How to Improve your GRE Verbal Score

The GRE Vocabulary Section is the Main Obstacle for Graduate School

Mar 31, 2009 Jennifer Marsh

Nervous about your GRE score? Here are a few simple tips to improve your GRE vocabulary scores.

The GRE is the main test that all graduates fear. It's the obstacle that keeps even a 4.0 GPA college student nervous until test day. The GRE is the exam that tests college graduates on their knowledge and proficiency in all that they have learned within their years at higher education. Although there are plenty of other requirements for graduate school for a Master’s Degree like GPA and Letters of Recommendation, the GRE is the one test that determines your entry and can set you ahead of other applicants.

What is the GRE?

The GRE is divided into two parts that are known as the GRE Math Section and the GRE Vocabulary Section. Each section holds a value of 800 points giving you the ability to get a total of 1600. The lowest score on the GRE exam is 200 points per exam, so it is impossible to get below a 400.

The math section of the GRE focuses on calculations that span from basic algebra to geometry. There is no advanced mathematics on the GRE, but there is a need to practice all formulas and concepts.

The GRE Vocabulary section is based on the student’s ability to know words and their use in sentence structure. It also tests logical applications with words and their relationship to other vocabulary words.

Increase GRE Vocabulary Score

For the purpose of this article, the GRE Vocabulary section is the focus to help you improve your scores. The best method of increasing your GRE vocabulary score is flash cards. Kaplan sells a collection of 500 flash cards that give you vocabulary words on the front, their pronunciation, and a sentence as an example with synonyms on the back.

A good schedule to keep is dissecting the flash cards into sections of 25 words each. Every day learn 25 words. Flash the cards in front of you and know their meaning. After you have learned these 25 words, flash old words that you have already learned. After a few days, you will have many words to review, but you’ll find they become easier as you keep flashing them in front of you ever day.

Although this may seem simple, the hard part is keeping to a defined schedule. After you learn all 500 words, take sample tests relating to the GRE exam. Each practice exam will teach you to answer questions related to the GRE and know the antonyms, synonyms, and verb tense. After a few weeks of practice, your GRE vocabulary exam scores will increase improving your chance of getting into graduate school.

The copyright of the article How to Improve your GRE Verbal Score in Universities is owned by Jennifer Marsh. Permission to republish How to Improve your GRE Verbal Score in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

GRE Vocabulary Scores