International students who want to pursue a master’s degree or PhD in universities abroad take GRE. The top universities around the world shortlist and give preference to students with a required cutoff in the GRE General Test.
While 3 months is a short span of time, you can still make your best preparation with a GRE three month study plan. Get a clear picture of the exam format in your GRE 3 month study plan and calculate the optimum time required to answer each type of question in the 3 sections of the GRE general test—analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning. Below we have stated a schedule of a 3 months study plan for GRE exam that students can go through and follow up to score good marks.
Let’s get started!
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Tips on How to Prepare for GRE in 3 Months
Wondering how to prepare a GRE 3 month study plan for a good GRE score? We have shortlisted some tips for you that will be useful during your GRE preparation.
- Test Structure: The GRE General test consists of 3 sections, namely; analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning. To achieve a good score, you must know the test structure well.
- Time Management: There is no shortcut for improving your time management skills. You need to work on how to manage time in GRE and practice sample GRE questions to improve your timing per question.
- Study Time: To achieve the best results, your GRE preparation plan for 3 months must include at least 3 to 4 study hours daily. Determine how much time you want to spend on each topic, and be consistent in your efforts.
- Quantitative Reasoning: Instead of taking up one topic at a time in the GRE preparation plan for 3 months, prepare 2 to 3 topics simultaneously. Make a list of all the mathematical formulas and shortcuts to memorise quickly.
- Track Shortcomings: The most important aspect of your 3 month GRE preparation is to keep track of your weak spots. Keep a record of all the topics you find difficult in the GRE syllabus and practise those topics consistently.
- Clear Doubts with ETS: Visit the ETS official website to know about the test content. The website offers ample information on the GRE test structure, duration, scoring, preparation, etc. This will help you design a lucrative GRE preparation plan for 3 months.
Now you know how to study for the GRE in 3 months. Next, let’s explore the GRE study schedule for 3 months.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Crack GRE in 3 Months
How to prepare for GRE in 3 months? A comprehensive 3 month study plan for GRE is adequate to help you achieve a good score on the GRE General Test. This guide will help you understand the basics of “how to crack the GRE in 3 months” and customise your GRE study schedule according to your needs.
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GRE Study Plan for Month 1
In the first month of your GRE General Test preparation, you must learn all the fundamental basic concepts of quantitative reasoning, GRE analytical writing topics, and Verbal Reasoning section.
Step 1 - Understand the structure of GRE
In order to get a good GRE score, you must be aware of the GRE test structure. The total duration of the test is about 3 hours and 45 minutes.
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Section |
No. of Questions |
Allotted Time |
Score Range |
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Quantitative Reasoning |
40 |
70 minutes |
130–170 |
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Verbal Reasoning |
40 |
60 minutes |
130–170 |
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Analytical Writing |
2 |
60 minutes |
0–6 |
Step 2 - Choose the best GRE preparation books in the study plan for GRE in 3 months
Make your GRE preparation strong with these comprehensive GRE preparation books. Understand the fundamental concepts of the 3 different sections of the GRE General Test.
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GRE QuantitativeReasoning |
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GRE Verbal Reasoning |
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GRE Analytical Writing |
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Step 3 - Take a GRE diagnostic test before creating a study plan for GRE in 3 months
The GRE Diagnostic Test helps you understand your exam readiness. This test is very similar in pattern to the actual GRE General Test. PowerPrep by ETS offers free GRE diagnostic tests. Besides, you can explore Yocket prep to take a free GRE diagnostic test. The scores of this exam will clearly define how much effort you must put into your 3 months GRE study plan to achieve your target GRE score.
Step 4 - Prepare for GRE quantitative reasoning
In order to understand the difficult topics while you study for GRE in 3 months, you must learn the easier topics first. The topics in the GRE Quants syllabus include arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis.
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Subject |
Topic |
Sub Topic |
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Quantitative Reasoning |
Types of integers - Divisibility, factorization, prime numbers, remainders, odd and even integers |
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Factoring and simplifying algebraic expressions, relations, functions, equations and inequalities |
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Parallel and perpendicular lines, circles, triangles |
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Mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation, interquartile range, quartiles and percentiles |
Step 5 - Prepare for GRE verbal reasoning
Using the GRE vocabulary books, learn 15-20 words on a daily basis. Make your own vocabulary flashcards to memorise the new words easily.
