How to Use a GRE Study Schedule (Video)

In this video, Chris from Magoosh describes the various study schedules for the GRE admission test and explains the essential points to pay attention to when using such schedules.

Selecting a Plan

There are three types of Magoosh study schedule – a 6-month, 3-month and 1-month study plan. The most important thing to understand when selecting a study plan is that it is always easier to add to it than choosing a longer one. For example, if you have four months, do not try to tackle the 6-month plan! Just add to the 3-month plan.

Pacing & Difficulty

Once you have chosen the study plan, it is important to set a realistic pace. If you choose the 6-month plan, your pace will be rather slow. Similarly, with the 3-month plan, your studies will be more intensive. Finally, with the 1-month plan you will have to study very intensively.

Materials

The plans include a mixture of essential and supplemental materials. Magoosh alone is sufficient for success, but using other quality materials will further help you attack the test from different angles and will give you access to high-quality questions.

Mixed Practice

Mixed practice means studying more than one section at a time. On the test day you are going to be jumping from one section to another, so you want to teach your brain to think like that and not only to focus on one thing at a time.

Reviewing Mistakes

Look back over your mistakes after doing a practice test and try to learn from them. You want to really understand why you made that mistake, in order to prevent a similar situation.

Practice Tests

Practice tests are critical to success. High-quality practice tests will simulate a real test situation, which will prepare you for the exam day.

Keep Moving

Another important point is to not get stuck on a single question. This will slow you down and you will miss a lot of other material, possibly preventing you from finishing the study schedule. Whenever you feel as though you cannot answer a question, just keep moving. Three or four wrong answers will not hurt your score that much.