In today’s Q&A section, I have few pointers to improve your Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Score. Aparna Asks
I’ve just started studying for my GRE and I came across your blog. I’m just curious to know how students who obtained scores of above 1400 for GRE prepared for the exam? Is 3 months sufficient? Would just memorizing the Barron’s word list and practicing a lot suffice for the verbal section because that is my main weakness?Any other strategies they can advise?
How to Prepare for GRE
When I started writing in Happy Schools, almost everyday I used to get email with similar question. So, I put together 10 Steps to Improve GRE Score. But, those 10 steps will doesn’t include particular strategy or how students prepared to score 1400+ in GRE. I have seen atleast 15+ students in last 3 months who had score above 1400. Now you know scoring more than 1300 is possible. It’s not something, like only genius can do it.
But, to get that kind of score Graduate Record Exam, you need lot of dedication, time, perseverance and patience. Especially, if you scored 900 in first few practice test. Most of the students appearing for GRE Test from India, China, usually score 700 or more in quantitative, but scoring more than 500 in Verbal section is going to take some effort. Scoring 700 to 750 is easy in GRE Math section, but to get 800 it take some perfection. If you get few questions wrong or even one, 800 will be tough to get. You will have to read how GRE Exam is Scored.
Having good understanding about the scoring pattern will help you prepare in much better way. But, just spending 3 months or 2 years studying for GRE will not have huge impact if you don’t spend time wisely to improve your score. I will write an article on How Not to Prepare for GRE.
15 Step Approach to GRE Quantitative Score
Here few steps, if you follow that will definitely help you to improve score ove a period of time
- Take a practice test. I know you will make mistakes.
- Make a note of the mistake.
- Have separate book for GRE Math section.
- At end of the test, analyze the mistakes.
- Analyzing for few seconds will not help. Like I selected Choice A, but answer is D and moving on will not help.
- Make a note of the problem, find how to solve the problem.
- If it involves use of new formula or concept, you are not aware of, then write it down in the note book.
- I’m saying again, write it down in your notebook.
- You will come across similar problem in future test, then make sure you get it right.
- If you haven’t made a note of that concept of formula, in 2-3 weeks time you will forget.
- If you still get similar problem wrong, then you can see a pattern. Which topics you get it wrong.
- Work on the areas where you are making constant mistakes.
- Spend time daily practicing the problems/concepts where you make mistakes often.
- Buy, Quantitative Aptitude book, solve some 20 to 30 problems in same concept.
- Keep doing above said steps, in 203 months time you will see gradual increase in your score.
Now you know a way to improve your GRE Math score. If you are reading this and if you have scored more than 1300 in GRE, I would appreciate if you can send your GRE preparation experience, I will be glad to post in this blog. I know there are few readers who have scored more than 1300 in GRE. I like to know the books, materials, strategies, studying time, … you followed.
So many readers who are trying to improve their score are looking for such information. Few minutes of your time can help a lot of students.
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{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
dearHSB, i have just completed BE(Mech) 68% from VTU July 2010. Class 10th score 75%, 12th score 77%. GRE score 1440( Quant 790, verbal 650), Tofel score awaited.I have got campus placement for Infosys & joining from Sep 2010.I am interested in doing MS Astrophysics/Astronomy from US university fall 2011. Could u please tell me that without GRE Physics they will consider me for admission? Please also suggest ambitious, moderate & safe universities to apply for Fall 2011 session. If i do’nt get admission in astrophysics/astronomy then my second choice will be for Aerospace/aeronautical Engineering. Please advise accordingly.Thanks. ashish singh
Hi everyone. I scored 1460/1600 when I took my GRE (V=660 and Q=800). I did not, unfortunately, get much time to prepare for the test since I was working in a MNC at that time.
I used Barron’s GRE book for my preparation.
I had a look at the Quant section – just skimmed through it in about a day and took a test to check my level. Since I was good at math in school (and was in touch with math due to my engineering background), it was a breeze. I then targeted and solved problems from those topics/sections I wasn’t 100% sure of.
I have been reading a lot since childhood and hence, the verbal section didn’t terrorize me. I browsed the word lists and marked off words I knew already. Surprisingly, the list was shrunk to about 1/4th – those were the only words I did not know. Then I would target those words by learning their meanings and memorizing them. I also searched (online) for usage of those words in other sentences. I studied tips/strategies for analogies from Barron’s since I was not too good at that.
I couldn’t solve any practice test either due to shortage of time! I took just 1 ETS Powerprep test, the night prior to my actual GRE, and scored quite well and was happy and took the actual test confidently.
My advice for the actual test: Take time to solve the initial questions on the test, since it is a computer-adaptive test. You cannot afford to mess with that, otherwise you’ll end up in the incorrect range at the start itself, making it impossible to score higher. Good luck to everyone!
Sir,
Will my DGPA of 7.63/10 create any problem?
My B.Tech Computer Engineering DGPA is 7.63/10 from WBUT university,kolkata.According to university rules this DGPA maps to 68.8%.
But Only DGPA is GIVEN in marks sheet not %.
Presently i am working at TCS as Systems Engineer for last 2 years.It wil be 3 years by the time i apply.MY GRE score is (Quant-770,Verbal-620) Total 1380 and Toefl 94/120. i will be applying for 2011 Fall at USA universities in Electrical and computer engineering courses and also German universities.
