Humans learn best through repeated exposure. The more time you spend with a GRE topic and the more often you revisit it, the stronger your understanding becomes and the longer you retain it. Preparing effectively means not only learning a concept once but also returning to it at regular intervals so it stays active in your memory.

Think of number properties as an example. If you study them on the first day of your prep and then wait until day sixty to review, much of what you learned will likely fade. A better approach is to schedule consistent reviews. Revisit number properties on day three, again on day eight, and continue that pattern throughout your study plan. Each time you come back to the material, you reinforce it. You send a clear message to your brain that the information matters, which strengthens the neural pathways connected to that knowledge and makes it easier to recall later.

This process of reactivation is essential. The human brain is not designed to store every detail of daily life. In fact, it is built to forget most of what it encounters in order to conserve energy and prevent overload. If you tried to remember every sound, image, or word from each day, you would quickly be overwhelmed. Instead, the brain prioritizes information that is flagged as important. By revisiting GRE concepts regularly, you are signaling that they deserve priority. Over time, the repeated signal makes the information stick.

In practical terms, this means building a study plan that incorporates review alongside new learning. Do not think of review as a step backward or a waste of time. It is the mechanism that transforms short-term knowledge into long-term mastery. Every time you return to a concept, you make it more familiar, more reliable, and more available when you sit for the exam.

Reach out to me with any questions about your GRE prep. Happy studying!

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep