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Revised GRE Study Schedule – 2 Step Schedule

Hi, my name is Rohan Prakash, I used 2 step Revised GRE Study Schedule to study for GRE. My Revised GRE score range

  • Verbal:- 480-580
  • Quant:- 750-800

My Revised GRE Study schedule was split into 2 stages.

  • Stage 1 – Early Preparation(Basics)
  • Stage 2 – Later Preparation (Practice Tests and fine tuning)

I got 3 Verbal and 2 Quantitative sections.

Started Revised GRE with AWA, not too much of a problem, but in Argument, one needs to be careful with what the question asks, my exam had written that what evidence does the author need to support his claim or to weaken his claim?

I started writing that author is right in concluding only to realize that I still need to mention what more evidence does the author need to support his claim but in the end I finished within time limits.

Then came Verbal-Quant-10mins break-Verbal-Quant-Verbal!

The management is very efficient but extremely strict so don’t try anything funny. Go in there, follow instructions and do your exam.

I expected better in Verbal but I screwed up the first Section itself. As per my Revised GRE experiences, both practice tests and final GRE, I feel that it is really important for you to get the first set right, if you do that, half battle is won already!

Revised GRE Study Schedule – Stage 1

As per my Revised GRE study schedule , I started my preparation precisely on July 19,2011 and I was aiming for a October since the very beginning.

The first thing I did was check out the new pattern, what all to expect, what all to study in both Verbal and Quant.

I got ETS GRE guide and gave my first diagnostic test and as far as i remember I suddenly realized that my English was not so great and so I started with English.

Now, I know most of the people say that with the new GRE you don’t need to mug up the word list, well I would like to differ.

The problem that I faced during the practice test was not that I wasn’t able to understand the question.

I had no idea about what the options meant, and so I took out my Barron’s GRE and started with my word-list.

At some point, it only used to be word-lists all day long for me.

My Revised GRE Study Schedule was to take up 6 word lists, make GRE flash cards and revise them the whole week.

By the mid of September, I was through with all and then I revised each word-list a day.

For quantitative section, I didn’t need too much of practice, but going through Math Reference does help, there are a few points that do make a notice.

Once through with Math Reference, I practiced once or twice a week and that was enough.

Revised GRE Study Schedule – Stage 2

Once through with the words, I started practicing the TC, SE, RC and mind you, GRE Verbal is no ordinary English, the key to getting good marks is to run your mind on the meaning of the sentence as much as you can.

The best strategy is to first predict and then look for the answers, even if you fail to make the prediction, look for the answers it is easier to eliminate a few choices if you know the meaning.

Once you eliminate a few choices, you can make a better guess at it. As for RC, PRACTICE PRACTICE AND PRACTICE more, there are a variety of questions and you need to be aware of them.

Topic is different form Primary purpose of message, tone of the author, scope of the passage, meaning of a word in context, what can be inferred and what cannot be inferred, the only way to success if practice and practice a little more.

Revised Books Used

  1. ETS Guide
  2. Barrons
  3. Kaplan

Revised GRE Study Tips

  1. Keep giving frequent full length test after every month or so, just so you know if you are improving, there is no point saving all the tests for the end, it doesn’t help.(i made this mistake)
  2. Before you start preparing, give the diagnostic test and do a thorough analysis.
  3. Kaplan’s Word groups and Word Roots are really effective and they do help you a lot. Kaplan’s Exercise Questions, both in the book and in the CD are also very efficient, they did help me a lot at least in understanding the questions better.
  4. While doing verbal and Quant, do not forget AWA, the time is 30minutes only and it wouldn’t harm to write a few essays every now and then.
  5. Keep your cool and stay focused.

All the Best!!

***

Rohan’s Revised GRE study schedule was simple. You might wonder, there is not much to learn from his Revised GRE Study Schedule.

GRE study schedule looks simple, because he was methodical towards his GRE study plan.

He did exactly whats listed in 20 Step GRE Study Plan.

  • Took diagnostic test to know his current skill level.
  • Understood the sections that required more time for preparation (Verbal)
  • Attacked Verbal section
  • Followed his GRE study schedule
  • Used just 3 books ( How to use 80/20 rule Ace the GRE Exam)

Message is very simple – Create a Revised GRE Study Schedule and follow the schedule.

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6 Comments

  1. im studying in M.Sc.( horticulture), i wanted to do my p.hh.d. in U.S.A. plz guide me which r the universities r there related to horticulture and agriculture and also guide me how to prepare for that exams.

    1. Visit gre.ets.org to register for GRE test. The test costs USD $160 if you will give the test in USA or $190 in all other locations around the world. You will need a credit card to pay for the test.

  2. I plan to take the GRE end of December and I only started preparing today because I wanted to be done with my B.Sc. which I just wrote my last paper like 3 days ago. I’m using Grubers’ and the GRE revised guide. I really hope just this two work for me. @poster, you didn’t state your scores??

    1. Use Kaplan’s / Barron’s word list. Also, if you have smartphone, you can use GRE softwares/dictionaries which will be like your flash cards. And you can revise or study words whenever you’re free.

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