👋 Hello, my friends at GRE Prep Club!

Most of the problem-solving skills you develop while studying for the GRE are perishable. If you do not regularly apply what you have learned, those skills will start to fade. To preserve your progress and ensure long-term retention, it is important to revisit older topics through active practice.

For example, suppose in your first few weeks of GRE prep, you studied exponents, fractions, percentages, ratios, and algebraic expressions. Even if you reviewed your flashcards regularly, flashcards alone are not enough. You also need to work through GRE-style questions related to those topics on a consistent basis. This step is essential for strengthening your problem-solving ability and maintaining familiarity with the material.

Each student has a different retention curve. To figure out what works best for you, begin by setting aside roughly one-third of each study session to review earlier material. Use a mix of easy, medium, and difficult questions. Make sure that you not only attempt questions but also analyze your reasoning. Did you hesitate? Were you confident in your steps? Did you make an error because you forgot a rule? These types of insights are critical for closing knowledge gaps.

It can also help to keep a running list of topics you’ve covered and mark when you last reviewed each one. If it has been over a week since you solved questions involving coordinate geometry or word problems, for instance, make it a point to add those to your next review session.

The more regularly you solve questions from previously studied topics, the more fluent you become. That fluency leads to faster, more accurate problem-solving on test day.

The GRE rewards consistency. So make your review process intentional and structured. Over time, you will build lasting mastery.

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

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep