Improving your GRE Score: Why and How?

Getting a high score on the GRE can significantly increase your chances of getting admission to your dream university. Students take the test multiple times to improve their scores. Retaking the test with focused preparation can be a worthwhile investment to enhance their chances of admission to their desired programs.

GRE is a popular standardized test which is widely accepted by popular universities worldwide. GRE is one of the important eligibility to pursue an MS abroad but not a guarantee. Some programs or countries may prioritize other factors or have alternative tests. Students prepare hard to get good scores in the Graduate Record Examination.

There are multiple ways to score high in the Graduate Record Examination such as consistent practice, utilizing official ETS resources, taking practice tests, and focusing on areas of weakness. This article will help you to know about some tips to prepare for the GRE exam.

GRE Scoring Pattern

To begin with, it is important to understand GRE Scoring pattern and what you should consider before deciding to re-write the exam. Here’s a quick recap:

Should You Take GRE or Not?

You could be at 290 and not want to re-write the exam or even at 310 and be desirous of taking the exam once again. Your score is not what truly matters, it is how you stack up with the competition that matters in the end. The final answer would be yours, but we urge you to consider the following before deciding whether or not you should write the GRE again:

GRE Score Required for The University You Are Planning

Say for instance you wish to apply for a certain course X in Z University in some country which clearly mentions a cut-off for GRE score. In that situation, the answer would depend on how sincerely you wish to get into that university. If you are really keen, then you have no alternative but to take the test again.

Related Reads:

• How to Prepare for GRE in One Month?
• GRE Preparation Plan for Beginners
• How to Score 340 in GRE Exam?

Your Total Score in GRE

The GRE Score card would depict your percentile rank as well. If the percentile is fairly decent, you need not fuss over your score but if it is in the range of 80, re-writing the GRE exam would be advisable.

Your Overall Application

Another factor that you must pay due consideration to is your overall application. In case you have had an exceptional academic record or perhaps you have been an exceptional sportsperson or a leader in your community. Evaluate your application as a whole. If you are confident that a low GRE score would be compensated by your other academic/ co-scholastic achievements, you can avoid taking the test again.

Remember, the GRE is an indicator of your aptitude and not you as a whole. Before you decide, be honest and assess whether you gave it your very best or were you simply lazy.

How to Improve Your GRE Score?

So you have assessed and decided that you would rather re-take the test. Brilliant! It is no easy commitment and has no true downsides to it. You can always choose to share whichever score you wish to share with the University. But since it is a considerably expensive test, you would want to be better off on the second attempt. Here are a few things you can do to improve your scores

Take a Different Approach

Always remember, that writing an exam again is not just about your verbal reasoning or your quantitative reasoning. It comes down to the speed as well. If given the freedom, your mind would come to the right answer…the trick to cracking any exam is how quickly you can do it. And it is not always about how well your concepts are but also how you cope with the stress of a time-bound environment. Taking up classes would probably help your mind simulate the same environment, hone it better and prepare it for the final test.

Alternatively, self-study might be the thing required. You might be the person who needs to be away from the constant competition and excitement of classroom coaching to improve your response time.

Always Take a Prep Time Before the Re-take

Even if you simply wish to rewrite the exam because you were not able to perform in the first one due to some unforeseen circumstances, we strongly recommend that you prepare before the second attempt. The pattern remains the same, your understanding remains the same but writing an exam often brings to the fore the areas where you were lacking. So take some prep time and then retake the exam. A week would not considerably dent your application deadlines, so take your time.

Address Your Areas of Weakness, Learn New Tools

The score would have clearly defined where you lack. In case your quantitative reasoning score was good but verbal reasoning left much to be desired, it is time to improve your vocabulary.

Both the sections; be it verbal or quantitative, have their unique requirements and can be addressed in a simple manner. Remember, verbal reasoning is all about how good your vocabulary is. Similarly, quantitative reasoning is about how quickly you process simple mathematical concepts and numbers. While the first section can be improved by vociferous reading and learning new words, for quantitative sections, nothing works more than practice.

Also, especially for the quantitative reasoning section, some tools help you like back-solving and quick mathematical calculation tables. Improve your skills with the help of these tools and you are sure to improve your score.

If you are looking ahead to studying abroad and need admission and application-related help, you can sign up for our free Shiksha Abroad Counselling. Or you can write to us in the comments below.