How Indian Test-Takers Prepare for the GRE

By Arun Jagannathan

Indian students tend to be slightly different from the rest when it comes to preparing for the GRE. We think GRE Quant is a cakewalk because we have done Engineering. At the same time, we think GRE Verbal is tough because we have to “mug up” word lists. Both of these assumptions are far from the truth. This article will debunk these misconceptions, and you will realize how your preparation strategy might have been wrong.

If you’ve studied math in college and are confident of cracking the GRE Quant section, you might be celebrating too soon. GRE math doesn’t have anything to do with what you learned in college. In fact, the problems are based on whatever concepts you studied in school. So if you have been out of touch with high school math for three years or more, then preparing for the GRE can be quite a daunting task.

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The logic behind mastering the GRE Verbal section is just the opposite. The older you get, the better you get at language and communication. Your vocabulary knowledge tends to get better as you learn new words with age. But that isn’t enough when you’re faced with a 400-word passage on Text Completion.

Now that we have addressed the two big concerns, let us talk about another problem. If you are like most Indian GRE students then you are probably doing the following: You might be frantically searching for tips on Google search and racking your brains on how to get an awesome score on the GRE.

This is a flawed approach. At the end of the day, it is going to be about how well you understand the test before you jump head first into it. Though it is beyond the scope of this article to teach you all of the GRE – we can give you some overarching principles that you should keep in mind while studying.

We have compiled a set of 12 handy tips from GRE experts across Quant, Verbal, and General Strategy that will arm you with the right mindset you need before you face the GRE. These have been compiled on the basis of hundreds of hours of research while working with some of our top students who have gone on to score in excess of 320-330 on the GRE.

Tips to Tackle GRE Quant

1. Be smart and think out of the box. In case you find it difficult to solve a problem, try working backwards with the answer options you’ve been given. As long as you determine the right answer, it doesn’t matter which method you choose. As Indians, we are told to use the brute-force approach but remember on the GRE the tactic could fail.
2. Complement the method of back solving with that of elimination. First, remove those obvious answer choices that you’re sure are incorrect. Once you’ve done that, you can use the backsolving process with the remaining options to arrive at the correct answer. On the GRE remember that the answer choices are giving you a BIG clue on how to solve the question – don’t miss out on this advantage.
3. This one’s called the 'plugging in' process and once you’ve mastered this technique, it works wonders for answers that have a numerical value. Most answers on GRE would be within a range – you need to have an idea where within the range the answer could lie. Once you are able to arrive at a rough estimation of the size of the number just knock off the wrong answers. This method could appear to be crude but a lot of GRE toppers swear by this.
4. Attempting the Quantitative Comparison section? Save some time by making it a point to remember all the four options by heart. Why? That’s because all the answer choices are exactly the same for whatever question you get on the GRE. Every opportunity you get to shave off time and effort on the GRE leads to a potential for an increase in score.

Tips to score high on GRE Verbal

1. Learning new words is an integral part of GRE preparation, especially the Text Completion and the Sentence Equivalence sections. Try different ways of learning new words, rather than memorizing them off a word list. This is because GRE most often tests you on semantics. For example, the word "venture" could have multiple meanings—you could "venture an advice to a colleague" or "you could venture into the forest"—so a word could have one meaning but different usages.
2. The key to getting a complete hold over Sentence Equivalence and Text Completion is to understand a given sentence really well, using the clues hidden in them. It is important to know more than just the meaning of words. What is in the blanks gets decided by what is not in the blanks?
3. Remember, reading comprehension is not about reading faster or better, but it is about answering the questions correctly. Indian students tend to focus all their energy on just reading without understanding that answering the question is an intelligent process of elimination.
4. GRE stresses the tone of the words. For example, the words obstinate and resolute both mean determined. However, when you say John is resolute and you say John is obstinate, it actually means two different things; the first has a positive connotation while the other is negative. Remember to understand the tone in GRE Verbal.

General Practice Strategies

1. Since the GRE is written in a very high-pressure environment, it is crucial to simulate that experience. Write your practice tests at the same time slot that you’ve booked for the actual exam. Take only the breaks that would be allowed during the exam day. This way, you’ll get a hang of how it feels to write a standardized test under time constraints and the test day will pass like a breeze.
2. Keep notes of the mistakes you’re making during practice. Also, analyse WHY you’re making those mistakes. Get back to those notes from time to time to check on your progress.
3. Instead of using word lists to memorize new words, try using flashcards. Spending time with flashcards is the best way to remember difficult words and their meanings. This can be helpful not only for the GRE but also for improving your vocabulary in general.
4. Make it a habit to read newspaper editorials. This can help with writing argument essays. You’ll also be able to stay abreast with the general news that can be used as a part of the AWA section.

Following these expert tips meant for the Indian, GRE test-taker is actually quite easy and it is just a matter of practice. Once you’ve got them ingrained, writing the GRE will be much easier. So take a printout and stick it near your study table. That way you will constantly be reminded of the larger points you need to keep in mind during your preparation.

Keep calm and study for the GRE!  It sure isn’t easy to crack this test, but if you believe you can, you’re already halfway there.

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About the Author:

Arun Jagannathan is the founder and CEO of Crack Verbal