gre_experience

I completed the GRE exam and thought that I could possibly share a few experiences related to it. Since my GRE preparation was done while I was working, this blog could possibly help people who are working and who are planning to take up the GRE. Here are a few things that I would like to quote from my experience:

How much time should be devoted for the GRE preparation?

The single largest component while preparing for the GRE is to get the word lists thoroughly memorized. Though the time taken for each person to do this would vary, in general, it always helps if one plans out a schedule and adheres to it as strictly as possible. If properly planned, one can prepare for the GRE in around 90 days, even while you are working.

My schedule for the preparation was to complete one word list each day. REPITITION, I believe is the only key to remember all the words properly. So, along with preparing the new words every day, it is mandatory to have a plan to revise them as well. I tried out a plan which was to revise the words done a day before, seven days ago and fifteen days ago, along with a new word list each day. The time that is needed for revisions should reduce with each revision of the word list. By taking the above startegy that in 50 days, you would have completed all the words and revised them almost thrice :)

It took me around 3 - 3.5 hours each day to go through this exercise. Its quite a pain at times, specially when you come home frustrated by the days work. It takes a good amount of patience to ensure that you meet the above schedule.

Making Flash Cards helps a lot!!

While revising your wordlists (remember we revise three word lists a day.. call them -1, -7, -15 for convenience) its a good idea to start noting down words that you could not get right on flash cards. This certainly means that your flash cards, will contain a word more than once (if you forget it in more than one revision). These cards can be carried around and you can go through them whenever you find spare time. If you are using a compnay shuttle and get stuck in traffic in places like Bangalore, then the odd hour that you spend in the vehicle, is a nice time to use your flash cards.

When should we start taking up the questions?

Along with doing the wordlists, one needs to get used to the kind of questions that come on the GRE. There is literally a plethora of data available on the web as far as sample exercises are concerned. Once you have completed over 1500 words, you can start going through these exercises on the web. There are some softwares which are small windows, and you can alternate between the window you are working on in office and this window, whenever it is possible for you.



What day do we schedule the test for?

If you are working then try and use the weekends that you get before the test. Which means, it is good to have the test on a Monday or a Tuesday. If you have your test on Tuesday, then you could possibly take a leave on Monday, so that you have Saturday - Monday for getting into the groove and the final preparations.

Moreover, try and take as many full length tests as you can.

Time management is really critical in the GRE, especially in the Quantitative section. The Quant is getting lengthier and the practice tests may not replicate the kind of questions that you will face on the GRE. Even then, taking these tests will give you a good idea of how you need to pace yourself through the questions. Its a good idea to devote more time to the first five questions, to ensure you have not messed up with them. DI in the Quant section and RC in the verbal section, will inevitably take more time.

There are lots of other things I would like to mention in addition to the above, but I guess I might try to write about them, based on the queries that you might have.


-- few recommended links for GRE prep:

www.majortests.com/gre
http://www.west.net/~stewart/gre/grtestv.htm

Regards
Vaibhav