How to ace the GRE

Preparing for the GRE can be extremely stressful. Especially if you do not know what to do. Following a study plan will make it a bit easier. During my preparation, I had followed the Two Month Study by GregMat and scored 330 (V: 161, Q:169, AWA: 4.0). It is a comprehensive study plan which covers almost everything that you need to ace your GRE. However, if you are unwilling to get a paid subscription, you can follow these guides. I have organized the essential tips and strategies from free resources available on the internet (GregMat’s free contents cover most of it).

KNOW THE THREE-HEADED BEAST

First, you need to get familiar with GRE. The following videos cover the test structure, adaptive scoring algorithm, and the materials you should use.

• Test structure
• Scoring algorithm
• Materials you need

MEASURE WHERE YOU STAND

Before going any further, you should go through the ETS Math Review guide. After finishing it, open a fake ETS account with an American address and take the Power Prep 1 (you can skip the analytical writing part if you want). Once you are done with your first mock test, analyze your strengths and weaknesses. Now, you are ready to roll!

THE THREE HEADS OF THE BEAST

1. Verbal reasoning
   1. Words! Words!! Words!!!
   2. Reading comprehension
   3. Text completion
   4. Sentence equivalence
2. Quantitative reasoning
   1. Strategies
   2. Things to memorize
3. Analytical writing

VERBAL REASONING

Most non-native speakers find verbal to be tricky. The plethora of words and complex passages will catch anyone off guard. Mastering the words and strategies mentioned below may help you tame the beast.

Question types:

1. Reading comprehension
2. Text completion
3. Sentence equivalence

Words

840-words from Gregmat’s word list (Set 1 - 28). Study each set for two days and take the quiz on the second day. Do more if you have the time.

Set 1 - Test 1	Set 2 - Test 2	Set 3 - Test 3	Set 4 - Test 4
Set 5 - Test 5	Set 6 - Test 6	Set 7 - Test 7	Set 8 - Test 8
Set 9 - Test 9	Set 10 - Test 10	Set 11 - Test 11	Set 12 - Test 12
Set 13 - Test 13	Set 14 - Test 14	Set 15 - Test 15	Set 16 - Test 16
Set 17 - Test 17	Set 18 - Test 18	Set 19 - Test 19	Set 20 - Test 20
Set 21 - Test 21	Set 22 - Test 22	Set 23 - Test 23	Set 24 - Test 24
Set 25 - Test 25	Set 26 - Test 26	Set 27 - Test 27	Set 28 - Test 28

Reading comprehension

Short passage:

• Simplifying sentences
• Simplifying on steroids
• Some words are more important
• Combining strategies

Long passage:

• Strategies that don’t work
• The strategy that does work

Text completion

• Math strategy
• Block of four
• Time contrast

Sentence equivalence

• Pairing strategy

Greg Mat’s approach to Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence

QUANTITATIVE REASONING

You may think quant to be easy, especially if you are an engineer! However, do not get surprised if you score way below your expectation in the mock test. Although the concepts are “easy”, the questions are not! You need to be aware of the traps set by ETS. So, prepare well!

Mathematical content area:

1. Arithmetic
2. Algebra
3. Geometry
4. Data analysis

Question types:

1. Quantitative comparison
2. Multiple choice
3. Numeric entry

Strategies

• Choosing numbers
• Periodically stop
• Backsolving
• Easy is hard, hard is easy

Things to memorize

• Primes between 1 - 100:

     2  3  5  7 11
    13 17 19 23 29
    31 37 41 43 47
    53 59 61 67 71
    73 79 83 89 97
  

• 2¹ to 2¹¹, 3¹ to 3⁶, 4¹ to 4⁴, 5¹ to 5⁴
• Divisibility rules
• Pythagorean triplets
• 45°-45°-90° triangle
• 30°-60°-90° triangle

ANALYTICAL WRITING

The most neglected part of the exam. Even I am guilty of that! To get a good score, you need to prepare well from the beginning. Not the night before the exam. Writing two essays in one hour (30 minutes each) can be challenging.

Essay types:

1. Issue essay
2. Argument essay
   • Finding holes