In this post: How a mic stand helped me squeeze out precious additional hours ā Creating custom audio for GRE studying ā The tools that worked and those that didnāt ā The 3 most productive uses of time when training for the Quantitative Reasoning section ā My personal voice recordings for studying for AW and VR ā How meditation helped boost my score ā Examples of my study notes and other bits of wisdom.
Although by no means a miracle, with a few simple learning hacks I was able to take both my GRE quantitative and verbal scores up an additional 10 points, respectively, in a matter of 15 days. I also went from barely mustering 250 words on my first few Analytical Writing attempts, to scoring a ā5ā on the final test. Again, my scores werenāt perfect ā no ā170sā here ā but I believe the sizeable improvement in such a short timeframe can be replicated by anyone willing to try.
My two points of reference were the timed preliminary test on the ETS site (Day 1) and the official, in-person test (Day 15). I should note that on Day 1, I was not a complete GRE neophyte. I had read most of the Official Guide to the GRE in the weeks prior, and had attempted a few of the practice problems. I knew the structure, timing, and question types before beginning my first practice test.
What this post does NOT attempt to do
Anyone whoās reading this should be at least somewhat familiar with what the GRE is and each of its sections. Iāll spare you inevitable recap youāre sure to encounter on every other GRE-related post on the internet. If youāre part of the 1% whoās not in-the-know, youāll find everything you need from the folks who write the test.
Iām also going to avoid the common (yet, useful) tips youāll hear from just about everyone else. The world doesnāt need another post reminding us to read the instructions carefully.
Instead, Iād like to highlight some of the unconventional and less-mentioned methods that I believe helped boost my score. I certainly used the standard advice as well, but these are some alternative ways to give yourself an edge, especially if youāre in a time-crunch.
But first, my top tips for success
If your study time is limited, or you simply donāt want to spend any more of your life than absolutely necessary gearing up for the GRE, here is my advice:
- Do as many practice tests as possible. The ETS site gives you the chance to do 2 free practice tests. Do them. I completed one at the beginning and one at the end of my study period to gauge my readiness for the real thing. Additional ETS practice tests arenāt cheap at $40 a pop, so I opted for the Magoosh GRE platform which allowed me to take an unlimited number of timed practice tests and also watch the video solutions afterwards, which the ETS tests donāt provide. This turned out to be a game-changer since I got used to dealing with the pressure of a 4-hour, timed exam.
- Figure out which days and times youāre most productive, and block those off for your studies at the beginning of the week. For me, getting up at 5am and jumping into things gives me at least 3 hours of interruption-free study-bliss (or, something like that). Strangely enough, working late into the evening on Fridays was also a sweet-spot.
- Practice skipping the hardest questions. Most students probably realize that EVERY QUESTION IS WORTH THE SAME AMOUNT on the GRE, and yet, it seems many spend an inordinate amount of time struggling through the toughest ones ā at least, I did. Instead, my strategy was to spend a little extra time ensuring that Iād made good on the attainable, low-hanging fruit and leave the heavy lifting until the end. On exam day, I didnāt hesitate to automatically skip over the lengthy reading comprehension problems, or multiple-selection and numerical input questions in the quantitative reasoning section.
My Tools
- The Official Guide to the GRE General Test. This is home base. Visit your local library and get cozy with this tome as soon as possible. *Lift with your legs, not your back.*
- Magoosh. Youāve probably heard people talking about this. A friend of mine who wrote the GRE earlier in the year recommended I use it. He did me a favour, as I found it to be an incredibly beneficial tool. In essence, you can take unlimited online practice tests that mimic the official GRE test right down to the on-screen calculator. But perhaps most beneficial are the video tutorials that discuss each and every solution. Brilliant. Theyāve also got a mobile app that I used occasionally.
- Voice recorder on my smartphone. I used this for my vocabulary list and AW audio recordings. More on this below.
- Google Sheets. I use Sheets/Docs about as often as I use water, so this was a no-brainer for me. Sheets was especially well suited to supporting my vocabulary study.
- Google Docs. The truth is that I started out using Evernote for my massive list of online notes. Then I started adding screenshots and suddenly remembered what always seems to happen when using Evernote for lengthy, image-laden work āan inevitable CRASH. Are you listening, Evernote?
- Quizlet. A simple, clean, web app that I used to create flashcards.
- Microphone stand. I used this while recording on my smartphone, but perhaps more importantly, it held my Macbook above me while I lay down on my bed ā I found this far better for my back and neck than sitting or standing, and it allowed me to squeeze out a few more hours daily. Indeed, those were some long days.
- #Fails: I think I rented every GRE study book in the city. Looking back, Iād stick to one non-ETS book, as there are some valuable tips that ETS wonāt provide. Also, I was about to turn my Google vocabulary sheet into a set of mobile flashcards using an app, but I found the audio recording (below) far more helpful.