Step 6 - Prepare for GRE analytical writing
This section consists of two tasks: GRE Issue Essays and Argument Essays. You must learn how to articulate an idea and express your thoughts on it through these two types of essay writing tasks.
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GRE Study Plan for Month 2
The second month for your GRE is meant for extensively practising GRE sample papers and practice test. Give GRE mock tests in the stipulated time period to observe how fast you can answer a particular type of question. If you are wondering how to crack GRE, here are some steps to follow:
Step 1 - Choose the best GRE preparation apps
These paid and free apps will accelerate your learning process and help you practise for your GRE on the go.
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Free Apps |
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Paid Apps |
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Step 2 - Practice harder topics in quantitative reasoning
Scoring 150+ in the Quants Section is the most important aspect to crack GRE in 2 months. The Quantitative Reasoning section of the GRE is considered to be relatively harder than the other sections. Practise more than 20-30 questions daily on each sub-topic.
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Section |
Topic |
Sub Topics |
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Quantitative Reasoning |
Arithmetic |
Arithmetic operations, exponents and roots, estimation, percentage, ratio, rate, absolute value, the number line, decimal representation and sequences of numbers. |
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Algebra |
Linear and quadratic equations and inequalities; simultaneous equations and inequalities; coordinate geometry - graphs of functions, equations and inequalities, intercepts and slopes of lines |
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Geometry |
Quadrilaterals, polygons, congruent & similar figures, three-dimensional figures, area, perimeter, volume, the Pythagorean theorem and angle measurement in degrees |
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Data Analysis |
Data interpretation in tables and graphs - line graphs, bar graphs, circle graphs, boxplots, scatterplots and frequency distributions; combinations, permutations and Venn diagrams |
Step 3 - Increase vocabulary building
Learn at least 25-30 words daily and understand their usage in different sentences. practice text completion, sentence equivalence & reading comprehension.
Step 4 - Practice essay writing
Practice writing essays after analysing a topic of general interest and conveying your opinion about it through reasons and arguments. Take the ScoreItNow! Online Writing Test by ETS to evaluate your progress.
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GRE Study Plan for Month 3
In this last month of your GRE preparation, work on making yourself familiar with the actual test day. Here is how you need to plan your Month 3 to get GRE score.
Step 1 - Take practice tests
Take full-length practice tests every alternate day. Taking mock tests will help you improve your timing per question. Practice tests will also identify the topics which you need to practise more. Besides, the candidate needs to spend 64 hours for the preparation of quantitative reasoning, 16 hours for verbal reasoning, and 15 hours for analytical writing.
Step 2 - Revise all the lessons
Go through every topic you have learnt in the past 2 months. Focus more on the topics you’re comfortable with and revise them thoroughly. For GRE verbal reasoning, learn about 40 to 50 words and use them in the context of full sentences. Revise all the arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data entry topics for analytical reasoning.
Step 3 - Take breaks
It is essential to take breaks in the GRE study schedule for 3 months. A calm and composed mind on the GRE test day will help you achieve a good score on the GRE. Take breaks on the weekends to keep yourself relaxed.
Next, let’s explore the tips to prepare for GRE by exploring this interactive and informative video.
Now you know how to prepare for GRE in 3 months. Further, let’s understand this 3-month GRE study plan with week-wise preparation.
Week Wise GRE 3 Month Study Plan
Following is the week-wise 3 month study plan for the GRE test.
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Week |
Task |
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Week 1 |
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Week 2 |
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Week 3 |
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Week 4 |
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Week 5 |
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Week 6 |
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How to Deal with GRE Test Anxiety?
Passing your GRE General Test with a required score in just 3 months' time may sound difficult, but it is achievable. You just need to be persistent in your efforts, study smartly, and stick to your 3 month GRE study schedule. However, if you find it difficult to prepare an impressive study plan, worry not! Explore Yocket prep—a gateway to an amazing GRE prep strategy. Using this, you can access the GRE diagnostic tests, a personalised priority planner, and a complete GRE prep package with PREP+. It also offers adaptive algorithms in the tests, instant solutions, test reports, timed-untimed tests, and other features.
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