Will my DGPA create any problem?I have decent reco,SOP, 2 projects,VT from IBM.
could u please suggest me how i can improve my Listening and get more than 25/30 in TOEFL iBT
Hi, I am Mohan. I have completed my masters in Drug Design and Biomedical Science form Edinburgh Napier University, UK. I would like to continue my studies to PhD in US. But here comes the problem, I had 2 subjects backlog in my bachelors and a subject in masters. Am I eligible to pursue PhD in US?
I am not getting any job so i am planning to study now.
I want to do MS in Computer Science and need to take up GRE and TOEFL.
Can anyone suggest the best way to prepare for both in 2-3 months of time?
Any help appreciated.
to prepare for GRE Math, i would suggest you only concentrate on math portion of Barrons GRE book, if u master that, u can get up to 770/800, a
good luck fr ur test
hello friends,
my name is abhishek and i’m doing engineering in Civil from MNIT,Jaipur. i have entered 6th semester(going to start from 4th january,2010). i have many questions regarding GRE. A few of them are as follows:
Q1. i have entered 6th sem.. When should i write my GRE exam? ,ideal time?
Q2. My branch is Civil engg.. so,am I supposed to write GRE subject test also in addition to GRE General test?
Q3. Is passport compulsory before registration?
Q4. Is it worth to study MS in US instead of taking job? I mean ,you will be spending a lot on your education in US. How are MS graduates recognised in comparison with their counterparts Undergraduates?
There are many other questions but for the time being please reply back with your suggestions.
thank you
my contact no. (in case you want to explain in brief);9610895863
i did my gre yesterday and i scored 1410,700 in quantitative and 710 in verbal.the advice that i have is this;study strategically,meaning identify your weak points and work on it consistently,secondly based on the knowledge you have of yourself give yourself 2-3 months of consistent and thorough preparation.finally the nova prep course is the best,you can also visit 800score.com.all the best guys
i hav less than 25 days left…
jus tell me…..hw to go bout it…for a decent score of 1300…
can i plz knw hw to fix d date for the gre xam.i will be thankful if u reply me as soon as u can sir.because i have to apply be prepared accordingly.and im confused with people abt gre they speak.
@Divya – You have asked few questions, but its totally confusing on what you are trying to ask. You are saying you want to taker GRE in Jan, but your question “is tat ok if i write xam in march”. SO, be clear on what you wan to ask.
hello sir,
i just started my gre preparation since one month.i jus wanna write my xam in jan in 2010.as the score boards should receive by march.is tat ok if i write xam in march?and plz may i knw hw the collges are to b selected.and the imp thing is that i did yet have got with my passport.is that compulsary to write my gre xam.
Just came across your website while doing some research on how to study GRE. Well I’m bound to take mine this November and hopefully do well on it!
Well I must say good luck to everybody who will be taking GRE and I’ll update everyone once I get the results.
plzzzz suugest me book 4 the preparation of maths 4 gre……m lil bit weak in maths…….so if possible den plz advice me sum tactics to overcum my remedy……..
give to Johns fundamental training program association some important tesson by mail thank you
I think you are right Mark. That’s why I am not so much concerned about giving GRE again, and I didn’t got crazy for it. I had good research internship experience at a top company in the US and some undergrad research experience that might work for me. I hope to get interviews. Thanks
I think a lot of people misunderstand how the GRE is used in admissions. It is not given the type of consideration that people generally think, i.e. the committee usually doesn’t say, “Well, he got a 700 quantitative and the other guy scored 800 so Mr. 800 wins.” Doesn’t work that way. GPA trumps GRE score every time, especially if you’ve graduated from a rigorous school/program. However, few foreign universities carry the cachet of top U.S. schools–with a few very notable exceptions. For foreign students, a good TOEFL goes a LONG WAY, as does a cogent, thoughtful statement of purpose. Any research activity is a HUGE bonus, and professional experience also earns brownie points. GRE can tip the scale in your favor, though, if you’re on the cusp of admission.
Bottom line: universities identify the top prospective graduate students as people, not test scores, and they evaluate them from a holistic perspective. Interviews can heavily influence a faculty member’s choice of student, and often trumps all of the paperwork combined in the end. Strive to be strong in all aspects of your admissions profile.
Hi.
Firstly, thank you for your effort of creating this blog.
Probably most of your readers are from India since you mention India a lot of times in your blog. Well, I am not from India, I am from South America. I have scored 1320 on GRE, sadly for my desire of studying Computer Science I have just scored 720 in the quantitative section while 600 in the verbal section. This has been my first and only attempt to GRE.
I prepared for 2 or 3 months for the Verbal section, 3 to 4 days a week for half an hour each session. I studied the 500 frequent words from Barron’s Book and then I studied the Kaplan Verbal GRE list which groups them by meaning instead of solely alphabetical order like Barron’s Book does.
I prepared myself for the Quantitative section too, and I scored as high as 750 or 780 on my practice tests with a lower bound of 720. Sadly Murphy’s law won in this section for me: “Whatever can go wrong will go wrong, and at the worst possible time, in the worst possible way”. I prepared by doing the practice tests on Barron’s Book, the practice tests from 800score and some from Kaplan.