top of the heap. Conversely, a poor score can negatively impact your probability of acceptance. Thus, you want to prep for your GRE efficiently, to get an impressive score. Therefore, you will want to use the best GRE prep program available.
So, it’s time to get studying! Your first impulse might be to pick up a GRE prep book and start answering practice questions. Resist the urge! You will need something much more robust than a prep book for your GRE preparation, and a GRE prep course will definitely fill the bill. In this article, we’ll look at the many features that you want to see in a great GRE prep course. This will help you choose a course that will effectively and efficiently take you through all the twists and turns of studying for the GRE.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- What Are the Salient Features of the GRE?
- 3 Notable Aspects of the GRE
- Important Features of a Great GRE Prep Course
- Feature #1: Comprehensive Coverage of GRE Content
- Feature #2: A Detailed Study Plan
- Feature #3: Topical Learning
- Feature #4: Performance Analytics
- Feature #5: An Error Tracker
- Feature #6: Pre-Made Flashcards (Vocabulary and Math)
- Feature #7: Math Equation Guide
- Feature #8 GRE Tutoring
- Feature #9: Cost
- Feature #10: Success Rate
- Key Takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What’s Next?
Before we choose our perfect prep course, let’s get an idea of what we are up against.
What Are the Salient Features of the GRE?
The GRE is just under 2 hours long, and you can take it at one of 160 test centers worldwide or at home online for a cost of $220. Results are available 8-10 calendar days after the exam at your Educational Testing Service (ETS) account. You should register at ETS well before your anticipated test date so that you’ll have access to the many articles, tips, and free testing materials, including 2 free PowerPrep full-length practice exams. Three additional practice tests are available for purchase.
The GRE has 3 sections: Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. Let’s look at an overview of each section.
Analytical Writing
You are given 30 minutes to complete the GRE Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) essay task. It consists of one prompt about an issue, and you must write your opinion about the issue, following task instructions. You will be given a very basic word processor to use, with no grammar- or spell-check capability. ETS has published a list of all essay prompts, which you can use for practice.
Verbal Reasoning
The Verbal Reasoning section has 2 modules. Module 1 gives you 18 minutes to answer 12 questions, and module 2 gives you 23 minutes to answer 15 questions.
You will be tested with GRE Reading Comprehension passages (roughly half of the 27 questions) and 2 types of questions involving vocabulary in context. Text Completion (TC) questions have 1, 2, or 3 blanks to fill in. Sentence Equivalence (SE) questions require you to choose 2 answer choices that create the same overall sentence meaning.
Quantitative Reasoning
The Quantitative Reasoning section also has two modules. Module 1 gives you 21 minutes to answer 12 questions, while module 2 gives you 26 minutes to answer 15 questions. You will have online access to a basic calculator during the GRE Quantitative Reasoning portion of the test.
You will be tested on high school-level math concepts involving algebra, geometry, arithmetic, and statistics. Quant questions are of several types:
- Traditional multiple-choice questions with 5 answer choices
- Select-all-that-apply multiple-choice questions
- Numerica Entry (fill-in-the-blank) questions
- Quantitative Comparison questions, for which you determine the relationship between 2 quantities
KEY FACT:
The GRE has 3 sections: Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning.
Now that we are familiar with the structure of the GRE, let’s discuss some additional key features of the exam.
3 Notable Aspects of the GRE
Let’s look at 3 aspects of the GRE that can affect your performance on test day.
- Section Adaptivity: The Verbal and Math sections of the GRE are section-adaptive. This means that your performance in the first Quant module determines the difficulty level of the questions in the second Quant module. Answering more difficult questions correctly enhances your overall score. This same logic is used for the Verbal section modules.
- Mark-and-Review: The mark-and-review feature gives you a lot of flexibility during the exam. For example, if you encounter a question that stumps you, you may skip it, mark it for review, and return to it later, as long as you have time remaining in the module. (We suggest that you answer the question provisionally, just in case you can’t get back to it.) At any time, you may bring up the review screen to revisit any question in the module. You cannot, however, return to questions in an earlier module.
