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GRE Study Plan: Tips to get 320+ in GRE on Your First Attempt

GRE Study Plan: Tips to get 320+ in GRE on Your First Attempt. Every year, more than 500,000 people take the GRE exam. You may not be aware that the global average GRE score for the previous year was 304 (Q 153, V 151). Anything beyond that is considered an excellent score, and you can think of yourself as doing above average. What constitutes "a decent score" on the GRE, however, is more complicated. The Educational Testing Agency or ETS conducts GRE. It relies on elements such as the desired graduate major, the target institutions, the amount of preparation time, etc. But one should constantly seek higher. 320 is frequently regarded as the benchmark score when it comes to accessing the GRE for a variety of reasons. 

This blog will provide you with a quick overview of the exam's format, the tools you'll need for study, and - most importantly — how to make a study schedule.

GRE Exam

There are six sections in the GRE exam pattern. The part on analytical writing is the first. You will have alternating Quant and Verbal parts from the second segment forward till the final section. You will thus have the option of [2 Quant + 3 Verbal] OR [3 Quant + 2 Verbal]. The additional portion is not scored in either scenario, so you won't know which one it is (unless they mention one of them being a research section). Another crucial point to keep in mind is that the exam is section adaptive, meaning that the difficulty of the second part in the same category relies on how well you score in the first. Each section's raw scores will be scaled according to its degree of difficulty. 

The most important aspect of the GRE is timing. For each of the two writing assignments, you are given 30 minutes. You have 35 minutes to complete 20 questions in Quant. You have 30 minutes for 20 questions in the verbal portion. The third segment will be followed by a ten-minute intermission.

The Economist's GRE Advice guide has thorough information regarding the exam format and the sorts of questions in each segment. You can also consult the Manhattan strategy manuals or the GRE Official Guide (first chapter). You get more assured that you will perform well on the test as you become more familiar with its format.

Preparation

One of the tests I enjoyed studying for was the GRE. Being a working professional, returning to "studies" after a two-year break was challenging. In contrast to other online guides, this one concentrates on "what to do" and "how to do," rather than providing you with a day-by-day timetable. Only a select few may be able to adhere to a schedule, but most of us will have erratic study times. As a result, this tutorial will solely discuss the preparation's component parts and how to get the most out of them. You must decide how much time to spend studying each day and how long to spend getting ready for the test. However, I shall outline my study strategy for your benefit as a whole. One needs good GRE preparation to ace the exam, one needs to refer to the best GRE books.

Please keep in mind that all of the study materials and resources included in this manual are simple to access, and if you use the right search terms, you may find them all on the first page of Google results. 

Let us start now:

Just like the initial body measurements in a weight-loss program, the first step you have in GRE preparation is the diagnostic test. Knowing where you stand right now will give you an idea about how you to proceed with the preparation. There are many free practice tests available out there. Choose anyone from Manhattan, Kaplan, Princeton, etc. and take the test. Remember to simulate the testing environment conditions to get the best idea about your performance.

A diagnostic test is beneficial in many ways. You first receive a preview of what you are getting ready for. Your strengths and shortcomings will be clear to you. You also learn that time will be your worst enemy. Finally, the diagnostic score provides a general idea of how much improvement you need to make to reach your target score.

After completing the diagnostic, it will be more obvious to you what your ultimate objective is and what areas you need to focus on in order to get there. We'll now go through each exam component in more detail, including how to get ready for each one.

Quantitative Reasoning

People score more in Quant than they do in Verbal, according to the information on average GRE scores mentioned at the beginning of the article. Although it doesn't apply to everyone, it is true, and you can find examples of it everywhere. Does not imply that you should prioritise Quant over Verbal less. For entrance to a prestigious university, your Quant score is quite important.

The minimal Quant score required by many institutions is 160 or 165. Isn't the average lower than that? I advise you to aim for a 170. Your overall score improves as your Quant score rises. If your Quant score is 165 or above, you may get away with a lower Verbal score and still get your total to 320. There is, however, a little issue. Even if you could be a math prodigy and getting a score of 160 would be easy for you, it will take much more effort to get a score of 165+ than it did to get a score of 160. You must focus on this contrast.

