mGRE (2024)

FAQs

Is 1 month enough for GRE preparation? ›

For those who are focused and ambitious, a 30-day GRE study schedule can work really well, as long as you have the time it will demand. However, if you feel that life will intrude in one way or another, or if you need to improve your score by hundreds of points, this schedule may not be for you.

In terms of months, preparing for the GRE generally requires 1 to 3 months of studying. You can certainly extend that further if needed, but you probably won't need more than 6 months. In terms of hours, you can anticipate studying 20 to 200 hours in total to achieve your target score.

In general, you should plan to study for the GRE between 80 and 160 hours. The number of days you study for the GRE each week depends on the length of your study sessions (max 4 hours) and how long you have until you take the GRE. NO MATTER WHAT you need to study on the weekends.

Overall, the current GRE is the same as the former GRE – just shorter. None of the content on the GRE changed. The shorter GRE still tests your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills to measure your readiness for graduate studies.

Scoring 320 in just a month? It's a tall order, but I've seen students make it happen. The key is to have a razor-sharp focus and an efficient study plan. You'll need to dedicate several hours each day to your GRE prep, focusing intensely on both the Quantitative and Verbal sections.

Today, we have Arjun Shah who is currently pursuing 3rd year of Chemical Engineering in ICT and has cracked GRE with a perfect score of 340. Here is his mantra on how to score 340+ on GRE and his preparation strategies.

Comparing the two exams is a bit like comparing apples to oranges. There is another key reason not to get too caught up in the fact that the GRE is generally considered more difficult than the SAT: you won't be in high school anymore when you take the GRE.

The required GRE score depends on the type of program the student will apply to, but for over 50% of the programs offered at different schools within Harvard University, the average GRE score requirements are in the upper 80th percentile. That's about 162 in Quant, 158 in Verbal, and 4.5 in Analytical Writing.

A good GRE score for each section is generally considered 158+ for Verbal, 159+ for Quantitative, and 4.5+ for Writing, and an overall score of 318+ which places you into the 75th percentile or higher.

The most difficult part of the GRE varies from person to person, as it depends on individual strengths and weaknesses. Some may struggle with the vocabulary and reading comprehension in the Verbal Reasoning section, while others may find the Quantitative Reasoning section more challenging.

Why is the GRE being discontinued? ›

Why schools stopped requiring GRE test scores. The problems with the GRE are well-documented, including the exam's limited ability to measure whether a student will succeed in school. Multiple studies also have found that the test is biased against people based on their socioeconomic backgrounds.

You can take the GRE at a test center or online. Either way, the GRE test itself is exactly the same: the length, difficulty level, and scoring is identical, regardless of whether you take the GRE in-person or online. So, deciding where to take the exam boils down to personal preference.

But, it is strongly recommended that you spend at least 30 days studying for the GRE. Any less than that will only mean you will have to sacrifice a few topics, which is not ideal for someone looking to score a 320+ on the GRE.

You can't cram for the GRE test. By and large, the exam is a test of patterns, not facts, so if you want to raise your GRE score, you will need sufficient time to practice. We suggest you devote between 4 and 12 weeks to GRE preparation.

0-5 points: Possible with one hour a day of studying, five days a week for a month. 5-10 points: Possible with ~2 hours a day of studying, five days a week for one to two months. 10+ points: Possible with 2-2.5 hours a day of studying, five days a week for multiple months.

Even if you are not familiar with the test format or if you have never taken the GRE before, 8 weeks is ample time for preparation. During the course of the 8-week study plan, you'll become acquainted with the format of the test; you'll study the verbal, math, and essay components of the exam.