How to achieve your target GRE score on a budget

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is a standardized test that is used by many graduate schools in the United States and other countries to assess applicants’ academic skills. The GRE is a difficult test that requires significant preparation, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. There are several strategies to prepare for the GRE on a budget. In the following guide, we will provide you with all the necessary materials, resources, and tools to achieve your target GRE score. To implement our plan at its best, I'll move through specific steps or stages. Therefore, the result of what will be outlined below is a straightforward yet powerful itinerary.

FIRST - what is your ideal GRE score?

I believe this is an easy question to answer: of course, it is a stellar 170 in both sections of the exam. However, it is a tricky question to assess. Everyone wants the best score we could achieve; in the range of the 99 percentile but this is a chimera. YOUR ideal score is that score useful for you. In other words, the GRE score is on purpose. The score necessary and sufficient to reach your main goal: admission to a prestigious School or program. Regardless it is an MBA, PhD, MS, or a School of Art. Suffice it to say that after the pandemic the scenario is completely changed: many Schools are waiving the GRE or making it optional, in lieu of a more holistic approach when they have to evaluate the candidate's profile. Nonetheless, many students think that the GRE is no longer necessary. This is totally false. Having a competitive score can be advantageous for international students. The GRE is still something that you should have on your portfolio

Therefore, in this stage is crucial you have a clear idea of what is the GRE score you need for. It is a waste of time to study to achieve a top score when the program you aim for is enough to score a Q160V155, just to give you an example.

The following are great resources to consult and that will give you a clear idea about the GRE score

1. The role of GRE Score - Weighing the BENEFITS
2. WHAT IS A GOOD GRE SCORE? - The definitive guide and answer
3. What is a Good GRE Score? by Scholarden
4. Average GRE Scores - Top 50 MBA Programs (2023)
5. List of Law Schools with TOP 20 colleges that accept the GRE

You can also find help from friends and family. If you know someone who has taken the GRE, they can provide valuable advice and guidance. You can also get help from your teachers, who may have taken the GRE in the past and can provide useful tips for studying and test-taking. See also our section Meet & Greet: usually you will find several students or study groups to join and study together. Unity is strength.



SECOND - Familiarize yourself with the GRE

It is important to know what to expect on the GRE. The GRE is composed of three sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. Each section has different types of questions that require different approaches. Knowing what type of questions to expect can help you focus your studying and make the most of your preparation time.
Using different approaches is not only the result of your quant and verbal skills applied to the problem that is in front of you but also is crucial you do know how the test works, its nuances, the different strategy you could use, solving a problem or trying to fit a vocab into a tough (iii) blank TC.

1. All you need to know about the GRE General Exam - 2023 Edition
2. GRE Score Percentiles
3. How is the GRE Score Calculated -The Definitive Guide
4. GRE Exam Pattern Quant & Verbal - What that means for your score
5. How is the GRE Test Structured?(paper and computer format)
6. What type of questions do we have on the GRE: Quant & Verbal
7. Quant GRE Question types? (syllabus and format)
8. GRE Quantitative Reasoning in a Nutshell
9. Verbal GRE Question types?(syllabus and format)

THIRD - Take a FREE GRE Practice Test

It is imperative to take a practice exam in the beginning. By doing so, you will receive the initial feedback and analysis that you need to gain the highest possible score. This practice test should consist of full-length Writing Analysis, Verbal, and Quantitative sections, which will let you become familiar with the various kinds of questions. It additionally allows you to accurately assess the material you recognize and pinpoint sections that require practice and review.

However, it is NOT essential that the test has the AWA because you could practice the two essays for the GRE separately.

1. Shorter GRE-The BEST FREE Practice Tests and Questions Banks 2024

FOURTH - Create a tailored study plan; build your study schedule effectively


Apply your results from the diagnostic test to pinpoint areas that need more concentration and practice. Estimate the amount of time you can regularly dedicate to preparing for the GRE. It's a good idea to allot about three months for preparation prior to the exam. The minimum length to study is 2 weeks. However, studying for more than six months rarely your ROI will stay positive. Considering an optimum range between 1 and 5 months.

Be sure to set aside periods for studying, doing practice tests, and reviewing. It's an oversight to do practice tests but not to review them properly—this is a great opportunity to improve your score. Scheduling short but regular study sessions during the week is often the most effective way to go about it. Make sure that you stick to your plan and use all of your resources. If you’re on a budget, this plan should include studying methods that don’t cost much.

1. GRE Study Plan (2022) Edition

It is also mandatory to keep everything you study in order to have consistency: what you study (math or verbal), how many questions you are practicing, how many you picked up wrong, and WHY. Use the following error log. Even though, you can create your own or even use a notebook and a pencil. It does not matter. Keep everything on record. Our official log will keep this for you, though

1. GRE New Error Log with Ability and Accuracy UPDATED Version 2.0
2. GRE Error Log - TrevorKleeTutor

FIFTH - Rundown of GRE Resources


Another way to prepare for the GRE on a budget is to use online resources. There are many websites that offer helpful tutorials, practice questions, and other study materials. Many of these resources are free or low-cost and can be used to supplement your studying. In addition to online resources, there are also a variety of books available to help you study for the GRE. Many of these books are available at reasonable prices, and they can be a great way to learn the material and practice your test-taking skills.
Studying for the GRE doesn’t have to be expensive. With the right resources and a solid study plan, you can prepare for the GRE on a budget and increase your chances of success.

Usually, every standardized test such as GMAT,GRE,SAT,LSAT has its own official guide which is the gold standard in your preparation. That is your starting point for your GRE journey. They contain all you need to pass the test.

These are the OG for the GRE

1. The Official Guide to the GRE General Test, Third Edition 3rd
2. Official GRE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions
3. Official GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions
   I also suggest having the GRE Math Review

BUT because this is "How to have your GRE score on a budget" IF we have all the resources we need to achieve our goal completely for FREE is even better. There is also a valid reason to avoid the OG aside from spending money that is NOT strictly necessary for the following reasons:

• The OGs contain the only material that you will see on the real test. However, as books, they do not provide the best material that is useful to you to overcome the GRE. They just give info about the test and the kind of questions you will see during the exam (the same thing is provided thanks to the links above - see the second point) nothing more. They will not give you specific strategies to nail all the various kinds of questions you will have: algebra, geometry, probability, percentage, and so forth. Well, yes they provide you with something but nothing in-depth, something that will help you to tackle every single question, knowing everything in terms of concepts tested. In other words, they will not give you useful tools to solve a question from every possible angle. Nor tips and tricks. Of course, this has also a logic: if ETS will give us all the necessary information to tackle the test then the test itself would not be challenging as it is.
  
• The OGs contain material that on one hand is far easier than the questions in the real exam and, on the other hand, they are really outdated. The Main OG was released more than 7 years ago

Therefore, what is better than our overview of the GRE exam in its entirety plus resources ?


General resources

1. All you need to know about the GRE General Exam
2. Best GRE Test Books
3. Best GRE Math Prep Books

Specific Quant resources

1. The Definitive Guide to the GRE Quantitative Reasoning
2. GRE Quantitative Comparison - The Definitive Strategy
3. GRE Math Essentials
4. GRE Math Essentials - A most comprehensive handout!! 2023
5. GRE - Math Book - For Advanced quant

Specific Verbal resources

1. GRE Vocabulary - All you NEED Words/Study Lists/Resources

AWA

1. GRE AWA Guide - All you Need to Know to Score 6 on AWA
2. Topic pools for the Analytical Writing measure

GRE Practice Questions

1. ALL the GRE Quant and Verbal Practice Directories in ONE place