The four subjects of algebra, geometry, data analysis, and arithmetic are mostly covered in the quantitative reasoning part. Depending on the reference material you choose, they may be divided into other subtopics. The reference materials I suggest are the Official Guide to the GRE from ETS, the Manhattan Prep GRE Strategy guides, and the Manhattan 5 pound book of Practice problems.

I can guarantee that if you do your homework, you will be able to respond to every question in the Quant part. Any order is acceptable when using these books as references. You may, for instance, begin with 5 lb. practise questions and just consult strategy manuals for the subjects you feel the need to. Another option is to begin with the guidelines and then go on to practise questions once you have a firm grasp of the fundamentals and the best approaches to take for various question kinds. The strategy you should use will depend on how much time you have left before the exam and your current ability level.

While training, there are a few things you should watch out for. The most crucial is to record how much time is spent on each question. Later on, it will come in very handy for you. For instance, you will be able to focus more effort on the questions that take you longer to answer.
Another wise piece of advice is to examine the solutions to all problems while validating replies, regardless of whether your response is correct or incorrect. You may occasionally discover that the answer in the book is simpler and takes less time than the one you used.

When it comes to GRE preparation, The Official Guide from ETS is regarded as the holy grail. It is the most similar to the real exam in terms of questions and practise tests. The writing is really direct and concise. You should read it through line by line and comprehend each sentence. It would be time-efficient and profitable. The Math Review part covers all the content that will be examined on the exam, so don't miss it.

Verbal Reasoning

Text completion (TC), sentence equivalence (SE), and reading comprehension questions make up the Verbal Reasoning part (RC). While TC & SE evaluate your comprehension of words and phrases, RC concentrates on your overall information comprehension and critical thinking skills.

The abilities required for the GRE verbal part cannot be learned in a day or a week. This is false on so many levels if you believe that you would study for the first 15 days on Quant and then begin with Verbal. You must work simultaneously, so your daily study should incorporate both verbal and quantitative topics. For instance, if you choose to read one Manhattan strategy guide every day for the first week, add some verbal material, such as vocabulary terms or RC practice. GRE is one of the opted study abroad exams.

Working on your vocabulary is a crucial part of your verbal preparation. And with some planning, you will succeed just fine. You must begin developing your vocabulary as soon as possible since you need as much time as you can get to get "familiar" with these new terms.

The topic of how to know which terms to study for the GRE emerges. Thankfully, a number of organizations that offer GRE preparation have already completed this job and posted their purported "wordlists" online. Which wordlist should I study because there are so many of them? The fact is that it makes no difference because each one is created after thorough research using data from prior GRE tests. Nevertheless, get one from a reputable source. Some of the more well-known ones include Magoosh, Manhattan, and Barron's. The Magoosh vocabulary list is a particularly wonderful one, in my view, because it divides words into sets of common, basic, and advanced. They also offer an app that makes use of flashcards to make it easier to recall the terms.

If you have more time to prepare than 25 days, I advise reading "Word Power Made Easy." Perhaps a friend of yours who is studying for the CAT or a comparable test has already told you about it. This book lives up to its reputation as the top source for vocabulary development. Etymology is used as a method to help readers learn new terms, and I thought it worked extremely well. Additionally, the method remains with you and enables you to determine the meaning of a new word by identifying its origins.

Increasing your vocabulary will accomplish half of your work. When you have a sufficient vocabulary, begin practising TC and SE questions from Manhattan 5 lb. or Magoosh. It's natural and part of the process that you may first have trouble grasping the context and providing the correct responses. As you gain experience, you'll pick up additional techniques like removing incorrect answers or looking for hints in other areas of the text. For TC/SE techniques, look at the Magoosh videos on YouTube.

The only way to master the Reading Comprehension portion of this subject is to PRACTICE! Here, there is no quick cut. The RCs you saw in high school are not like this. The chapter is monotonous and occasionally incredibly lengthy. Even the brightest pupils might make mistakes because the response options are difficult and include traps. You will need to develop ways to answer these questions, just as with TC/SE, and that can only happen via practise. But first, it's critical to understand the types of queries made and how to respond to each of them.

Make sure to answer the practise questions in the Manhattan guide that are included at the conclusion of each chapter. Up until the last week before the test, practise RC questions from the 5-pound book every day to get used to reading lengthy, dull texts. Once more, timing is a killer on the GRE, so make sure you sometimes practise with a timer.

Analytical Writing

The GRE's simplest portion is also the one that gets the least attention. Most students put off studying for this portion until the last few days before the test, and as a result, they only manage to get a 3 or 3.5 out of 6. When shortlisting applications, many prestigious colleges have a minimum need for an analytical writing score and are quite stringent about it. And what does that indicate about your total score, now that I think about it? A total verbal and quantitative score of 327, but just 3 in writing? That is also true when achieving a higher score isn't difficult at all. It is sufficient to have spent an hour or two writing throughout the previous week.

The two essay problems in the analytical writing section—"Analyze a topic" and "Analyze an argument"—take up a total of 30 minutes each. The first one presents a claim for you to consider and offer your opinions on. The assertion will always be debatable and open-ended. Choose whichever side appeals to you, but make sure you have enough of material to write about. The second essay will outline a claim that a person made based on a few occurrences.

The Crunchprep Analytical Writing guide is a crucial tool for performing well on the writing portion. It explains the criteria used by essay evaluators and discusses some frequent errors to avoid. Another excellent resource is the chapter on analytical writing in the Official GRE handbook. By providing you with sample essays and the associated scores received, it provides an in-depth look at how the essays are graded.

Mock Tests

The final and most crucial step in your preparation is this. The GRE is an endurance exam. It is crucial to keep your cool throughout the four hours of the exam. You may accomplish this by taking practise exams. You may also assess how far you've come since the diagnostic. Additionally, you learn about the places that still require development.
In conclusion, getting a 320 or above on the GRE is a long-term goal. I hope that these GRE preparation suggestions will help you navigate your way, but the majority of success stories include a guiding spirit.

How simple is it to get 320 on the GRE?

You should devote at least 30 days to preparation if you want to get a GRE score of 320 or above. Everyone who has received a score of 320 or above has essentially prepared in the same way. The plan can be modified based on the amount of time you have available for studying each day and the materials you choose to utilise for planning.

Can I get a 320 on the GRE without getting tutoring?

Yes, that is definitely feasible. Without tutoring, preparing for the GRE test can be difficult since it requires a detailed study strategy, pertinent study resources, access to practise tests, and much more.

Is 30 days adequate for the GRE?

A GRE One Month Plan will be very effective for you if you are committed and confident in your preparation and are ready to put in the necessary effort. You will need to put in at least three hours every day on average, and only if you are confident in your understanding of the fundamentals of math.

How many hours should one devote to preparation for the GRE?

The practical response to this often asked question is that, depending on how well you prepared for the GRE and how many points you need to increase your Quantitative and Verbal scores, it will take you between 50 and 200 hours to get your goal score.

Do GRE questions repeat themselves?

Yes! They do rephrase questions from their extensive question bank. This implies that if any of your friends took the GRE a few days before you did, it's probable that some of their questions may appear again on your test. This is so because ETS creates test-day questions from the same question bank.

Know Your Author
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Rohit Rajaram
Study Abroad Expert
Rohit is a results-driven individual with a strong background in Education Mentorship, Program Management and Business Development. Holding a Master's degree in Management from ESCP Business School in Paris, Rohit combines academic excellence with extensive industry experience. Throughout his career, Rohit has consistently delivered exceptional results, driving sales, increasing turnover, and achieving targets. Known for his strategic acumen, Rohit formulates and executes successful business strategies, enhancing operational quality, customer satisfaction and key bottonline drivers. As the Co-Founder of MiM-Essay, a leading Early Career Degrees application consulting company, Rohit has successfully mentored over 10,000+ students, enabling them to secure admissions in top-ranked schools worldwide with significant scholarships. Under his leadership, the company has maintained high-quality service and exceptional client satisfaction rates. With expertise in analytics, product development and business excellence, Rohit has successfully driven the success of various initiatives. Committed to constant innovation, he is expanding the company's offerings by introducing digital and technology-powered products for comprehensive education solutions.
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