Body + Brain Strategy
Prime the body
First off, Iām a firm believer in the mind-body connection. This seems obvious to me, so Iām always surprised at how ostensibly intelligent people can go about treating their bodies like garbage while simultaneously expecting to perform well mentally.
I wonāt get too far into the weeds on this one, but essentially, if youāre not getting enough sleep (only 1% of the population can function normally on less than 5 hours of it, and youāre probably not one of them), or eating junk food regularly (manage your blood-sugar levels wisely), or not exercising regularly (getting blood flow to the brain) then youāre not going to perform at your full potential.
And yes, that additional 10% in alertness could be the difference between catching that subtle āround to the nearest hundredā cue in the prompt, or not.
Try fasting. Seriously.
Iām not a doctor, and donāt play one on the internet. However, if youāre looking to increase your focus, consider dropping food altogether (consult your doctor first, though). Iāve been a fan of intermittent fasting for the past four years, and believe me, it gets easier with time.
My study sessions would involve me getting up at the crack of dawn and resisting food until the early afternoon, or sometimes until dinner. I found that when I committed to fasting, I would force myself to push through the inevitable resistance Iād feel when attempting tough problems.
Without my āescape routeā of being able to fix myself a snack, I found I was better able to blast through mental ruts.
Mental preparation through meditation
To slay a 4-hour anything, staying mentally focused is essential. Think about two tennis players hacking it out during a marathon match at Wimbledon. At a certain point, it really becomes a battle of the minds. The one who is more mentally resilient will usually triumph.
To prepare for the 4-hour GRE ā which is actually longer when you factor in the airport-esque security pat-down you get each time you take a bathroom break ā I started to ramp up my meditation practice. Sure, Iāve been doing this sporadically for years, but I knew Iād have to take it up a notch to stay focused while wading through the insipid reading comprehension passages the GRE is famous for. Mating rituals of grasshoppers, or the culinary tools of neanderthals, anyone?
Each morning and evening, Iād set aside 15 minutes to follow my breathing and hold focus without letting my mind wander. If self-directed meditation is excruciating for you, try an app such as Headspace. The most important outcome in my opinion is to be able to stop the āmonkey mindā for an increasing period each session. It may initially be a mere 6 seconds. Try for 10 the next time.
My theory is that if you can hold focus despite your mindās treadmill running at full throttle, youāll be far more likely to hold focus through a challenging chunk of algebra.
=== My Unconventional Methods by Section ===
Analytical Writing
First of all, I probably spent the least amount of time preparing for the AW section. Iād heard that most schools (apart from Journalism, English, and other writing-intensive schools) use the AW mostly as a method to weed out poor writers. āIf you can score a ā4ā or higher, youāll be fineā, I was told.
That being said, who wants to be average?
Unconventional AW Hack #1: The Example Test
My logic: The highest-scoring Issue Essays are heavy on specific examples which illustrate the writerās argument. They not only add flavour and cogency to the writing, but also length, which seems to be an underreported factor in scoring well. Therefore, to be successful on this section of the test, I need to have multiple relevant examples on hand.
My method: Analyze the frequency of Issue topic themes alongside my current ātop-of-mindā examples. Then, focus my study time on the higher-frequency topic themes where I lacked ability to produce relevant examples quickly.
To do this, I grouped topics from the GRE Issue Topic Pool into broad themes, then gave myself 1 minute per theme to jot down as many relevant example ideas as possible.
Below is my breakdown of a few of the AW Issue topics.
As you can see, Iām looking for high frequency topic themes which I donāt have many ātop-of-mindā examples for. Naturally, you could organize themes in a variety of different ways as there is plenty of overlap between them. For more on this, Iād check out a post I found on Consolidated Issue Topics.
Unconventional AW Hack #2: Memorize an Opening Structure
Please note, I donāt recommend plagiarism in any form, and I generally think memorization (of original content) should be used sparingly.
My logic: While writing practice essays, I began to realize how much time elapsed while racking my brain for engaging, grammatically-correct ways to craft topic sentences or introductions. When given only 30 minutes, stalling on the first few words can create enormous anxiety. Since most essays can employ very similar structures, especially for the Argument essay, I needed to create versatile openings that could work well across topics.
My method: I read all of the ā5ā and ā6ā essays I could find and noted the structure of their topic sentences and created a custom version. I practiced using variations of these in each of my essays. For example (CAPS added to aid memorization):
āThe stated argument is flawed for several reasons. PRIMARILY, the argument is based on the UNWARRANTED ASSUMPTION that _____, RENDERING its main conclusion _____, invalid.ā
And,
āHad the writer provided information regarding ______, EVEN THEN the argument would have to FURTHER PROVE that ______.ā
Or, even something as simple as
āThis statement raises the controversial issue of whether ______, WHICH PLAYS ON the idea that _______.ā
Unconventional AW Hack #3: Create Audio Essays
My logic: Iām a podcast addict, sometimes listening to a dozen hours of content each week (on 1.5x, of course). By instead listening to the ā6ā and ā5ā essays on my commute, or while cooking, I could passively pick up some inspiration to aid me in the AW section.