- Change Answers: You may review any question you previously answered within a module and change your answer, as long as you have time remaining in the module. You may not change answers to questions in modules you’ve already completed.
KEY FACT:
New features of the GRE include section adaptivity, the mark-and-review feature, and the ability to change answers within a section.
Next, let’s discuss the features to look for in a great GRE prep course.
Important Features of a Great GRE Prep Course
You’re ready to start your GRE test prep. You haven’t fallen prey to the lure of starting by answering random practice questions from a test prep book. Good job! Most students agree that using the best online GRE prep course is the most efficient way of preparing for the GRE. Choosing great materials is critical to your success. You can check out GRE Prep Club or do a search for the best online GRE prep courses on the web. Use the following list of course features to evaluate each GRE test prep course. Once you find a few that sound like a good fit, try a free or low-cost trial, and then decide which one fits your unique needs.
Feature #1: Comprehensive Coverage of GRE Content
So, how can you be sure you’re choosing effective study materials? First, keep in mind that the range of concepts that GRE questions cover is huge. You have no way of knowing exactly which concepts will be tested on any particular GRE. Thus, you need a course that covers every concept that is tested on the exam. One way of determining the best courses is to read course reviews posted by students who have taken the GRE. Their ratings and comments will indicate their confidence in the level of preparedness they felt when they took the exam.
Also, as you consider which course to choose, note whether detailed solutions are posted for every question. The good courses will have both written and video solutions for most, if not all, of the practice problems.
TTP PRO TIP:
Comprehensive GRE content is mandatory for any GRE prep course.
Let’s now consider the study plan.
Feature #2: A Detailed Study Plan
The best GRE prep program will provide a detailed GRE study schedule to follow from day 1 to test day. The study plan will be a detailed, individualized road map. It will guide you step-by-step from your first day to the day you reach your score goal.
Thus, you will know exactly what to do and when to do it, every single time you log in to your course. You should not have to waste precious time figuring out where you left off at the end of your previous session or what you should work on today. With a detailed study plan, 100% of your study time will be spent on studying and 0% on flailing around a disorganized course website looking for the next lesson.
KEY FACT:
A course with a detailed GRE study plan will keep you on track.
Next, let’s discuss the best way to learn each GRE topic.
Feature #3: Topical Learning
You must be methodical in your approach to your GRE preparation. Your study plan will keep you organized. However, you also have to learn or review tons of material to get ready for your GRE. The best way to achieve comprehensive GRE mastery is to use topical study, a proven and time-tested technique that ensures that you’re learning everything you need to know about each GRE topic.
Topical learning focuses on learning one topic at a time and then answering numerous practice questions on just that one topic. If you answer a question incorrectly, revisit the concepts covered by that question to fill in any knowledge gaps. You shouldn’t move to the next Quant or Verbal topic until you are satisfied with your mastery of that topic.
We cannot overstate the benefits of topical learning in preparing for the GRE. In fact, the Target Test Prep course is organized in precisely that fashion because that type of learning is incredibly effective for GRE students of all levels.
3 Advantages of Topical Learning
For one, topical learning starts with the basics and works you up to more advanced ones for only that topic Thus, no matter your prior knowledge level, you can progress at an appropriate speed through the material. You’ll focus only on the current topic, so you don’t waste valuable study time on problem sets that cover concepts you haven’t yet learned.
Secondly, by learning each GRE topic individually, you’ll have a valid and immediate sense of your progress to date. You’ll be able to adjust your weekly study hours, if necessary, to ensure that you will finish your topical studying by the day you’re scheduled to take the test.
Lastly, topical learning keeps your GRE prep organized and efficient. You’re on a structured path and not randomly switching from one topic to another. Thus, you won’t prematurely go to another topic, possibly missing certain concepts in topics that cover a lot of ground, such as Number Properties.
So, when looking for the best GRE prep program, you want to find one that allows you to learn linearly, learn each GRE topic individually, and then follow up your learning with topic-specific practice of many questions, ideally 50 or more per topic.
TTP PRO TIP:
Topical learning is a proven technique for mastering GRE material.
Let’s now discuss the importance of analytics for evaluating your progress.
Feature #4: Performance Analytics
In addition to the basics, there are many bonus features that a robust self-study course can provide. One of these is analytics, which track your progress and provide a detailed picture of your performance, allowing you to clearly see your progress at any moment and easily pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses as you work through the course.
In the TTP course, for example, each user has a dashboard showing key, up-to-the-minute stats. These include accuracy percentages for each completed topic, accuracy by question type, strongest and weakest topics, average time per question, percentage of the course completed, and more.
KEY FACT:
A great GRE prep course will provide you with analytics, such as strong and weak subjects, percentage of the course completed, and accuracy stats for topics or question types.
Next, let’s discuss the importance of an error tracker for diagnosing your weaknesses.
Feature #5: An Error Tracker
In addition to detailed analytics, the best GRE prep program will provide you with an error tracker. This feature tracks the types of mistakes you make when you are answering practice questions, helping you to correct those mistakes.
The TTP error tracker, for example, logs all of your incorrect questions, why you missed them, and how often you make each type of error.
So, if 25% of your wrong answers are the result of not reading the question carefully, 18% result from running out of time to answer, and so on, you can proactively correct those tendencies in real time. As a result, you’ll become a stronger, smarter test-taker.
KEY FACT:
An error tracker identifies and summarizes the type and frequency of errors you make when you’re answering practice questions.
Let’s now discuss the importance of flashcards to your GRE prep.
Feature #6: Pre-made Flashcards (Vocabulary and Math)
One of the defining features of the GRE is its requirement for students to be proficient at vocabulary. You may recall that fully half of the Verbal questions are either Text Completion (TC) or Sentence Equivalence (SE) questions, both of which require you to choose correct answers based on vocabulary-in-context concepts.
The most efficient technique to learn GRE-level vocabulary words is through flashcards. A good GRE course will provide you with a list of 300 to 1,500+ words. And a great course will provide you with pre-made flashcards that allow you multiple options for review. For example, the TTP flashcard deck, which contains 1,100+ words, gives you 3 lists, in order of difficulty, and 5 options for reviewing these words, depending on your mastery level. Also, You can create your own personalized flashcard decks.
And let’s not forget about all those pesky math formulas and concepts that we need to commit to memory! There are roughly 550 pre-made math flashcards available for review. Again, you may personalize your study by selecting the topic(s) and/or difficulty level and/or the degree of your mastery for each flashcard session.
TTP PRO TIP:
Flashcards are the most effective way to study and learn vocabulary and math formulas.
Let’s discuss a little bit more about the math concepts we need to memorize.
Feature #7: Math Equation Guide
Another desirable feature of a great GRE course is an at-a-glance summary of the major math equations, operations, and concepts that you need for success on the Quant section of the exam. Having a math equation guide, printed out and available for reference during study sessions, allows you to mark or highlight any procedures that you deem important in real time.
The math equation guide is an invaluable tool for reviewing essentially every math procedure. In the final few days before test day, you can rely on it as an accurate and dependable study guide for your GRE math review to keep the Quant concepts fresh and at the forefront of your brain.
TTP PRO TIP:
Look for a math equation guide as a bonus feature of any GRE study course you’re considering.
Next, let’s discuss another important feature of a great GRE prep course: the option of expert tutoring.
Feature #8 GRE Tutoring
A great online GRE course should be a one-stop shop for meeting every need. So, if you need additional help with one or more concepts in your course, having access to expert instructors familiar with the structure and format of both the prep course and the GRE will be an invaluable resource. The course will generally give you all the tools you need to successfully learn every topic. However, it’s nice to know that an online, on-demand tutor is available if you get stuck on a particular lesson.
