Studying for the GRE® test seems like a monumental task. Take comfort in knowing that many grad school hopefuls have slain this dragon before you! There is a way. Follow the steps of those who have gone before you. Even if you feel like you are just endlessly plodding along, you will get there!  

Take a Practice GRE® Test

As nerve-wracking as it can be to take on a massive test that you don’t feel prepared to conquer yet, you need to establish a baseline for improvement. Take a full-length practice test under timed conditions to figure out your baseline score.

Analyze Your Results

Compare your baseline score with the score you will need for your target schools. Allocate more time to areas where you are weak, and determine which areas can be improved most efficiently. Be strategic. Don’t focus all your study time on your worst area if focusing the same amount of time in two slightly weak areas will give you a greater overall score.

Create a Study Schedule

Studying for the GRE is a major time commitment. Make sure to put together a study schedule and stick to it! Start studying two to three months before the test, and study consistently. Plan to study content areas about eight hours per week. In addition to content area study, you need to plan to take full-length practice tests. Start taking full-length practice tests one month before your GRE test date, and continue taking one per week. You should also allocate time to review your practice tests. Yes, this is a lot of time. You’ll be studying over 13 hours per week in the month leading up to the test. That’s why you must schedule it.

It's also important to schedule some time for self-care. If you are also working and juggling additional commitments like family, self-care can fall by the wayside. However, taking an hour to go for a jog or do some yoga will improve your overall focus when you do sit down to the task of studying.

Let the Experts Guide You

The most efficient use of your time is to follow a plan that’s already laid out for you. Use a GRE prep book or a GRE prep course. EMPOWERgre takes the guesswork out of GRE preparation. Our easy-to-use and effective online prep course has all the materials you need gathered for you. We know what has worked for others, so we won’t waste your time with things that don’t work. We offer outlines, audiocasts, and video lessons that cover everything you need to know to conquer the GRE. Our courses coach you on winning test-taking strategies as well as content. All this is available to you 24/7 to hone your skills on your own schedule. Start your free 24-hour trial to experience the best GRE prep course online for yourself.