How to Study for the GRE: 9 Steps to GRE Success

Prepping for the GRE can feel overwhelming, especially when you may not even know how to study for the GRE. However, with the right strategy, you can maximize your prep time and achieve your target score. This guide breaks down everything you need to know—study timelines, effective techniques, essential resources, and test-day strategies—so you can confidently tackle the GRE and reach your grad school goals.

Here are the topics we’ll cover:

• Step 1: Understand the GRE and Why It’s Challenging
• Step 2: Decide When to Start Studying for the GRE
• Step 3: Set Your GRE Study Goals
• Step 4: Choose the Right GRE Study Timeline
• Step 5: Use Effective GRE Study Techniques
• Step 6: Use Practice Tests in Your GRE Prep
• Step 7: Manage Challenges and Get Help During Your Study Process
• Step 8: Monitor Your Progress
• Step 9: Final GRE Test-Day Preparations
• In Conclusion: How to Study for the GRE
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• What’s Next?

Step 1: Understand the GRE and Why It’s Challenging

You might think you already know how to study for the GRE. After all, the GRE tests subjects—math, reading, and writing— you’re familiar with and might even excel at. (This post gives you a detailed breakdown of the GRE.)

The GRE tests logical thinking in these subjects, a focus likely different from what you’re used to. So, while you might have gotten good grades over the years in math, reading, or writing, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can walk into the test without studying and perform your best. (Learn more about why you need to study for the GRE.)

Take the GRE Verbal section. You’ve likely spent years plowing through books on complex topics. Nonetheless, the Verbal section might still pose some challenges. First, it tests how well you know vocabulary you likely haven’t seen before, words such as recondite and impecunious. Secondly, answer choices are intentionally misleading. For example, in some trap answers, the very first part of the answer choice reads perfectly. Yet, a phrase buried at the end is incorrect, making the entire answer choice wrong. And misleading answers are just one of the factors that make the GRE test challenging. 

Additionally, both the math and verbal sections have distinct question types. For instance, the Quantitative Reasoning (math) section contains multiple-answer questions, meaning several answer choices could potentially be correct.

Lastly, the GRE is timed. Every test-taker must learn how to navigate all of the above while under pressure. Together, these unique qualities make the test challenging. But, more importantly, they inform how to study for the GRE exam.

TTP PRO TIP:

Even if you have gotten good grades in math, reading, and writing, you still need to study for the GRE. The way the test approaches these subjects is different than what you’d expect.

Step 2: Decide When to Start Studying for the GRE

Now that you know the GRE is not your average math and verbal test, you might be wondering exactly how well you’d do. And because you’re reading this post, you’re likely starting off on your GRE journey.

The most important place to start is with an official practice test. If you’ve already begun prepping but have put off that first test, thinking you’re not quite ready, stop your current studying and take your first practice test.

Why?

An initial diagnostic practice test lets you know where you’re strong and where you’ll need more practice. That puts you on the right foot as you start studying for the GRE. Interestingly, your strengths and weaknesses often aren’t what you’d expect. I’ve had countless students say they’re strong readers, yet they end up doing more poorly on Verbal than on Quant. Regardless of where you think you’ll score, an initial practice test will give you a baseline score and percentile.

From your baseline score, you can work backwards from when applications are due. This will give you a good idea of when to start studying for the GRE.

Additionally, you’ll want to know the average GRE scores for the programs you’re looking to apply to, as well as the difference between your baseline score and these average scores. Knowing this difference will give you a better idea of how long you’ll need to study for the GRE.

TTP PRO TIP:

Take a practice test to establish your baseline score and see how far it is from your goal. Then work backwards to determine how long you’ll need to study for the GRE to hit your goal.

Step 3: Set Your GRE Study Goals

Once you’ve found your baseline score from the GRE diagnostic test and determined your target GRE score from researching your desired programs, you’ll want to set your GRE study goals based on this information.

The diagnostic test will give you a breakdown of how you did on each section. For instance, in math you’ll be able to see the specific concepts you struggle with. If you seem to struggle, say, with Geometry, but do great with Algebra, then you know your study plan should make plenty of room for Geometry.

Of course, it’s also important to understand how common a concept is. If you struggle with combinations, though they only tend to appear once per test, these should be deprioritized (unless they are the only question type you are struggling with).

Once you’ve identified the concepts you need to focus on, you can break them down into actionable milestones. These can play into a larger goal you can set for yourself.

TTP PRO TIP:

After you take your practice test, set clear study goals to address areas of weakness.

Step 4: Choose the Right GRE Study Timeline

Now that you have set your study goals, you might wonder how to most effectively structure your time to prepare for the GRE.

