If you opened this article, you are either currently studying for the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) as we speak or thinking about going to grad school in the years to come—and so, you have realized that the GRE is a vital part of the application process for whichever graduate school program you are thinking of going into (considering it falls outside of the MCAT, PCAT, DAT, OAT, LSAT, and other exams that may be needed for more specific professions). Regardless, I commend you for choosing to inform yourself a bit more on this topic (and, simultaneously, for giving into the “click bait” that we so commonly come across in social media).

This article will cover the introductory but critical tips that will be advantageous to any of you who currently find yourselves about to take the GRE this summer. If time allows, I will delve deeper into this subject in later posts. As for now, I am sure this will gear you towards a better direction.

So, if you are anything like me, you may have been super excited to hear that you would need to study for the GRE in order to take the exam and get into graduate school! :D No? Okay, um. Yeah, that’s not typical. Don’t worry; after having taken the exam about a week ago, I now feel the dread that comes with studying for and taking the exam. I won’t try to sugar-coat any of this experience, as many books you buy to prepare for test day will do just that. Rather, I hope to provide an honest overview of my experience, that I hope may ultimately help you in your own GRE preparation.

Let’s begin with preparation, I cannot stress how important this is to even begin about doing well in the GRE. Without preparation, you are looking at taking an exam that will look like nothing you’ve ever seen before. Sure, you have taken 15 or more years of formal education by this time, but you’ll come to see that the GRE is completely different in its structure and content—and even in the media, it comes in.

The GRE is an exam that is used by most graduate programs in mathematics, the general sciences, social sciences, education, and a few others. It is usually administered in electronic form. It is important that you become aware of this and understand the structure of this exam. Take a practice exam, before your official exam. At least one week in advance—to not have to stress a few days before the official test. Again, take a practice exam!!! The ETS publishing company that makes the exam allows you to download a software package onto your computer which will accurately resemble the structure and content of the GRE come test day. Therefore, it is highly encouraged to take at least one practice exam to see where you stand and where you need to place more focus as test day comes closer. The practice exam I took goes over all the sections of the GRE. There is the Analytical Writing section (which always comes first), two Verbal Reasoning sections and two Quantitative Reasoning sections that come back to back, and—at the end—you get the option to “Report Your Scores” or “Cancel Your Scores” similar to the option given on test day. This simulated software will ultimately give you both your unofficial Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning scores. That then, can be used to alter your studies to see where you need to spend more time in order to increase your combined score of those two sections or possibly one specific section that may be favored more according to your intended graduate program (i.e. my graduate focus will be in School Psychology and the VR section requires a higher score than the QR section).

Aside from using practice exams to prepare, you should always always always get clearer answers from those who have taken the exams and done very well—I’m talking about your professors! Look at those professors in your department who you greatly admire, who you deem successful people in their field, and who may have a graduate degree in a similar field as your intended one.

Keep asking questions, keep searching for answers to those questions. You’ll see that your professors will have a plenty of useful information and insight that you can use to direct your GRE prep. I, for example, knew I wanted to do something with education and psychology and so asked those professors whom I admired and respected as experts in related fields. I would say I have benefitted much from them, even now, as I’m set to continue with my graduate application and no longer need to worry about taking the GRE again.

Best of luck guys! You’ll do great!