10 Tips to Improve Your GRE Verbal Score

[lee2010]

Tip 1 – Take GRE Practice Tests

You will find many free online GRE practice tests on the Internet. Take as many tests as possible and assess your position at the start of your GRE study. Maintain a book or other record of all scores you obtain in such practice tests, which will help you track your progress. If you use Ultimate Vocabulary, then you already have an in-built tracking facility. Also, read the guidelines for each part of the practice GRE verbal questions so that you do not spend so much time reading the instructions in the actual GRE.

Tip 2 – Identify your weaknesses

Take a couple of GRE practice tests at the start of your GRE study; doing so will help you identify your areas of weakness. When you take practice tests, make sure you know why the answer you selected is wrong. Making a note of wrong answers will help you understand your weak areas. This will go a long way in improving your GRE vocabulary.

Tip 3 – Find a good GRE study guide

Select a good GRE study guide. One of the better-known general GRE study guides is Barron’s Guide. It has many GRE vocabulary word lists. Allocate a specified time each day to learn new words. As you move ahead with your GRE verbal prep, you should be able to remember at least 50 new words each week.

Tip 4 – Take notes

Taking notes is a good way to remember GRE vocabulary words. Toward the end of your preparation, the notes will help you in your GRE vocabulary review.

Tip 5 – Strategize to remember new words

The best and proven method of remembering new words is to use the new word in context and in examples. Try to use the newly learned words in your daily language. Another strategy is to carry vocabulary flash cards of the words you find difficult to remember. You can look at the words every time you need to, which will help your word recall.

Tip 6- Regularly test progress

Take GRE practice tests at regular intervals to measure your progress. These tests will also build your confidence and also help in identifying areas where you need to spend more time.

Tip 7 – Know that improvement is the key

As you move along with your GRE verbal study, there should be a visible improvement. Keep improvising on the strategies to remember words and vary the resources you use. You can use a GRE vocabulary builder or use GRE vocabulary games to improve your GRE vocabulary list. Make sure that you see an improvement with time.

Tip 8 – Continuously practice

Improving your scores in the GRE practice tests depends on how much you practice. To do well at the GRE test, practice daily. If you get an answer wrong, make a note of it and try to do as many questions of a similar nature. It is not a good idea to use too many resources at once. Use one or two GRE study guides; when you finish them, then move on to other study guides.

Tip 9 – Have a good frame of mind

One of the most important influences on your GRE verbal score is your frame of mind. Most students never bother to find out what went wrong in their GRE practice tests. With such an attitude, it is unlikely that they will improve their scores. You have to stay motivated all through the GRE study phase. The urge to improve your scores will help you in identifying new strategies and allocate time to crack the GRE verbal section.

Tip10 – Take confidence into the final exam

By now, you should have mastered the GRE vocabulary well enough to get a good GRE score. Relax, keep a cool head, and think carefully about the questions. Good luck and high scores!