The GRE is a critical component of most grad school applications, this is especially true for Master´s degrees in Speech Language Pathology. Did you know that there are habits that top-performing students have in common? And no, the habit isn´t a certain preparation program or study manual. To find out the 6 habits of students who score in the top 10% of the GRE… keep reading…
Where does this data come from?
Magoosh (a test prep company) surveyed over 400 students who scored in the top 10% of the GRE, GMAT, SAT, and ACT to look for habits, patterns, and trends. Note: Magoosh did not pay / sponsor me to write this post. I wrote it to help readers. But, if you buy a subscription to Magoosh through my links, I will receive small compensation to help support the cost of this blog. I recommend Magoosh for GRE prep not for the compensation, but because it helped me raised my score by 17 points.
First, MY GRE Journey…
The first time I took the GRE, I only followed 1 of these 7 habits…and I´m not sure if it really counts because I kind of did it on accident. I did okay despite my lack of preparation. I earned a 154 in Verbal Reasoning, a 144 in Quantitative and a 3.5 in Analytical Writing for a total of 198. Like I said, it was okay.When I retook the GRE almost 5 years later, I was super motivated. As an out-of-field candidate I felt extra pressure to prove myself on my applications to graduate school. Also, I had a 3.52 GPA (which I know isn´t bad, but in SLP it´s obviously not high). I followed all seven of these habits intentionally, and it paid off. I boosted my score by 17 points and my writing came up to a 4.5. That GRE score helped me be accepted into 4 of the 6 grad programs I applied to (including a top 3 program!).
Habit 1: Study Alone
98% of top scorers said they studied alone rather than with a group. In a group it is easy to get distracted or rely too heavily on others. Unless you´re taking a class, study on your own.
Habit 2: Start Early
84% of students in the survey studied for a month or longer before taking their exams. As the adage goes: “Slow and steady wins the race.” In fact the most common advice from students who do best on the GRE is: to stick to a daily study plan. You´ll need to be disciplined, but it will be well worth it in the end!
Habit 3: Don´t Cram
71% of respondents said they took the day off before the exam rather than cramming. At the last possible minute, you´ll want to relax. Going into the test stressed out and sleep deprived will negatively impact your score. The night before the test get a good night´s sleep and do something you enjoy.
Habit 4: Keep It Quiet
When asked if they preferred to listen to music while studying, 63% said they chose to study in silence. The testing environment for the GRE is absolutely silent; getting used to working in that environment absolutely represents an advantage. Embrace the quiet!
Habit 5: Exercise
To score in the top 10% of the GRE, you need to do more than study. 68% of top performers said they exercised at least 1-2 times a week while studying. Exercise has so many benefits for your body and brain. Reducing stress, increasing blood flow, and helping you to stay focused are just some that could help you on the GRE.
Habit 6: Be Confident
This might not sound like a habit, but it takes some practice to use positive self talk and believe you can do it! 68% of those who rocked the GRE said they felt calm and confident going into the exam. To help boost your confidence, focus on your weaknesses and do plenty of practice exams under real exam conditions.
Habit 7: Don´t Spend Big
88% of those who scored in the top 10% said they spent only $300 or less on test prep! You don´t have to break the bank to get a great GRE score. Over half of the students that spent more than $1,000 on test prep reported feeling nervous on test day. On the other hand, of those who spent under $1,000 only 35% felt nervous. Perhaps spending all the money puts extra pressure on you… which you do not need!
So you´ve read about these seven habits of highly effective GRE takers.
Now… are you going to do anything about it?
Considering making Magoosh a part of your GRE prep plan… . (<- That’s an affiliate link to Magoosh!)
In the comments below tell me your best GRE study tip! If I get enough comments, I’ll turn them into another post.