Before telling about the most effective ways of preparing for the GRE, we would like to specify what actually the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) general test is. It's a serious exam that is widely accepted at thousands of graduate schools. It's generally required for entering business programs worldwide. Prospective students from all across the globe that desire to get their master's in business, MBA, J.D. degree, or doctoral degree must take this test.
The GRE can help business schools to compare applicants’ qualifications and readiness for academic work. Simply put, school committees look at students’ GRE score and supporting information to get a complete understanding of what they are and whether they have potential. Naturally, high scores on the GRE will directly impact on the application.
The GRE exam is supposed to measure your basic arithmetic (algebra, geometry), data analysis, and even vocabulary. In other words, it evaluates your ability to analyze the material, think critically, and quickly solve problems. Plunging deeper into details, we would like to say that every student will receive three scores on the GRE test, which stand for
- Analytical Writing;
- Verbal Reasoning;
- Quantitative Reasoning.
Importantly, it’s up to you what scores send to schools. You can retake the test as many times as you wish and then send only those scores you really want schools to see. However, if you already think critically and agree that “time is money”, we offer you the most effective steps to quickly prepare for the exam at home and pass it successfully from the first attempt.
Take a "trial" GRE practice test to find your baseline score. The result will show your problem areas you’ll need to focus the most. Also, it’ll guide your preparation and help you design an efficient GRE study plan tailored for you.
Another advantage of taking the test is that you’ll find out everything about the real test’s format and timing. Also, you’ll get an opportunity to review the test and look through detailed explanations after completing it. So, even at this first step, you’ll already learn something new.
At this step, you should figure out score goals and set priorities. First, make a table of all the programs you’re going to apply to. Then, find the average GRE scores of each program (this information is easily available in school profiles) and compare your baseline score against it. Your target score should be the one that would put you above the average of applied schools. Or, at least, at the same level.
Take note that some programs won't put too much value on your GRE scores. Also, there're some programs that require high percentile scores on only one of three measures of the GRE. For instance, most engineering master’s programs put more emphasis on Quantitative Reasoning.
No matter whether you choose a test prep book, tutors, or some of the best GRE prep courses online, you’ll need a smart preparational plan that will keep you accountable and self-motivated. Schedule your study time on the calendar and try not to skip it. Also, block out some time for realistic GRE practice tests. This way, you’ll be able to compare your results with the initial test to measure your progress and understand your strengths and weaknesses. After each practice test, spend some time on reviewing and explanations.
The schedule should be first and foremost comfortable for you. It should be tailored to your needs and demands. Find an effective approach and strategy. Focus on sections you’re scoring the worse and try to strengthen them. Set challenges for yourself each week and never stop expanding your vocabulary. Special English courses can help you with that. Also, always try to practice what you’ve just learned. If you find some approaches ineffective, don’t be afraid to make some adjustments to your study plan.
Get enough sleep, be self-confident, be active physically, and try to eat healthy before day X. All these things add to your overall well-being and good mood. And positive thinking is half the battle won.
To recap, here are the basic tips on how to achieve the GRE scores you need to attend the program you want:
- Find your baseline score and make a suitable study schedule;
- Learn the structure and timing of the exam;
- Find learning strategies and approaches that suit you the most;
- Focus on strengthening your weaknesses and enriching your vocabulary;
- Track your progress with regular practice tests;
- Don’t forget to give yourself a rest and think positively;
- Use high-quality study materials.
The Economist GRE Tutor is the comprehensive tutor program that easily falls into the category of the aforementioned “high-quality study materials”. It’s a relatively new program that uses fresh approaches to help students prepare well for the GRE exam.
The program covers every section of the GRE general test and provides in-depth interactive lessons with thousands of targeted practice questions. It guarantees a 5+ or 7+ point improvement and can be easily accessed from any mobile device, anywhere in the world. Hence, you can study at your own pacing strategy and in the most convenient manner for you. With that, it doesn’t cost a fortune, making it a great option for students who are not willing to shell out much money to prepare for the exam.
