I first appeared for the GRE in 2017, scoring 305, after which I enrolled in an MS Design course at New York University. Given that I like to introduce myself as someone having a brain of a techie, yet heart of an artist, given my engineering and design education background, I am now hoping to enroll in an MBA course to gain the business skills required for end-to-end product development. That means I have had to reappear for the GRE!

Last time across, I felt overwhelmed. There was just too much material and no clear structure. However, this time around, while searching for preparation material, I came across Target Test Prep and the plethora of positive feedback about the same. Going by the reviews, I enrolled in TTP GRE for about 4.5 months. Needless to say, Target Test Prep completely changed the way I studied for the exam. TTP broke everything down into chapters and sections, followed by chapter tests at the end of each chapter. Working full-time six days a week, the TTP’s Mission Mode saved me. I knew I wouldn’t be able to complete the course in a few sittings, as folks point out online for TTP and other courses. So, I would challenge myself to complete 1% or less every day. Some chapters took more time than others but seeing the progress bar move little by little kept me going.

There are about 4,500 questions split between examples and tests, quant and verbal combined, and I knew after attempting all of them at least once that there can’t be any new types of questions and that TTP kind of got all my bases covered. On the test day, I was relaxed knowing that I had practised fairly enough. Not to forget, I also used to create custom quant tests in the days leading up to the exam day and there was even an option to do tests from the weakest topics.

The standout feature for me was the Analytics dashboard. It broke down everything: section-wise accuracy, chapter-wise performance, time per correct answer, and time per incorrect answer. Basically, it showed me exactly where I was improving and where I needed to get my act together. That data-driven feedback loop kept me growing consistently as I moved through the course.

In retrospect, the only thing I’d change is using their vocab flashcards earlier, something that I discovered embarrassingly late, just two weeks or so before test day. TTP has these amazing vocabulary flash cards divided into easy, medium, and hard, and I would learn up to five to ten new words a day. Following, I would quiz myself using these flashcards and if I remembered the meaning of the word correctly, I’d label the particular flashcard.

Long story short, thanks to TTP, I gained the direction, discipline, and momentum required for my GRE preparation. I walked out of my first GRE attempt in years with a 321 (Q168, V153) - a huge increase from 305 (in 2017). The only tip, I believe, I can pass on to anyone appearing or hoping to appear for the GRE is to keep going with the preparation and not give up. In the end, it’s all worth it!