Standardized tests are often dreaded by students; it seems test writers are out to get us. Constantly creating troublesome problem sets that result in success only if you have a photographic memory (that has been my birthday wish for years). Unfortunately for most of us, we must rely on basic skills and procedural memory to pass an exam such as this. But friends, let me tell you this. It IS possible to do well. You can outsmart the test makers by beating them at their own game. How you may ask? By preparing for any trick they may throw your way. Once you figure out the method to their madness, you will be taking the exam as if you were the one writing it.
After lots of research and questioning my peers and friends about the exam, I have come up with my favorite resources to study for the GRE specifically. I am in month 2 of my study plan, and I can honestly say I feel more comfortable with the content and strategies than I ever did while studying for the MCAT. I am not an expert on this by any means, but I know what works for me. Use this list as a guideline when deciding how you should prepare; everyone learns differently. If you have any suggestions on how you study, let me know! I would love to find more resources to increase my chances for success.
1. Magoosh GRE Blog- I love this site because it is absolutely FREE. In college, I was notorious for spending money on Jack Rogers sandals and Lauren James t-shirts when I should have been saving. Now, I have become more conscientious about money, so I have been seeking out resources that are free. This blog provides a variety of information regarding the GRE. They have posts about every single subject covered; they review content, as well as providing sample problems. I check it daily for new posts, and I often reference their content review PDFs which are downloadable and so easy to print out. Stick these on your bathroom mirror and constantly review tough equations or troublesome subjects before test day.
2. Kaplan GRE Math Workbook- If you're anything like me, then you struggle with math. Math has always clouded my mind; I often get so caught up in the numbers, symbols, and equations, I end up confusing myself and getting frustrated. I knew going into my study plan that the Quantitative Analysis portion of the GRE would be my lowest score, so I decided to take the bull by the horns right away and hone in on it. I went to my local library and got all of the Math workbooks available. The best thing about the GRE is that the content remains constant; the test writers never really introduce any new material so you can use books from a few years back (another great way to save money). I use the workbooks DAILY. That's right, daily. Make it part of your routine. Before I do anything else in the morning, I get up, brew some coffee (that's an essential :)), and do one problem set. Usually each set is 20 questions, so ideally it will take about 20 minutes. That's 1.39% of your day. If I can do it, you can do it!
3. Magoosh GRE Vocabulary Flashcards- When I wake up, the first thing I do is check my phone as if it's the morning paper. I check Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, etc. A bad habit I know, but nowadays, technology is our connection to everything. I am glued to my phone, and the best way I found to study for the Verbal section of the GRE was this app. They have lists and lists of common GRE vocab words. I wake up and do a few, I eat breakfast and do a few, I take breaks at work and do a few, and I lay in bed at the end of the day and do a few. Practice makes perfect, and the more you go through these, the better off you'll be on test day.
4. Manhattan Prep 5 lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems- Yes, this book is actually 5 lbs. Skip the gym and haul this baby to the library and back. You'll get a nice arm workout and a killer GRE workout. The book provides a variety of questions regarding every section of the GRE. The difficulty is diverse, so it will give you a holistic preparation for test day.
5. Books- I'm a book worm by nature, so this portion of the GRE would be the easiest for me. However, not everyone enjoys spending their free time with their noses stuck in a book. Which is completely understandable. I must say, the best way to prepare for the reading comprehension and even the essay section is to read. Read anything and everything. Read articles in the New York Times, read studies in Nature Journal, read fiction books, read news articles, read anything you can get your hands on. I promise you, this is ultimately the best way to prepare for this section of the GRE.
Obviously, there are thousands of other resources out there to study for the GRE. I am not saying this is exactly what it takes to succeed. Some of these may work for you, and some of them may not. And that's completely alright. If you use other resources and would like to share, comment below! I would love to hear how y'all are preparing/prepared for the GRE. Have a fabulous week friends!
XOXO,
Madison