My method: Swap in my own recordings for my daily podcasts (and yes, your voice is less cringe-worthy than the text-to-speech robot). Hereās a sample of mine, if youāre crunched for time:
Verbal Reasoning
Unconventional Verbal Reasoning Hack #1: Create an Audio Vocabulary List
My logic: As mentioned in the Analytical Writing section above, if I can listen to material while brushing my teeth, showering, or riding the train, I can create significantly more study time each week.
My method: Start with a Google Sheet, adding words from the various word lists (hereās one expertās ratings of whatās available). Color-code the rows based on your level of comprehension. Finally, create separate audio tracks for each color.
*I would have gladly linked to my entire spreadsheet for you, however, many of my mnemonics and examples were, letās just say, less-than-politically-correct. Yes, the more outrageous they were, the better I recalled them. :)
What helped me the most
- When creating my list, if Iād never heard or seen the word and couldnāt possibly imagine myself using it, Iād skip it. In my view, itās best to emerge from your GRE studies with usable knowledge. This kept me motivated.
- If a mnemonic struck me, Iād definitely include it in the audio recording. It really does accelerate memorization. If I was having difficulty dreaming one up, Iād check out the Mnemonic Dictionary (quality will vary!).
- Group similar words together in the audio file. For example āDissemble / Obfuscateā. If Iāve got a good idea about what āobfuscateā means, but the word ādissembleā trips me up, when I eventually see ādissembleā on the test, Iāll associate it with āobfuscateā, even if I forget the definition. A little extra insurance.
- Have fun with the audio. Life is too short not to.
Hereās a quick example of what I put together:
Unconventional Verbal Reasoning Hack #2: Read like a Kindergarten Teacher
My logic: The hardest part about the lengthy reading comprehension questions is staying mentally alert in the midst of some of the driest, most obscure content imaginable. Unless a geospatial theory comparison on how Saturnās moons affect surface temperatures is a topic that gets you out of bed in the morning, itās tempting to hit the snooze button half way through the opening sentence. Therefore, to move through a dense text quickly while gaining a solid understanding, the way I read the passage needs to keep my mind engaged.
My method: While reading, Iād use my cursor to follow along with the text on the screen and pause at any indicator or transition words such as āhoweverā, āalthoughā, ādespiteā, and āregardlessā. Iād add an unusual, perhaps even ācheesyā, emphasis while reading those words much like a parent or teacher might read to young ones. This helped me stay engaged with the text and summarize the passage via its structural transitions.
Quantitative Reasoning
Quant was the section I knew I had the most room to improve in. I mean, how often do non-engineers really think about simplifying square-root equations or deploying pythagorean theorem?
I started off with the basics. By basics, I really mean BASICS. Iām not ashamed to say I brushed up on a few of my multiplication tables to get them to lightening-quick status. I also memorized all of the prime numbers up to 60.
It was also helpful to gain clarity on the simple questions such as āIs 1 a prime number?ā and āWhat is an isosceles triangle, again?ā Iāve included a screenshot of some of the first notes I took. The complexity of my notes increased significantly in the pages that came afterwards.
Unconventional QR Hack: Look for the Elegant Solution Every Time
My logic: I should only have to use the calculator for a few of the questions (perhaps five or fewer on the entire exam). Each time I pull up that cumbersome thing, Iām using up valuable time. In most cases, ETS is testing if I have enough ānumber senseā to see the simple solution behind a convoluted equation. Therefore, I should be looking to simplify the algebra, notice the subtle caveat in the instructions, or spot the obvious snare before I even think about starting to crunch the numbers.
My method: Each time I got tripped up on a question or spent too much time hacking away at a roundabout solution, Iād make a note of it. Eventually Iād see patterns with the ways questions were phrased, or Iād spot certain tell-tale signs that indicated there was an elegant solution lurking in the shadows.
Best use of time while studying for Quantitative Reasoning
Other than getting the number-sense basics down-pat and learning how to spot the elegant solution, I spent most of my time attempting the math practice questions and watching the accompanying solution videos on Magoosh. In retrospect, I canāt think of a more productive use of my time.
Final Thoughts
The amount of time you spend preparing for the GRE really depends on where you start off, and where you hope to end up in terms of a final score. Iām not a fan of doing a half-assed job of anything, however, Iām also very aware of making the most of my time, and realize the relatively small part a standardized test factors into my long-term goals. Ideally, Iād recommend most people spend 1ā2 months preparing for the exam, assuming theyād spend between 5ā20 hours per week studying.
Youāre welcome to use and replicate any of the content Iāve created above, including the audio, tables and images. I havenāt been paid to write any of this, but as a student whoās used the Magoosh platform, I have included their student referral link because Iāve used it and believe itās the best tool around.
