GRE Prep
Vocabulary, strategy, and structured practice for graduate school.
What You’re Actually Taking
The GRE is a test of reasoning and problem-solving under time pressure, not a test of knowledge. It’s used by graduate programs, law schools, and business schools to assess readiness for advanced work. Different programs weight different sections — understand what matters for your field.
2 Sections
Time: ~40 minutes total
Score: 130–170
Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence, and Reading Comprehension. Tests vocabulary knowledge and the ability to analyze written arguments.
2 Sections
Time: ~47 minutes total
Score: 130–170
Algebra, geometry, data analysis, and word problems. The second section’s difficulty depends on performance in the first.
1 Essay
Time: 30 minutes
Score: 0–6
Analyze an argument and demonstrate clear, logical writing. Many programs focus more on Verbal and Quant, but don’t ignore it.
Section-Level Adaptive: The GRE adapts the difficulty of the second Verbal and Quantitative sections based on your performance in the first. Do well on section one, and section two gets harder. This matters — a harder second section means more points are available.
How a Session Actually Works
First session: you take a full-length GRE practice test. I score it. We sit down and map out exactly where your gaps are—vocabulary, reading strategy, quantitative speed, writing clarity. Then I build a 10-session plan around what matters most for your specific schools. Some students need heavy verbal work. Some need to build quantitative speed. Some haven't written an essay in years. The plan reflects your actual situation, not a generic template.
1. Diagnostic
A full-length practice test to establish where you stand across all three sections. No surprises — just clarity on what needs work.
2. Vocabulary Foundation
Master the 200+ word list designed for the GRE. Vocabulary is a foundational layer — students study between sessions using spaced repetition. Strong vocabulary opens doors across all three sections.
3. Text Completion & Sentence Equivalence
Focused strategy on how to approach these question types. It’s not just about knowing words — it’s about using context clues and eliminating wrong answers systematically.
4. Reading Comprehension
Passage types vary — humanities, science, social science. Learn to identify question patterns and manage the time pressure that many students find most challenging here.
5. Quantitative Strategy
Algebra, geometry, and data analysis. We work through ETS materials to identify content gaps and build speed without sacrificing accuracy.
6. Analytical Writing
Understand the scoring rubric. Structure your essay for clarity and persuasion. Practice with real prompts under timed conditions.
The 10-Session Breakdown
Sessions 1-10 follow a sequence. Session 1 is your diagnostic. Sessions 2-4 focus on verbal—vocabulary, text completion, reading comprehension. Sessions 5-7 build quantitative skills. Session 8 covers analytical writing. Sessions 9-10 are full practice tests and final strategy refinement. Vocabulary work happens every session because the GRE tests your ability to understand complex language under pressure.
Full GRE practice (PowerPrep); identify priority areas
Vocabulary strategies, contextual clues, sentence equivalence; HW: GRE Vocab
Passage analysis, inference questions, author's purpose; HW: ETS practice
Critical reasoning, complex passages, vocabulary depth; HW: Review + vocab
Number properties, equations, inequalities; HW: ETS Quant practice
Coordinate geometry, data interpretation, probability; HW: Practice sets
Permutations, sequences, hard word problems; HW: Practice sets
Issue essay and argument essay strategies, the 3 Cs; HW: Timed essays
PowerPrep 2; full review and strategy refinement
Section-level adaptive strategies, timing, test day prep
Homework between sessions includes practice on the GRE Vocabulary page, ETS PowerPrep materials, and targeted problem sets from the official prep books.
What You Actually Use Between Sessions
The Playbook. Vocabulary lists with context, frequency, and usage examples. Official ETS PowerPrep practice tests (the only official source). Targeted problem sets keyed to your diagnostic results. That's it. No upsell. No proprietary "miracle system." You're learning from the actual test makers' materials because that's what works.
How to Use Official Materials Effectively
The official ETS materials are essential — they’re the only source that perfectly matches real test difficulty and question style. Here’s how to use them strategically.
Start With PowerPrep
Take one full-length PowerPrep test as your diagnostic. It will establish your baseline across all three sections and show you exactly where to focus first.
Official Practice Books
ETS publishes the Official GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions and Official GRE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions. These are the gold standard — use them for section-by-section practice with real questions.
Math Review PDF
Download the free ETS Math Review. Work through it early to identify content gaps in geometry, algebra, and basic statistics. It’s not a deep curriculum, but it clarifies what you need to know.
Vocabulary Study Immediately
Start vocabulary work from day one. The 200+ word list is designed for spaced repetition over your entire prep period. Review words regularly between sessions for long-term retention.
Adaptive Difficulty Matters
Remember: if you do well on the first Verbal or Quant section, the second becomes harder. This can actually work in your favor if you’re aiming high — a harder second section means more points are available for top scores.
Program-Specific Requirements
Different graduate programs weight sections differently. STEM programs care most about Quant. Humanities and social science programs prioritize Verbal. Know what your target programs care about most.
Ready to get started?
Free intro conversation. No commitment. Just clarity on what would help.
Book a Call View AvailabilityI was intimidated by the vocabulary and the adaptive difficulty. Bryan’s structured approach — especially the vocabulary work between sessions — gave me confidence. My score jumped 45 points, and I felt ready for test day.
Ready to Start?
Let's talk about your programs and how much time you have to prep.
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