For most postgraduate aspirants, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a non-negotiable requirement when applying to many desirable programmes. Therefore, knowing how to prepare effectively and not getting distracted by numerous, disconnected materials is crucial for achieving a commendable score.

In 2023, ETS introduced a new format for the GRE, broadly dividing it into three sections: Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. Within the Verbal and Quantitative sections, there are two sub-sections each, with varying levels of difficulty.

To understand the preparation process and how to avoid common pitfalls, Tanvir Thamid, a recent examinee who achieved a perfect 340/340, shared his experience and insights from his own preparation journey.

Preparation

Every student has unique strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, the timeline mentioned by Thamid may not apply to everyone, as it requires an individualised and highly customised approach suited to one’s own needs.

In preparation for the test, Thamid shared, “I studied for about eight weeks, roughly six to eight hours a day.” He broke down each week with specific intent: “The first two weeks were diagnostic and conceptual, untimed work, building fundamentals. Weeks three to six were about high-volume timed drills and pattern recognition. The final two weeks were pure simulation: full-length tests, error review, and mental conditioning.”

There are various paid and free online preparation guides available for students’ convenience. Thamid followed GregMat’s ‘I’m Overwhelmed’ plan, a popular online GRE preparation platform. There are also several free options such as Magoosh, Manhattan Review, and Kaplan, which provide quality practice materials.

When discussing his preparation, Thamid explained that he paid equal attention to both the Verbal and Quantitative sections, reiterating, “Quant came easier because of my economics background, but I didn’t take it for granted.”

Understanding resources

While there is a plethora of official and unofficial materials available, knowing which sources are trustworthy and precise is crucial if an examinee wants their desired score to manifest efficiently. Thamid shared, “I avoided flashy third-party books because they often test content, not reasoning.”

He listed the materials he found most effective for practising official ETS-style questions. His core resources included:

• ETS Official Guide (4th Edition)
  
• Official Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning Question Books (3rd Edition)
  
• GregMat’s ‘I’m Overwhelmed’ Plan and PrepSwift Quizzes
  
• KMF App for large practice volumes
  
• r/GRE on Reddit for community explanations
  
• The Tested Tutor (YouTube) for Reading Comprehension strategy
  
• POWERPREP Tests (1, 2, PLUS 1, PLUS 2, PLUS 3)
  

According to Thamid, ETS official materials are the “gold standard.” “I used third-party tools like GregMat and KMF only to reinforce speed and variety but never as substitutes for ETS materials,” he added.

Knowing what to look for

There are countless techniques available online on how to approach the Verbal and Quantitative sections effectively. Discussing his own method for solving Quantitative Reasoning questions, Thamid shared, “The biggest mistake is solving before setting up. Many students rush into calculations without first translating the problem correctly.”

He also warned about “trap answers” designed to mimic common errors and mislead test-takers. The best defence against such pitfalls, according to him, is to “slow down for the last five seconds of each question and ask: Is this what they actually asked me to find?” Thamid explained that this simple step helped him tremendously.

He also expressed his initial struggle with Reading Comprehension. “I often misread the author’s tone or fell for trap answers that sounded logical but weren’t supported by the text,” shared Thamid. The Tested Tutor’s YouTube lessons helped him overcome this by teaching him to convert passive reading into “active prediction.”

Being calm on test day

Thamid made sure not to deviate from his usual routine on test day, as keeping every element consistent with his practice runs was crucial to achieving his perfect score.

He took the test online under ETS’s official ProctorU supervision. “Before logging in, I checked my equipment, camera, and workspace to make sure they met the proctoring checklist. Once the test began, I stayed fully focused and did not take a break between sections.”

However, the test was not without hiccups. “I came across a vocabulary question filled with unfamiliar words, which caught me off guard,” Thamid recalled. Yet, he did not let this derail his focus. “Even though it shook my confidence for a minute, I trusted my training, chose the most coherent answer, and quickly moved on.” One crucial piece of advice he offered was to avoid cramming new material the night before the exam.

Overall, the GRE is challenging but not something to be feared. With a disciplined approach and the right strategy, one can achieve a desirable score. For Thamid, his GRE preparation went beyond just acing the test; it also strengthened his study habits, helping him secure commendable scores in both his SATs (1520) and IBA admission test.