One of the most common pitfalls GRE students encounter during the learning phase of their preparation is moving on to new Verbal topics before fully mastering the ones they have already studied. In some cases, students even begin their prep by jumping straight into mixed sets of Verbal questions without having developed a clear understanding of the specific question types they are attempting.

The challenge with this approach is that it prevents you from building a strong foundation. Without a solid grasp of each question type, your practice can feel scattered, and your progress will be inconsistent. You may see small improvements here and there, but you will likely carry knowledge gaps into more advanced work, making it harder to succeed on tougher questions across the board.

A far more effective approach is to tackle each Verbal topic individually. First, focus on understanding the core concepts, rules, and patterns that govern that topic. Then, engage in focused practice with questions of that specific type until you can apply the knowledge with accuracy and confidence. This methodical approach takes time, but it allows you to steadily strengthen your skills without leaving gaps in your understanding.

When you resist the temptation to jump ahead, you give yourself the opportunity to develop true mastery. By the time you move on to the next Verbal topic, you will be better prepared, more confident, and ready to handle whatever the test throws at you.

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

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep