GRE Exam Preparation 2024: Section-wise Tips

Both these tasks are designed to measure your critical thinking and analytical writing skills.
 

These are the tips that you can follow to achieve better in this section:
 

• Practice Writing Essays:  Set aside time to write practice essays for both tasks. Use official GR resources, test prep books or online GRE preparation materials. 
• Familiarise Yourself with the Scoring Rubric: ETS administers the GRE and provides a scoring rubric for both tasks. Understanding how your essays will be evaluated can help you tailor your writing to meet the criteria.
• Develop a Clear Structure: Organize your essays with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. In the introduction, state your main point or thesis. In the body paragraphs, provide supporting evidence and analysis. In the conclusion, summarise your main points and restate your thesis.
• Use Specific Examples: Support your arguments with specific examples, evidence, and reasoning. Concrete examples help strengthen your arguments and demonstrate your ability to think critically.
• Practice Time Management: The GRE Analytical Writing section consists of two tasks, and you'll have 30 minutes for each task. Practice writing essays within the time limit to ensure you can complete both tasks within the allotted time.
• Edit and Revise: Leave some time at the end of each task to review and revise your essay. Check for grammar and spelling errors, clarity of expression, and coherence of argumentation.
• Read Sample Essays: Reviewing sample essays that scored well on the GRE can give you insights into effective writing strategies and techniques. ETS provides sample essays with commentary on its website.
• Expand Your Vocabulary: A strong vocabulary can enhance your writing and help you articulate your ideas more precisely. Read widely and practice using new words in your writing.
• Seek Feedback: If possible, have someone else read and provide feedback on your practice essays. They can offer insights and suggestions for improvement you might not have considered.

It consists of three questions: Reading Comprehension, Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence.
 

These tips can help you to ace a decent score in this section:

• Build Your Vocabulary: The Verbal Reasoning section includes vocabulary-based questions. Expand your vocabulary by reading challenging texts, using vocabulary flashcards, and studying word lists from GRE prep books or online resources.
• Read Widely and Actively: Regularly read various materials, including newspapers, magazines, academic articles, and literary works. Practice active reading by engaging with the text, making notes, summarising main ideas, and identifying key arguments or themes.
• Practice Reading Comprehension: The Verbal Reasoning section includes passages followed by multiple-choice questions. Practice reading comprehension by answering questions about the main idea, supporting details, author's tone, and logical structure of passages.
• Master Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence: These question types assess your understanding of vocabulary in context. Practice identifying word relationships and selecting appropriate words to complete sentences.
• Use Context Clues: When encountering unfamiliar words, use context clues to infer their meaning. Pay attention to surrounding words, phrases, and sentence structure to determine the meaning of unknown words.
• Study Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes: Understanding the roots of words and common prefixes and suffixes can help you decipher unfamiliar vocabulary. Look for patterns in word formation and use them to infer meanings.
• Practice Time Management: The Verbal Reasoning section consists of multiple-choice questions; you'll have about 30 minutes to complete each section. Practice managing time to ensure you have enough time to answer all questions within the allotted time.
• Review Mistakes: After completing practice questions, review your mistakes to identify areas of weakness. Pay attention to the questions you struggle with and focus on improving your skills.
• Simulate Test Conditions: When practising, simulate test conditions as closely as possible. Use a timer, eliminate distractions, and take practice tests under realistic conditions to build stamina and familiarity with the exam format.

It consists of four types of questions: Quantitative Comparison Questions, Multiple-choice Questions and Numeric Entry Questions
 

These tips can help you prepare effectively for the Quantitative Reasoning section:
 

• Review Math Fundamentals: Make sure you have a strong understanding of fundamental mathematical concepts, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. Review key formulas, rules, and properties commonly tested on the GRE.
• Practice Mental Math: Develop your mental math skills to quickly perform calculations without relying too much on a calculator—practice techniques such as estimation, rounding, and breaking down complex calculations into more straightforward steps.
• Understand Question Types: Familiarize yourself with the questions in the GRE Quantitative Reasoning section, including multiple-choice, quantitative comparison, and numeric entry questions. Understand the specific strategies required for each question type.
• Learn Problem-Solving Strategies: Develop problem-solving strategies for tackling different math problems. Practice techniques such as plugging in numbers, back-solving, working backwards, and using logical reasoning to approach challenging problems.
• Use the Calculator Wisely: While a calculator is provided for the Quantitative Reasoning section, it's essential to use it judiciously. Practice using the on-screen calculator efficiently and accurately, but also know when it's faster or more reliable to perform calculations mentally or on paper.
• Practice Time Management: The GRE Quantitative Reasoning section consists of two 35-minute sections with 20 questions each. Practice pacing yourself to complete all questions within the allotted time. Focus on efficiency and accuracy.
• Review GRE Math Concepts: Familiarize yourself with the specific math concepts and topics tested on the GRE. Use GRE prep books, online resources, and practice tests to identify areas of weakness and review accordingly.
• Memorise Common Formulas and Rules: Memorize standard formulas, rules, and properties frequently tested on the GRE. This includes geometric formulas, algebraic identities, rules of exponents, properties of numbers, and statistical concepts.
• Take Practice Tests: Take full-length practice tests under timed conditions to simulate the experience of the actual GRE exam. Analyse your performance, identify areas for improvement, and adjust your study plan accordingly.
• Seek Additional Help if Needed: If you're struggling with specific math concepts or question types, don't hesitate to seek additional help. Consider working with a tutor, joining a study group, or using online resources for extra practice and clarification.