Don’t face the GRE unprepared.
The GRE is a tough test. Success requires quick analysis and mental stamina. However, because it’s standardized, it’s predictable, and because it’s predictable, it’s beatable with the right kind of dedicated practice and error analysis. Lonestar Education seeks to guide students towards the right kind of practice and analysis to help them improve their GRE scores and succeed on the GRE.
We are offering live-online, synchronous 6-week GRE preparation courses in conjunction with the UTSA Department of Professional and Continuing Education, UTSA PaCE. Adam Johnson will teach the workshops. Sign up at the UTSA PaCE website. Contact us if you have any questions.
What it takes to improve your score
The GRE is a difficult test—the better you do, the harder it gets. However, because it’s standardized, it’s predictable and because it’s predictable, it can be mastered with diligent practice and analysis. Unfortunately, mastering the GRE is no easy task. Just coming to class and listening is not enough. In order to master the GRE, you have to take an active role in your test preparation and devote significant time to practice and analysis. The following steps are necessary for significant improvement. Believe in yourself. With the right effort, you can learn the skills you need to beat the test!
- Learn the vocabulary, logic, and math content. The GRE tests vocabulary, reading, logic, arithmetic, algebra, data analysis, and geometry. Before you can improve your score, you must become very comfortable with all of the subject matter. We’ll review some of the content in class but will spend more time on application and practice. Use Quizlet and Khan Academy to learn the vocabulary and relearn algebra outside of class. Once you master the content, you can focus your energy on problem solving.
- Change the way you take the test. In order to improve on the GRE, you must become a more active test-taker. In class, you’ll learn techniques for analyzing the questions before going to the answer choices and techniques for process of elimination. These techniques may slow you down at first and be difficult to master but you must persevere! Change is hard, but if you learn to apply the techniques taught in class consistently, your score will go up.
- Do the assignments using the techniques. The only way to internalize these techniques to the point of automaticity is consistent and focused practice. Keep on practicing each question type until you get it down. Think of yourself as an athlete training for the Olympics or as a professional musician trying to master a new instrument. Set aside at least an hour a day for practicing GRE questions and analyzing the results.
- Analyze what you missed and why. Spend as much time going over the assignments as you spent doing them. Try to figure out exactly why you chose each wrong answer and how you can approach the problem differently to get it right. Every missed question is a lesson. If you learn those lessons from your assignments, you’ll be able to apply them on the day of the test. Look for patterns in your wrong answers in order to identify your strengths and weakness. Once you’ve found a weakness, keep working on it until it becomes one of your strengths.
- Master pacing. After you’ve mastered the techniques, focus on pacing and stamina. The GRE is a long, grueling test and the time pressure is brutal. In order to score well you have to balance accuracy and pacing and stay focused for two essays and 130 minutes of verbal and math. In the final weeks of the class, you should be averaging about 1–2 minutes per question and working for at least two hours at a time.