When you study for the GRE, your goal is to learn the material well. You won’t be rewarded just for putting in the time. Putting in the time is certainly necessary. However, it isn’t enough. You can’t expect to earn a 330+ on the GRE if you’re simply letting information wash over you. If you blaze your way through a chapter just to say you “read” it, are you really any closer to your goal score?

So, be honest with yourself. Read deliberately and methodically. Strive to understand the material. If you fail to do so the first time, make yourself repeat the material.

The same goes for practice problems. Plenty of students “binge” problem-solve, burning through dozens of practice questions only to realize that they’ve learned little that can be applied in the future. Don’t make this mistake. Instead, squeeze as much juice out of each practice question as you can. If you get a question wrong, stop and analyze why. Ten thoughtful attempts at 10 practice questions will help you far more than answering 50 questions just to get them done.

In short, focus on the quality of your studying, not on the quantity.

Here’s a simple, effective guideline for your studying that I call the Tabula Rasa Rule: If you can’t sit down with a pen and a blank sheet of paper and teach a concept to somebody else, you need to keep studying that concept.

When you study a new topic, use the Tabula Rasa Rule to help hold yourself accountable and gauge whether you’ve sufficiently learned what you’re studying.

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep