GRE Self Study

Posted By: Paul   |   GRE   |   9 Comments

Today’s article will focus on studying for the GRE on your own.

Not all physician assistant programs require the GRE for admission, but if you are applying to one or more that do, maximizing your score through good GRE preparation is crucial. For me, the GRE felt like another hoop I needed to jump through to become a PA - a flaming hoop that hovered six feet off the ground. But hopefully this article will get you started on your own flaming hoop jump.

First, I’ll briefly discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the do-it-yourself approach to GRE study. Next, I will share some guidelines for self-study, and finally, I’ll share some of the reputable GRE self study resources, along with my opinions on them.

Is GRE Self Study for You?

Before you commit to doing it on your own, make sure you consider the following factors - self-study isn’t for everyone. Be honest with yourself about whether or not it’s best for you.

GRE Self Study Advantages:

• It’s cheap. Doing it yourself is definitely the least expensive way to prepare. Most self-study review books run from $10-30, with sets of books around $95. Most contain a DVD or access to online resources.
• It’s convenient. You do it on your own time - squeeze it in after work, during a break, on the weekend, or whatever. You don’t need to go anywhere special.
• You can do it your way. Know what works best for you and your learning style? Use that knowledge to tailor your preparation.

GRE Self Study Disadvantages:

• Limited structure. You need to be self-disciplined to really make it work. If you are a procrastinator, self-study is probably not the best choice.
• Limited feedback. Not sure where to start? Do you lack confidence in your test taking ability? Are you weak in one area of the test’s subject matter? If any of these are true you do it yourself, it cost you many points if you don’t get some help.

Summary

If you are a disciplined student who feels confident and has no areas of huge weakness, you’re probably okay to study on your own. If you need more structure and/or guidance, you probably should consider a GRE class or tutor.

GRE Self Study Guidelines

1. Start early. Three months of study should be a functional minimum for anyone serious about improving their score.
2. Get very familiar with the test’s format. You can read about it at the Educational Testing Service’s website. You want no surprises when you take the test.
3. Download ETS’s Powerprep II, Version 2.0 to take a free online practice test. Save the second downloadable test for one or two weeks before your exam.
4. Take the Powerprep tests under conditions that are as close to your test day as you can replicate.
5. Assess your strongest and weakest area(s). Don’t forget to examine which specific question types you struggle with the most.
6. Pick a reputable GRE prep book. Don’t buy one solely on the number of questions or tests it contains.
7. Schedule your study time so you don’t get bogged down in any one area. Be sure to schedule breaks too.
8. About every week, take a timed practice test from your prep book. Like most things, doing well at the GRE takes practice.
9. Get used to answering questions while you are being timed. Set an alarm so you get used to the time constraints. You can master the material, but if you aren’t used to pacing yourself, you can easily run out of time.
10. Study and take practice tests at approximately the same time of day when you will take the test (morning, afternoon, etc.)
11. Encourage yourself - even aloud - while you study and take practice tests. Okay, I did one just like this last week - I’ve got this. I’ve got this! On test day you will do this too, but you will do it silently.
12. Work on your English vocabulary at every opportunity. Vocabulary flash cards and books can be excellent ways to broaden your verbal ability, which will help you on all sections of the GRE.
13. Read all types of material. Spend some regular time reading literature, research, news, opinion, and technical writing.

GRE Self Study Resources

Though not my favorite, I consider this one essential. Printed by the Educational Testing Service - the very same company that makes the GRE, The Official Guide to the GRE Revised General Test is a must-have. It will familiarize you with the test by showing you how it is organized and scored. It also claims to provide some test-taking strategies, but they are basic at best (they aren’t motivated to make the GRE easy for you - that would cost them money!)

The reason to get this book is that its questions come from actual (retired) GRE tests, so you get a sense for what the real thing will really feel like. This is a good way to decide what areas might be hard for you. It contains 4 practice tests - two traditional hard copy ones, and two on the computer via Powerprep II software - which by itself is a good reason to have it.

Princeton Review’s Cracking the GRE 2014 offers great test taking strategy, particularly for the verbal section. Princeton Review has long focused on a combination of 1) teaching the tested material (i.e. permutations, fractions, etc.) along with 2) the strategies relating to the test itself (i.e. how to attack Sentence Equivalence questions and Quantitative Comparison type questions). The book also provides you with 4 practice tests and access to online tutorials. In terms of the math section, this book is not the best - it will get you ready for the basics, but not so much for the harder math questions.

Kaplan’s GRE Premier 2014 is somewhat the opposite of Princeton Review. The strength of this book is math. Kaplan books usually use more paper to reduce the noise on the page and walk you through the concepts step by step. This helps you clear your mind to take in the concepts. This is particularly helpful for math prep and it will help you build your confidence. Kaplan’s verbal reasoning tips are more basic, and less helpful. The book contains one full length GRE on paper to assess your strengths and weaknesses, and 5 computer adaptive tests, similar to the real thing. You also have online access to more questions.

Barron’s GRE comes with plenty of practice problems (like all the others), only their problems tend to be better, and by better, I mean more representative of the actual GRE. They provide many test taking strategies - so many, in fact, that the reader can become a little overwhelmed. The formatting on this book isn’t great - it’s busy. The math can be challenging, which is excellent if you’re ready to tackle the harder math questions, but it can be overwhelming for those who are rusty. Perhaps the biggest drawback for Barron’s is its lack of explanation for practice test questions. What’s that about? [sound of crickets chirping…]

Though a bigger investment, Manhattan GRE Prep’s Set of 8 Strategy Guides is my favorite. It’s a little unfair to compare it to Kaplan/Princeton Review/Barron’s, since it’s a set of 8 different books, each focusing on a separate topic. The math bo0k topics are: 1) Algebra 2) Fractions, Decimals, and Percents 3) Geometry 4) Number Properties 5) Word Problems 6) Quantitative Comparisons and Data Interpretation Guide. The verbal book topics are: 1) Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence Guide, and 2) Reading Comprehension and Essay Guide. The guides are clear, concise, and uncluttered. The problems are similar in difficulty to the GRE, as opposed to easier in an. The Manhattan group seems to understand that what truly builds a good GRE score is not confidence, so much as knowing what to expect (even if it’s hard!) and being prepared for it. Best of all, the set teaches concepts one at a time, and provides plenty of practice problems for that concept before going on to the next. This is unique among GRE prep materials, which usually share one or more concepts, explain them once, and move on, assuming you’ve mastered them. The set includes access to 6 online practice tests as well. If you are looking for comprehensive review and are willing to pay a little more for it, this is the resource for you.

Manhattan Prep’s GRE Flashcards: 500 Essential Words is a flashcard version of the vocabulary list from their Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence Guide. These again are solid words that are representative of the GRE. The flashcards have one word on the front of each card. The back of the card lists synonyms, antonyms, and related words, so that you learn GRE vocabulary in a weblike fashion that provides context and therefore helps you to retain them for longer. They come with a ring that allows you to take a portion of them with you so you can work on 30-50 at a time, rather than the entire 500. Not sure if you need this? Click on the image to be taken to Amazon, then click on the book image. You can see the words beginning with letter A, which should give you a good idea of their difficulty.

Manhattan’s GRE Flashcards: 500 Advanced Words picks up where 500 Essential Words ends. If your vocabulary is already pretty sharp, this may be all you need to work on GRE vocabulary. If you click the image and view this one, you can review one word for each letter in the alphabet, which again, should make it clear where you stand.

Summary

If GRE study is for you, do it right - start early, use good resources, and study according to a set schedule.