Luckily, we have different study plans based on how long you have to prep—study plans that provide clear structure and direction. Choose one to help you effectively structure your study timeline:

1. How to study for the GRE on a 1-month timeline for students on a time crunch.
2. A tactical 30-day GRE crash course, so you know exactly what to focus on in that precious time.
3. A 3-month study plan for students with more time cushion. This plan gives you a detailed approach on how to make the most of those three months.
4. A GRE Quant study plan for students who need more help on the math section.
5. Or create your own GRE study schedule. Pick your ideal timeline and we’ll guide you to setting up your customized plan.

TTP PRO TIP:

A study plan provides a clear structure and direction for your GRE prep in the time you have available.

Step 5: Use Effective GRE Study Techniques

With a likely limited amount of prep time, you certainly want to make the most out of it (and reading this step-by-step GRE study guide can help). While a well-tuned study schedule is part of that equation, there is another vital component: using effective study techniques.

Think of it this way: studying 20% below optimal reduces 30 precious study days to a mere 24. That’s almost an entire week or even more, if you’re using less-than-optimal study techniques. To avoid this problem, learn the best way to study for the GRE and slice your prep time in half while getting better results.

So, how do you know how effectively you are studying?

At a high level, you’ll want to make sure you’re using active recall, spaced repetition and practice tests staggered across specific time intervals. In other words, don’t just cram three practice tests into one weekend!

But there’s more than just effective study techniques; there’s effective testing-taking tips, such as how to guess on the GRE. Or, more generally, some great ways to improve your overall accuracy on the GRE.

TTP PRO TIP:

Learning effective study techniques can make a major difference in your score—as well as the amount of time you need to prep.

Step 6: Use Practice Tests in Your GRE Prep

Throughout this post, I’ve mentioned the importance of beginning your prep journey with a practice test. Taking a practice test is something you don’t just do at the outset, but rather you need to integrate practice tests into your GRE prep.

You want to stagger practice tests in specific intervals, giving you enough time to review your mistakes on each test. Doing so will allow you to course correct which concepts to focus on, while highlighting any test-taking areas to improve on.

How you take a GRE practice test can also make a critical difference. Do you relax into it, treat yourself to coffee and a bagel in between sections? That might sound enticing, but you’ll want to simulate the test day experience as much as possible. Check out other key strategies for how to take your GRE practice test to best set you up for success on test day.

You might also be wondering how many practice tests you need to take before exam day. The answer can vary depending on your situation. Read How Many GRE Practice Tests Should I Take? for the best recommendation.

Finally, you might be asking yourself whether practice tests can really prepare you for the questions you’ll see test day. After all, isn’t the real GRE test harder than practice tests? The short answer is no. ETS practice tests, in particular, aren’t designed to be easier than the real GRE test.

TTP PRO TIP:

GRE practice tests are a critical part of your study plan, but be strategic about how you use them.

Step 7: Manage Challenges and Get Help During Your Study Process

No matter how dialed in you are, you’re going to face challenges in your GRE journey. Frustration over not improving on a practice test and the inevitable interruptions life throws at you are just a few. It’s important to stay motivated during your GRE prep. 

Some of you may even be juggling work or raising a family, so learning how to study for the GRE while working is going to be critical to your success. 

For many students, staying motivated is often a question of working with someone else. This person should be able to keep you focused and provide accountability. And for GRE prep, there’s no better person than a tutor to play that role.

A GRE tutor can pinpoint areas you need to focus on, areas you might not even have been aware of. Additionally, a tutor can point out subtleties in your approach that need tweaking. The net effect can be game-changing—and score-changing!

Granted, tutors aren’t always affordable, but the time they can save you often justifies the cost. Learn how to decide whether GRE tutoring is worth it for you.

Finally, online GRE programs can give you both structure and a digital avatar cheering you on. The result is that you feel far less like you’re going at it alone—a perception shift that can help keep the prep fire alive on those rougher days. Learn about features to look for in the best GRE prep programs.

An online program, a tutor, classes, self-study—the options can seem overwhelming. Our article on selecting an online GRE coaching program provides excellent guidance to help you make the best decision.

TTP PRO TIP:

You don’t have to prep for the GRE alone. Look for programs, tutors, and resources that help you progress quickly and achieve your goals.

Step 8: Monitor Your Progress

When in the thick of studying, you are likely to lose a sense of how much you are—or are not—improving. Stepping back to monitor your progress is a key part of staying both motivated and focused.

In step 6 above, we mentioned periodically taking a practice test and carefully reviewing your mistakes. Doing so allows you to see how you are progressing. Often, knowing you improved markedly can give you that much-needed boost. Again, when you’re in the thick of studying, you often might not sense you are improving. The hard data of test scores can quickly disabuse you of this notion. 

Monitoring your progress isn’t only about test scores. You’ll need to micro-focus on the exact mistakes you are making to avoid making them again (learn what kind of mistakes are typical on the GRE). The best way to do so is by creating a GRE error log, which allows you to develop a better awareness of why you are making certain kinds of mistakes in the first place.

What exactly is an error log? It is a specific way of tracking the questions that you missed. Think of yourself as a detective working backwards from the scene of a crime—the crime, in this case, being your wrong answer. Over time, you’ll notice certain patterns emerge in your mistakes—and the assumptions that led you to those mistakes.

TTP PRO TIP:

Improving your performance on the GRE involves identifying the types of mistakes you’re making and working on strategies to avoid those mistakes going forward.

Step 9: Final GRE Test-Day Preparations

Now that you know how to study for the GRE—making a study plan, taking periodic practice tests, getting help as needed, and learning from your mistakes—you are ready for the big test. With a week out, you might be wondering what the best use of your time is.

While you might be tempted to take multiple back-to-back practice tests, thinking that each one will increase your score, you should resist the urge to do so. In fact, the week before the test should be light studying. Review key concepts and take one final practice test. But only one.

Make sure to rest up. And make sure to take care of yourself. Your nerves are likely already jittery, so there’s no need to drill overtime. Indeed, the test-taking experience itself can be an anxiety-inducing one. Grounding yourself the week leading up to the test will allow you to overcome GRE test-day anxiety.

There are also a few other factors that can help bring about a seamless test-day experience. Here is a great post that gives you some helpful GRE test day tips. Also, check out this post that gives you a checklist of essentials to bring to the GRE on test day.

Finally, there are some important differences between taking the GRE in-person or online, so make sure to plan for your specific experience.

TTP PRO TIP:

Make a plan for test day and don’t study too hard in the week leading up to the test.

In Conclusion: How to Study for the GRE

Studying for the GRE is by no means a straightforward process, and how you approach your studies can play a significant role in your performance test day. The key steps to take:

1. Familiarize yourself with the GRE format and the target score you’ll need to get into your desired program.
2. Take a practice test at the beginning of your prep to establish your baseline score.
3. Set a study schedule that works with your life and score goals.
4. Pinpoint which areas of the test where you are weakest and that you need to focus on.
5. Get help from tutors, online prep, or other resources as needed to help you stay motivated and on target.
6. Take periodic practice tests throughout your prep to chart your progress and course correct as necessary.
7. Carefully review your mistakes, keep an error log, and work to avoid making the same mistakes going forward.
8. Other effective study techniques like active recall and spaced repetition can also greatly benefit you, helping you keep motivated and focused on your target score.
9. Finally, don’t forget to take care of yourself, especially during that final week. You’re likely to already feel a little more nervous. A light review and a final practice test are great, but studying more intensely than the previous weeks can lead to diminishing returns—and the feeling of burnout.

Keeping all of the above in mind and applying them throughout your prep can make all the difference on test day. Good luck!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many hours to study for the GRE?

Studying for the GRE and hitting your target score can require intense months of preparation. So an exact number of hours is hard to pin down. Assuming you study 3 hours a day for 3 months, you’ll log 270 hours of study. Some need much less, some much more. The amount of time you’ll need largely depends on the difference between your baseline score and target score.

How to effectively study for the GRE?

Taking periodic practice tests and figuring out your weak areas is important. Additionally, you’ll need to focus on concepts that are common on the test. If you struggle on percents and fractions, as well as combinations, focus on the former. Techniques like active recall and spaced repetition can also help you prep more effectively.

How to study for the GRE in 1 week?

Take an official practice test and determine areas where you are weak. Out of those areas, figure out which ones are the most likely to show up on the test. Focus on those. Learn the top 100 words on the GRE. The TTP GRE word-of-the-day playlist on YouTube contains many of these high-frequency GRE words. Also be very mindful of your pacing. Little tweaks in these holistic skills can garner you quick points.

How to study for the GRE in one month?

This gives you a lot more breathing room than one week. Essentially, follow the advice from the question above, knowing that you’ll have more time to execute on it. You might want to learn the 300 most common words. Try to throw at least 2-3 additional practice tests in there, giving yourself enough time to review your mistakes.

How to study for the GRE in two months?

With two months, you’ll have even more time. The overall structure doesn’t change too much from the one-month study plan. One important distinction is there are only a finite number of official practice tests you can take before you see repeats. TTP also offers useful practice tests to layer into your prep on a weekly basis. One important addition: make sure you revisit concepts you learned from the first weeks of your prep. Conceptual knowledge that isn’t refreshed after a month tends to evaporate.

How to study for the GRE in 3 months?

With this much time, you can refine a lot of your weak areas and really start pushing up your score. Don’t forget to focus on and continuously refine pacing. Also, don’t forget to prepare for the mental game. Three months is a long time, so you’ll want to control burnout by taking rest days and rewarding yourself for point increases.

What’s Next?

Need help setting your target GRE score? In this guide, we break down everything you need to know about getting a good GRE score.

Have a specific question about how to study for the GRE? Visit us at the official TTP website and start a live chat. We’d be happy to assist you!

Looking for a GRE tutor to help you succeed on the GRE? Learn about TTP GRE tutors.