3. PRACTICE

In case you didn't notice, we are huge advocates of practice. Studies conducted by the Educational Testing Services show that the biggest predictor of improvement in GRE scores is practice. So go to it. Here are a few study aids that'll help:

  • Start out by practicing without timing yourself. Take all the time you need. After a couple tests, then start practicing with a stopwatch and see which section offers you the most trouble. If you're getting equal scores on the analytical and verbal sections but you keep going overtime on the analytical section, then you know where you need to put in some extra work.

  • Invest in a GRE study book. In addition to containing strategies, sample questions with explanations of the answers, and practice exams, another benefit is that many of these books come with a CD so you can practice taking the computer-based GRE. Hooray for Y2K! There are lots of books out there, so finding one won't be a problem, and most books cost about $20-$30, so you'll save lots of money compared to a course. Although it might be beneficial to go to actual bookstore (yes, they still exist) and browse through your choices, you can also pop on over to Amazon.com's Test Prep Central.

    The three most popular books are Kaplan's GRE: 1999-2000 Edition, Peterson's GRE Success 2000, and Barron's How To Prepare For The GRE Test. These books feature sample questions and strategies, as well as study plans and a concise and readable presentation of the most important information. However, each book is different and carries different features (for example, the Barron's book has an extensive vocabulary section with high-frequency words and the definition of each one), so be sure to comparison shop for your needs.