How much time should I give myself to study for the GRE?

[cchays]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am going to be taking the GRE next summer and I am wondering if it is every too early to begin studying for the GRE? Ive started working on vocabulary words since it seems that this is going to be the hardest for me. Am I starting too early? Or do those of you who have taken the GRE wish you would have given yourself more time to study? Or do you think beginning to memorize vocab words and buying GRE prep material a year out is excessive? What does everyone think?

 

[roubs]

I am going to be taking the GRE next summer and I am wondering if it is every too early to begin studying for the GRE? Ive started working on vocabulary words since it seems that this is going to be the hardest for me. Am I starting too early? Or do those of you who have taken the GRE wish you would have given yourself more time to study? Or do you think beginning to memorize vocab words and buying GRE prep material a year out is excessive? What does everyone think?

I think it is excessive unless you take a practice GRE and find yourself at a very low percentile in some area. Otherwise 2 months out is a more reasonable timeframe for daily studying.

 

[Buzzwordsoldier]

I am going to be taking the GRE next summer and I am wondering if it is every too early to begin studying for the GRE? Ive started working on vocabulary words since it seems that this is going to be the hardest for me. Am I starting too early? Or do those of you who have taken the GRE wish you would have given yourself more time to study? Or do you think beginning to memorize vocab words and buying GRE prep material a year out is excessive? What does everyone think?

Sounds like you're going independent on the test prep, so not sure this will help. Kaplan has recommended time lines for their courses/materials, I'd imagine most of the other big name prep outfits do, too. I took my test at least six years ago but I vaguely recall beginning my studies about 2-3 months beforehand...

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Sounds like you're going independent on the test prep, so not sure this will help. Kaplan has recommended time lines for their courses/materials, I'd imagine most of the other big name prep outfits do, too. I took my test at least six years ago but I vaguely recall beginning my studies about 2-3 months beforehand...

I also went the independent route, and like Buzzwordsoldier, began studying about 3 months out.

 

[ClinicalPHD5]

1 year is overkill---you will get burnt out.

I studied daily for about 2 months. I took many practice tests and went over the answers that I didn't answer correctly. This increased my score a good amount.

 

[G Costanza]

I am going to be taking the GRE next summer and I am wondering if it is every too early to begin studying for the GRE? Ive started working on vocabulary words since it seems that this is going to be the hardest for me. Am I starting too early? Or do those of you who have taken the GRE wish you would have given yourself more time to study? Or do you think beginning to memorize vocab words and buying GRE prep material a year out is excessive? What does everyone think?

Take a practice test and see where you stand. Study for two weeks and see how much you improve. That might be a decent gauge for how much more time you need to put into it.

Study enough to get into your top program. No more.