Besides full-length practice exams, the Economist Tutor includes interactive lessons with practice questions and explanations. And the standout feature here is that the advanced learning technology of the program adapts to your very strengths and weaknesses. That is, the Economist Tutor becomes more customized to your needs as you move through lessons. Actually, it pushes you to focus on what you need to know.
The lessons are shown on the home page in a simple manner so that you know at a glance which ones you’ve already completed (checkmark next to them). The straightforward interface also shows the upcoming lessons and their topics.
Overall, the lessons include more than 5000 practical questions, which is a significant number compared to most other GRE test prep programs on the market.
As for the realistic practice GRE tests, the Economist Tutor offers six of them. After completing each of them, you’ll see your results and explanations to all questions. Moreover, the tests provide feedback from instructors on the Analytical Writing (AW) section. This feature is called “essay markings” and is rarely found among other GRE preparation programs.
Another prominent feature of this course is that you’ll get one-on-one tutor support with any subscription plan. The “Ask-a-Tutor” feature is displayed on the dashboard and provides you with the fantastic opportunity to ask a tutor some academic questions and get an explanation based on what you’re learning. It’s not a live chat but tutors usually respond very quickly.
In addition to that, you can ask for a live one-on-one session with some of their GRE instructors. They can communicate with you via Skype and give some really useful advice. These personalized features are unique and highly effective for students.
If you have any questions concerning technical program malfunctions, the customer support team can help you quickly solve your problems.
The Economist GRE Tutor is an online program, so you can access it from any computer with a stable Internet connection. For greater convenience of use, the program has a mobile-optimized design and is compatible with any device, be it your cell phone or tablet. This makes the program particularly useful for busy individuals that are always on-the-go.
Mobile learning is also useful when you’ve got a few minutes to spare while waiting at the dentist room or having lunch, for example. Owing to the mobile-friendly interface, you won’t necessarily need to run a bulky laptop to access GRE study materials.
The Economist GRE program offers three plans to choose from. The Basic subscription plan is priced at $299 per month, and it offers you full access to all online lessons, 3 practice exams, 25 questions to a tutor, 3 live sessions via Skype, 3 essay markings, and 5000+ practice questions. Yet, this plan doesn’t offer a score guarantee.
The next tier is the most popular among users. The Premium plan will cost you $349 per three months and guarantee you 5+ point approvement. During those 3 months of access, you’ll get 5 full-length exams, an extended number of questions to a tutor (100), 5 Skype conversations, and 6 essay feedback.
The most comprehensive one is the Ultimate Plan. It gives users access to learning resources for six months with unlimited questions to tutors and one additional live one-on-one session, full-length practice test, and an extra essay marking. This all comes for $549 only (less than $100 per month), which we found to be a great deal. As an icing on the cake, the plan promises 7+ point approvement.
Admittedly, the Economist GRE prep course is not the cheapest thing and if you’re still not entirely convinced whether it suits you, you can run the 7-day trial. During this week, you’ll be able to become familiar with the course, its structure, interface, method of learning, and probably even test out the tutor feature. We are convinced that the trial can really help you determine whether the Economist Tutor is the best GRE course for your needs. You won’t need to enter your card number, so you can be sure you won’t be charged after the trial is up.
Another prominent feature that inspires confidence is the money-back score guarantee. The Premium plan ensures 5+ point improvement, while the Ultimate plan promises 7 points at least. And if, for some reason, your official GRE scores don’t reach this level, you will get a full refund. Actually, you have nothing to lose by subscribing to the Economist GRE Tutor.
To summarize everything said above, we can conclude that this GRE course is currently one of the strongest performers on the market. It will give you an idea what the real exam test is, how long it lasts, and more. This program will dive into all the nuts and bolts of the GPE test and won’t let you skip any valuable information. With 5000+ questions, online tutoring, competitive prices, free trial, and money-back guarantee, the Economist GRE Tutor program is hard to beat. It will help you prepare for the GRE test to the fullest.