The 20 step GRE exam study plan provides guidance on effectively preparing for the GRE exam over time. It recommends first taking a practice test to determine strengths and weaknesses, setting a target score, developing a study schedule based on available time and materials, tracking performance, focusing on weak areas, and sticking strictly to the plan. Key aspects include analyzing mistakes, practicing regularly, and maintaining self-discipline to optimize scoring improvement through dedicated preparation.

1. 20 Step GRE Exam Study Plan
I created this 20 Step GRE Exam Study plan to help you get great GRE Score.
By combining this study plan along with New GRE Experiences shared by other test takers, you can create a powerful study plan.
Not having a GRE Exam study plan is preparing to fail.
 #1 Mistake – Don’t register for GRE and then start studying for the GRE exam.
Certain students lack motivation, so they register for GR first. Then use that as motivation factor to prepare for GRE.
If you lack motivation in first place to study for GRE, how can you expect to get motivated after you register for GRE?
Use the following GRE Exam study plan, make changes based on your preparation style.
GRE Study Plan
1. First, you need to know your current skill level and how much you can score with the practice test.
2. To determine your current skill level, take a practice test using Power Prep for GRE. Lets assume you got 900 in practice test.
3. Next determine how much you want to score in GRE (Be Realistic).
4. Your GRE Study plan will depend on the following
o Type of university you want to attend
o Score you want to get – Target Score.
5. So, lets assume you decided on a Target Score of 1200. Next you have to plan your course of action to reach the target.
6. Make a detailed note of your strengths and weakness from the practice test. To improve your scores, you have to work on your weakness.
7. Determine your learning style.
o Would you like to spend fixed time every day
o like to work with another friend preparing for exams
o Spend fixed time 2 days in a week, ..
8. To reach the target score of 1200 in GRE Test, amount of time you have to spend has to be calculated based on
o your learning style
o time you plan to spend daily
o University deadlines
o when you plan to write GRE [ How to Register for GRE]
9. If you have only 2 months and I need to score 1200 and can spend only 1 hour per week, then you can expect to score in GRE between 900 to
1000.
10. GRE Study Materials: Make sure you have enough and right test preparation materials. If you plan to study for 3 months, then you need to
have study materials for 3 months.
o Top New GRE Books.
11. Have a notebook to track your performance.
12. Spend allocated according to the plan. Work on your weak areas ( Verbal Words, Maths Algebra,..).
13. After completing the GRE practice test, make sure you spend more time analysis the mistakes. If you spent 2 hours taking the test, spend atleast
3 hours to analyze the mistakes. Instead if you spend 30 mins to just see the right answers, you are not improving your weak areas.
14. Make a note of the mistakes you made and revise them weekly. So, you will not repeat the same mistakes again.
15. Don’t forget to spend time to practice tests in strong areas of GRE Test.
16. You need to have checkpoints to track your progress. If you have 4 months to study and need to improve 200 points, then every month your score
has to improve towards the target score.
17. By end of 2 months if you are still scoring 900, then you have to blame yourself. Go back to the study plan and see if you are really followed the
plan or just being ad-hoc and not self-disciplined enough to follow the plan.
18. If you learned new strategies for a section, during practice tests, you have to get the right answers. If you spent 1 week to improve on a section
and then end up getting many incorrect answers, then you just wasted 1 week of your preparation time.
19. For Example if you are weak in GRE Reading Comprehension and you spent 1 week in learning new strategies and if you still get it wrong, then
try new strategies. Solve 25 RC’s per day. Live and sleep RC’s, you will get it.
20. You MUST stick to your study plan and follow it strictly. You need to have self-discipline to follow the plan.
Your GRE Study Plan
If you are in the process of preparing for GRE, post your plan and get inputs from other readers, if you have right target and enough time to reach the
target GRE Score.
What differentiates from people who just have BIG dreams and Achievers?
You might get a tempting invite from friends to go to movie, during your study time and you will decide – “I will go to movies and will make it up next
day”. If you can really make it up, then you are good to enjoy the time.

2. If not, you can just yourself as Just another loser, who is not going to be successful in getting high GRE Score.
Don’t expect your GRE Scores to improve overnight. It takes time and effort.
GRE Test - Taking Tips and Techniques
Be Aware
By the time you have finished your GRE preparation, you should be aware of the type of
questions that will appear in the GRE Test. You should also be aware of how long each
section is and the time limits. This will help you pace yourself through the test.
Know the directions for each question
Knowing the directions for the questions beforehand will save you valuable time. But
remember the directions for the questions in the GRE Test might be slightly different from
the ones in your study material. So always read the instructions but do it quickly.
Don't stick to one question for too long
By the time you have finished your GRE preparation, you should have a good estimate of
how much time you can give to a particular question. Don't get stuck on one particular
question for too long. This might cause you to lose precious time and miss questions you
could have easily done.
Don't Rush
The GRE Test is about optimizing. Finishing the paper first is not what is important. You
should devote just the right amount of time to each question. Maximizing your marks in a
given period of time is your aim. So don't rush it as that might cost you valuable marks.
The questions at the beginning are the most important
The questions at the beginning affect your score more than those towards the end. Take
your time with those questions. It is vital that you get those questions right. Getting these
correct will dramatically improve your score.
Selection by elimination
When you don't know the answers to some questions, try and use the method of
elimination. You may have a very good idea of which option cannot be the answer. Eliminate
such options. It narrows down your guess to just maybe two options and sometimes down
to one.
Don't leave any question
The GRE Test does not penalize you for wrong answers. So never leave any question
unanswered.

3. Be very sure of your answer before proceeding
With the Computer-Adaptive Test (CAT) for GRE, you cannot return to a question once you
have attempted it. You cannot leave the difficult questions for later nor can you check your
answers towards the end even if you have extra time. So pace yourself properly and be very
certain of your answers.
Get adequate rest the night before
Before the test, relax. Research shows a person who is relaxed usually does much better
than a person who is tense during an exam. Get enough sleep before the D-Day. Also if
your GRE is in the morning, take a light breakfast. A heavy one might make you drowsy.
Do a test drive exactly a week before your test
Getting to the test center on time is vital. In fact you should try and get to the test center
15-30 minutes before time. Taking a test drive to your test center exactly a week before
might be a good idea. This will give you a rough idea of the traffic conditions at the time
and day of your GRE.
Wear Comfortable Clothes
Wear comfortable clothes to your GRE test center. It might be a good idea to carry a
sweater or a jacket, in case you start feeling cold. Also make a check list well in advance of
what all you need on the D-day and keep everything ready the night before. One of the
things you need is a chronometer. (In case you don't know what that means, start
preparing for the GRE vocabulary ;-)
Use the scratch paper the test center provides
You are not allowed to bring any sheets of paper to the GRE test center but are provided
scratch paper by the center. You should make effective use of this to make quick notes for
yourself or for solving math questions.
And lastly DON'T PANIC
No matter what happens, DON'T PANIC. Keep your cool all the time, even when you don't
know the answer. Once you panic, you might even answer the easiest questions wrongly. If
you feel yourself getting tense, take a short break, ask for a glass of water, close your eyes,
take deep breaths and calm yourself down.