TTP PRO TIP:
Having an on-demand tutor available is another valuable feature of a great GRE course.
Next, let’s consider the cost of a great GRE prep course.
Feature #9: Cost
Even a great GRE course will not cost an arm and a leg! It’s important to evaluate all the features of each prep course you are considering. Cost is one of the criteria you need to take into account. Nearly any online self-study course is more affordable than a GRE tutor or GRE prep class. Still, you want to consider the costs and the benefits of each course you consider, to ensure that you get the best value for your money.
The good news is that reputable self-study courses will offer low- or no-cost trials. You can test out a few different courses before you commit to one. In fact, why not start with a free full-access trial of the TTP GRE Course?
Even a great GRE test prep course will not cost an arm and a leg!
One additional factor to consider is the success rate of students who have used a course. Let’s discuss.
Feature #10: Success Rate
Every course will tout its success rate, but you want to make sure that you’re not just reading hype. Student testimonials are a good way of assessing a course’s success rate. Even better, you can get a more realistic sense of the effectiveness of a GRE prep course by looking at verified student ratings and reviews at such sites as GRE Prep Club or the GRE subreddit.
TTP PRO TIP:
Check out a course’s success rate by looking at testimonials, ratings, and reviews at websites such as GRE Prep Club or the GRE subreddit.
Key Takeaways
The GRE includes 3 sections: Analytical Writing (an essay task), Verbal Reasoning (reading comprehension and vocabulary), and Quantitative Reasoning (math).
The GRE is section adaptive, which means that your performance in module 1 of the Verbal or Quant sections will determine the difficulty level of the questions in module 2. A solid performance on the first module will ensure you are offered tougher (but score-enhancing) questions in the second module.
You may move around within each module, and you may change answers if you have time remaining in the module.
Most test-takers will agree that an online GRE prep course is highly desirable. There are certain features to consider when you’re deciding which course is best for you and your unique needs.
- Comprehensive Coverage of GRE Content
- A Detailed Study Plan
- Topical Learning
- Performance Analytics
- An Error Tracker
- Pre-made Flashcards (Vocabulary and Math)
- Math Equation Guide
- GRE Tutoring
- Cost
- Success Rate
Evaluate these features for the courses you are considering, and then try a low- or no-cost trial of those courses. You will then be able to make an informed decision about the best online GRE prep course for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best GRE prep program?
You may find that what is “best” for you is not best for everyone. It’s an individual decision best made after you compare your needs to the features offered by various prep programs. You’re sure to find a perfect match!
Is it worth paying for a GRE prep course?
It is almost certain that the benefits of a GRE prep course more than pay for themselves! GRE prep courses with comprehensive curricula, study plans, analytics, flashcards, and other features will save you time and frustration. They will keep you organized, on track, and focused on getting a great GRE score.
How long does it take to prepare for GRE?
The single largest determiner of how long it will take you to prepare for the GRE is your target score. You may need just a few weeks of prep if you are an average student looking for a combined score of about 310 (about the 50th percentile). However, if you plan to apply to more selective schools, you might need to study for 3-6 months in order to score at or near the 90th percentile (a combined score of roughly 330).
What is the best way to prepare for the GRE exam?
There are many options: enrolling in an online course, using self-study, hiring a tutor, taking an in-person or online class, or joining a study group. Most successful students will say that the best, most efficient way of preparing for the GRE is by enrolling in an online GRE prep course. Everything you need for success is a click away: comprehensive study material, an individualized study plan, analytics, error logs, flashcards, and many other features to make your studying organized and stress-free.
What’s Next?
Now that you know the features of a great GRE prep course, you will want to start studying seriously. So, check out these articles to learn how to increase your Quant and Verbal scores.
We’ve already mentioned that flashcards are a great feature of a good GRE prep course. Read more about how you can use flashcards effectively while studying for the GRE.
