10 Tips for Creating an Effective GRE Study Plan

Creating a GRE study plan is one way you can thoroughly jumpstart your preparation for this exam. A study plan helps you to stay organized and ensures that you cover all of the material necessary to ace the GRE.

Take a look at ten tips for creating a GRE study plan that will improve your confidence level on test day.

1. Take a Practice Test

It’s important for students to take a practice GRE before creating a study plan. The results of this test reveal the subject areas in need of the most improvement. Once you’re done with your practice test, you can build a study plan that focuses on those subjects. At Varsity Tutors, our GRE tutoring services include reviewing practice test results with students and using those results to build a custom tutoring plan. As tutors go through practice tests with students, our online tutors provide students with strategies that help them to master questions in every section of the GRE. 

2. Set a Target Score

You should set a target score for the GRE. This gives you a concrete idea of what you are working to achieve and how far you have to go. Of course, if you reach your target score on a practice test, you should continue preparing just as vigorously for the GRE – and even set your sights a little higher as a result. A student’s goal is to achieve and surpass his or her target score!

3. Create Specific Study Tasks for Each Day of the Week

The best GRE study plans are the ones that include specific details. You should plan to study at least ten hours per week, broken up onto multiple days. Many students prefer to study for two hours every weekday, leaving their weekends free. On Monday from 3:00 to 4:00, you might work on completing ten sample geometry questions and ten algebra questions. From 4:00 to 5:00, you might memorize twenty vocabulary words and their definitions. A detailed study plan allows you to get down to work right away every single day without having to decide what to do for the hour.

4. Choose an Optimal Study Time

Deciding when to study is part of making a study plan for GRE as much as deciding what to study is. Some students study best in the early morning, while others are better at absorbing new skills and information in the evening. Taking this self-knowledge into account can give you an extra advantage as you prepare for the GRE.

5. Get an Expert to Evaluate your Study Plan

If you aren’t rock-solid on your study plan or if you’d like a bit of extra help in making the perfect study plan for you, we’re here to help. Our instructors at Varsity Tutors can evaluate your study plan to see if any improvements can be made to streamline the process or better address your strengths and weaknesses. All of our professional GRE tutors achieved high scores on the exam. This means that they have unique insight on the most effective ways to prepare. In short, students have access to invaluable tips that make their study plan all the more effective.

6. Create Rewards for Meeting Small Goals

Most GRE study plans cover a period of months. That’s why it’s an excellent idea for students to reward themselves when they reach short term goals. For instance, you can create a reward of going to a movie with a friend once you finish memorizing fifty vocabulary words. These little incentives can refresh your motivation and provide a much-needed break in the midst of your study time.

7. Find the Right Study Space for You

The right environment contributes to the effectiveness of study time. You should choose an environment with very few people and no televisions, radios or other distractions. Some suggestions include a private study room at a library, a quiet room at home or an unoccupied picnic bench at a local park. 

The other part of creating an environment conducive to studying is all about avoiding distractions from your phone. Setting restrictions on what websites you can visit during study time or setting your phone to Do Not Disturb can help you avoid unnecessary distractions while you’re studying and make the most of your study time. 

8. Factor Exceptions into a Study Plan

An effective study plan for GRE has an element of flexibility. Inevitably, things are going to come up that will disrupt your study time. If you have to skip a weekday study session, you reschedule those hours for the weekend. It’s best to make up for missed days whenever possible. However, when that’s not possible, remember that it’s all about what you do the majority of the time, not what you do on any given day that makes a difference.

9. Set Aside Time for Review

A week or two prior to test day, you should incorporate short review sessions into your plan. For instance, you can take thirty minutes out of a two hour study session to review with vocabulary flashcards. Or, use twenty minutes of study time to take a quick geometry quiz on basic concepts. These quick reviews can help you retain more material and revisit concepts you’ve already seen and practiced.

10. Don’t Forget the Night Before the Test

Any study plan should include your activities the night before the test. You may want to make a note of items to put aside for the following morning, when to eat dinner and when to go to bed. Remember that any studying you do the night before probably isn’t going to make much of a difference. Focus on nutrition, hydration, and setting a positive tone for test day rather than trying to cram in just a little more study time.

Our talented GRE instructors at Varsity Tutors specialize in helping students prepare for this important exam. Our study resources and materials add to the quality of our courses. Get in touch today and get the advantage on the GRE with Varsity Tutors.

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