An 8-week GRE study plan

How the GRE is built now

Since 22 September 2023 the GRE General Test runs about 1 hour 58 minutes. ETS lists one 30-minute “Analyze an Issue” writing task first, then two Verbal Reasoning sections (12 questions in 18 minutes, 15 questions in 23 minutes) and two Quantitative Reasoning sections (12 questions in 21 minutes, 15 questions in 26 minutes).

Verbal and Quantitative are adaptive by section: how you do on the first section of each measure affects the difficulty of the second. Check ets.org/gre for the current format before you register.

Weeks 1 and 2: diagnose and review

• Take one full practice test first to see where you stand on verbal and quant.
• Review the quant topics you are rusty on, usually arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis, and work them untimed.
• Read something dense every day, and learn new words from context rather than from long lists.

Weeks 3 to 5: build speed

• Practise Reading Comprehension, Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence in short timed sets.
• Do timed quant sets, and learn to skip a question that is eating your time and come back to it.
• Write one essay a week from week 3, 30 minutes, then reread it and cut anything that does not support your point.
• Keep an error log with the reason for each miss.

Weeks 6 and 7: full practice tests

• Take a full-length practice test each week, essay included, at the time of day of your real test.
• Spend as long reviewing as testing, and send what you learn back to your weakest topics.
• Use the official ETS practice material where possible, because its questions are the closest to the real test.

Week 8: taper

One last practice test early in the week, then your error log and a few short timed sets. No new topics in the last two days. Check your ID and test-centre or at-home setup, and sleep.

How many hours?

Many students plan about 50 to 120 hours over 6 to 12 weeks. That is a common estimate, not an official figure. A strong starting score or a lower target needs fewer; a long break from maths needs more.

Make it fit your dates

Not exactly 8 weeks? The free GRE study plan generator builds this structure from your test date and daily hours.

Prefer paper? The GRE 8-week planner has an exam map, weekly and daily pages, a practice test log and an error log for $5. It is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ETS.

Related: GRE study plan generator · How long to study for each exam · GRE 8-week printable planner

Source: ETS. GRE General Test content and structure, ets.org/gre.