My GRE Prep Notes (High Scorers, Please Go Easy on Me)

Scores up front: Q/V/AW - 169 / 153 / 3.5

Not a high score, but my English wasn't great to begin with (TOEIC <750 as a freshman...)

10 tips for your reference:

✅

• Mock tests are a must:

  • Get familiar with the test flow and get a clearer sense of your level

  • I'd suggest taking one early in your prep and another close to test day

• Study goals:

  • Set a target score: 320 / 330 / 335

  • Each score range calls for a different approach: for 320 you can give up on some sections, for 330++ you have to nail all of them

• Make your study plan concrete:

  • Weekly goals, daily goals (there probably won't be monthly goals... you need to finish this test within two months, ugh

  • Targets for practice questions and vocab

• Vocab tool: GRE3000词 (GRE 3000 words)

• Must-do practice: lots of resources on WeChat and Xiaohongshu

  • 1700 recalled GRE text-completion questions

  • 380 recalled GRE reading questions

  • 600 recalled quant questions

❌

• Never take it without preparing (don't be overconfident like I was the first time): don't waste your money... it's almost NT$7000 a pop, come on

• Pick the materials that suit you. There's a lot online, so filter it first, then study seriously and push your score

• For a study plan, any guide online will do; you can basically follow older students' prep timelines. They're all English tests anyway, and what matters most is actually following through!

• Not reviewing my mistakes... After my first attempt I noticed I kept missing the synonym questions, so when I signed up the second time I made my own synonym dictionary, and my V shot up (144 → 153)