Regardless of what materials you use to prepare for the GRE, you still must practice, practice, practice. But there is something important to keep in mind about practicing…
Here is a quote by Dallas Willard regarding progress:
“‘If at first you don’t succeed, try try again’ is the worst advice you can give people. Better advice would be: ‘If at first you don’t succeed, figure out why. Fix that. Then try again.’”
And, as someone else has said:
“The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over, expecting different results.”
Too many people slave away at practice problems without reviewing them and identifying the specific skill that is being tested. Rather than taking a moment to ask themselves why they miss a problem, they simply move on in a hurry to get the next practice section done.
Remember: each question tests a specific skill. You can identify it, practice it and improve it, and thus raise your score. And this is the general pattern for improvement.
So, let’s say we start with a practice section. This could be a practice test, or just a set of GRE problems we are doing. If it is the appropriate length, we can time ourselves on the section to simulate Test Day conditions: 28 math questions in 45 minutes, or 30 verbal questions in 30 minutes. Helpful training tip: You can also time yourself in half sections, i.e., 14 math questions in 23 minutes, 15 verbal questions in 15 minutes.
After we complete the problems, we go back and obtain feedback from our work. In other words, we check our answers to find out which ones we missed and mark them for review. Then, as we review each incorrect response, we ask ourselves the question “WHY did I miss this problem?” and “What concepts does this problem test that I am not familiar with?” Certain areas will emerge that we need to work on.
For example, perhaps when we review our problems we notice that we missed every problem involving percents and exponents. Thus we identify percents and exponents as two areas we need to work on, and we review skill development materials involving percents and exponents until we are more adroit with them. Then, we attempt another practice section, and repeat the process.
This process of feedback and review is the general pattern you should employ effective GRE preparation.
This general pattern is found only in the workout room of practice, not in the lazy-boy chair of passivity. If you employ this method consistently over a period of time, your score will go up.
If you want to do well on the GRE, there is no shortcut to practicing and training. It really will do you little good to merely attend a class and hope that you will some how absorb strategies and techniques. YOU must practice in order to succeed. If you want to get into the grad school of your choice, you must put in the hard work. But rest assured, if you train properly, you will succeed.
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Tags: effective practice, important steps, prepare, prepare today, success, training, Understand Your GRE Prep