How to Improve GRE Score Second Time by 20 Points in 15 Days (290 to 310)
An American girl offered to help Abhinav Kumar Sharma with his GRE Test Prep. He scored 15 points higher with just 15 days of GRE Prep.
This article is the second article written by Abhinav. In his first article – Mentality of Indians : Demotivating and Awful and he talks about an American Girl who volunteered to teach him GRE.
Sorry to hear about your dad.
Enter Abhinav… How to Improve GRE Score Second Time
Hello friends,
My name is Abhinav Sharma and I hope only few people might remember me in this blog.
Sorry, I was busy with my family and my application process. Sorry for not posting my experience of GRE and how to improve GRE Score second time by 20 points in 15 days
I actually lost my Dad earlier this year so this is the main reason I was busy with stuff.
How to Improve GRE Score Second Time
Well not beating around the bush coming to the point, let me tell you what everyone were asking me about that girl and what did she tell me during those 15 days of GRE Test Prep.
Learning from my faults
She talked with me about my failures and my old scores.
My first GRE was 290.
- Quantitative score : 150
- Verbal Score : 140
- Analytic writing : 2.5
On the first day she told me write what an organisation think for its employees.
I mean she saw my basic level is really good but I didn’t had proper vocabulary list. So I learnt some specific words and formats for my essays.
I worked on writing 1 essay on issue and 1 on analytic writing every day. She just checked it that’s all which your college’s English professor can do for you.
Working Hard
Worked hard not because I want to go US or Canada.
- Worked hard because I want to get out of this worse government rules in India.
- Worked hard because she was helping me a lot.
- Worked hard because when people get involve with you, you always get some motivation.
Honestly motivation only comes when you loose something big.
I never failed in any of my exam of life. This time when I lost it I felt like sh*t. I studied for just 4 – 5 hours a day.
Enjoyment with refreshment
Believe it or not, we Indian people cram a lot.
Yeah, that’s true, just to pass exam. I did too in past when didn’t get any derivation or formula in my head.
But after a short fun refreshing breaks like going outdoor for long walks, playing some games, etc. I was able to boost my score from 290 to 300+
Other Things Learned
- Motivation from your surroundings like be with those people who are not showing off personality.
- Less use of social networking sites like, Facebook, twitter, etc.
- Positive thinking which is hard when you already had low score, but trust me what made me more patient is proper meditation. I did it and it helped me reducing my stress levels.
- Carefully develop the picture where you want to go and what if you won’t get it?
- Analyse daily life problems and try to solve them in your mind. Like if I get 2kg milk weekdays and 2.5Kg on weekends and it cost me Rs.24/Kg. Then how much it will cost me in July month.
- During weekends try to work on your mistakes and schedule timing. Forget if you are running out of timing. If any section remained there then leave it, just go to net department of exam.
Last but not the least, remain honest with your results. Believe me no matter ‘Practice makes man perfect” and this is 100% truth.
This is all what she told me and it helped me a lot.
Honestly saying I was really depressed from all those people who said those wrong words. Rather than motivating they were just blah.
I am not going to say anything wrong about them, but other truth is this; everyone wants to have comfort life.
In India, we all dream so big, some try harder but not effectively.
Some always get busy in collecting books and other data from teachers and some always waste time in reading articles.
Quantity is nothing if you don’t have quality.
I got admit in UTA, Virginia tech and Georgia tech.
I applied to 6 Universities and got reply from three and one rejection.
Two application results are awaiting but I am not going to wait more than my limits.
Yesterday I gave confirmation to my University where I am going and I am happy.
I know I will get rejection in Visa process because I don’t have much support and even having 60-80% scholarship from Virginia Tech and Georgia universities.
But oh well, I believe in God so I am sure there will be something more to come.
In the end I just want to request everyone, never let anyone down, always give them a hope. Expectations are worthless. Do good in life and get good in life.
//
What do you think about this stranger offering help to motivate Abhinav to boost his score by 20 points?
In theses days, it becomes really tough to get high score in GRE .
I recently took my GRE, and I scored 300. I tried a lot but I didn’t see any improvement in my Verbal session, any tips for that. I am planning to retake the exam after a month and to achieve at least 310 to get admission in some good universities.
Hai abhinav this is Gayatri I got 284 (146 quant and 138 verbal)in my gre after a 2 months preparation can you please suggest me some how to hit 310 rock with one month hard preparation
Please can i get some help with the writing as you explained that you identified some words and formats for the Essays. Could you kindly mail them to me.
Thank you.
i have just pass class 12th this yr.. i want to do MS from university of illinois after graduating from a college here in india.. i just took a mock GRE test and completely felt like a dumb.. i have to start from scratch.. had i taken the actual GRE, m dead sure my score would not have been >270.. n i really mean that.. those reading comprehensions bamboozles me.. :p.. m weak at maths too.. but i have 3 yrs in hand.. can u ppl plz suggest a way for beginners like me to get 320 in GRE..??
It’s takes time to study GRE. Plan to study for 3 months or more.
Hi Abhinav
What you wrote has touched me.Today I am in exactly the same stage as was yours .My GRE was exactly like you.I too need 310 in 15 days.And I am very desparate about it.From last tree months I am preparing by myself .My family is very supportive and they are very eager to see me at that peak.But my low GRE demotivated me.Please help me if you can describe a specific plan that you followed.I too have only 15 days with me.If you can detail about your plan I will follow it properly because I know I got great failure at planning but based on your experience I am eager to know how you planned your study for those 15 days.Please help.
Hi Abhinav,
I am an International student and am planning to pursue M.S. in US .I gave my GRE twice ; in first attempt it was 287 and second 290 .I am really disappointed and just don’t know where am I getting wrong . I did practice stuff from KAPLAN , ETS , powerprep II software and to my suprise I score pretty descent when I solve them at home but when I try attempting the same in exam I ended with disastrous scores twice . Do you think there is something seriously wrong with my concepts ? Please advice as I am left with not option but to write GRE again. My target score is min 320 .Thanks
hey congos man really that was really great ….even am with scores and aiming score >310, score was 290(156+134)….awa 2.5 ….can u say some detailed experience about words,RC, TC and SE. i have ample of time ..your reply would definitely help me 🙂
Dear Abhinav,
Thanks for the article. I got 288 in my last GRE and got rejections Bly because of less GRE marks from everywhere. I was applying for phd in USA and Canada. My counselors said they need me to score minimum 320 for next year applications. i lost hope and left everything. But now I am a bit happy that its possible to change your score. !!! I was thinking I won’t be able to do it but I think I will surely try once now. I will give myself little more time, say three months (as I am working physician) and I will retake my GRE. Lets see what happens to me.
I am really sorry about your father. Please take care. And god luck.
GRE is not everything. Take decisions wisely and happily. Life is not all about GRE. See through eyes of heart and happiness. Going to US is ot everything. Dude, if you wanna crack it then do it, nothing is impossible. Be smart and take decisions which will make your future and let your parents be with you. Just saying.
I also felt the same way. I am going to learn from you. Preparing for another GRE.
“Motivation only comes when you lose something big” .. I agree in toto with this statement.
Hey abhinav, I am very sorry for your dad..
I can see the perseverance in you.. i’m sure you will get visa and be successful .. All the best!
P.S. : One thing I want to say is please don’t generalize …. I never said NO when anyone asked me help about gre and other things i know..becoz i know the value of help you get when you are in desperate situations.. likewise many do help .. I got help from many fellow indians …
Hey Abhinav
Thank you for taking time out to share all your personal experiences. Two things are worth mentioning
1. Whether your Visa is approved or rejected, it would be really great if you could continue donating some time to HSB regulars so that they too stay focused and motivated like you 🙂
2. You mentioned you identified some words and formats for the Essays. I wonder if you would be willing to share some of them in similar blogs.
Best wishes
I have applied for Visa and will share my experience for sure.
I sent total 3 articles included this one. Just saying.
I can’t find the third one.
hey congos man really that was really great ….even am with scores and aiming score >310, score was 290(156+134)….awa 2.5 ….can u say some detailed experience about words,RC, TC and SE. i have ample of time ..your reply would definitely help me 🙂
What is your be/btech score?
And does backlog affect our chances of admission good us universities?
My B.tech was 80%. Doesn’t matter with GRE. People who scored 60% they are now scoring 320+. I never had any backlog and I didn’t see any person who was affected by it.
first of all let me congratulate abhinav for his improved score that he’s got. may your fathers soul rip.
good work from that stranger lady who helped him motivating him in his preparation to improve by 20.
truly accepted what abhinav says regarding not to demotivate anyone in any sort of field they are working to achieve their objective.
I have to fufill an english requirement for a university i got a conditional offer for,actually i am writing the academic ielts. There are two test dates- may 16th and june 8th. Do you think i can write the ielts in 14 days,as regards preparation or should i leave it to june 8th
Yes of course you can!! Hardwork, patience and perseverance is all that you need. Take a diagnostic test, find your flaws and weed them out! 🙂
If you have practiced verbal for GRE it will help you in ILETS reading. If not reading takes some time to improve. Listening is about training your brain by practicing. Take lot of practice tests , if possible one everyday.
If your basic English is good then you can do well in this time. I took 7 days focused practice got 8 bands. All the best!
i am sorry for ur dad. Yup we will be moulded according to our situation .Even i got the same result awa-2.5 verbal-140, quantitative -150
but i am not at all disappointed i know what i am capable of. confidence matters. and i wish u all the best for ur bright future.
It is an interesting article. I wish there are more people who are willing to offer help to others unconditionally.
I recently took IELTS exam and scored 8 bands overall. I used techniques which were discussed by Sri Harsha in this blog for reading specially and scored 8.5 in reading and would like to thank him and Raghu for awesome blog.
I would be glad if I can help anyone in achieving their target score.
congratulation
@Gungeet I am glad to hear that my techniques helped you … All the best for your future …:)
Thank you Harsha 🙂