How to Improve Your GRE Score with Practice Tests

I. Why Practice Tests Are Essential for GRE Success

Practice tests are an incredibly important part of GRE prep because they simulate the real exam. Practice exams help you become familiar with the structure of the GRE, including its sections and types of test questions. GRE practice tests teach how to manage your time on exam day; you will learn through practice how much time to spend on each question and when to move on from difficult questions. These tests will assist you in how to improve your score on GRE reading comprehension, as well as with additional types of verbal reasoning questions, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. Finally, practice GRE tests allow you to track score improvement over time; this allows you to identify your areas of strength and weakness, facilitating target test prep. Ultimately, you will feel much less anxious on test day because you will know what to expect thanks to your preparation! 

II. How Often Should You Take GRE Practice Tests?

How often you should work practice exams into your study plan depends largely on how much time you have to prepare before the real GRE. The following guide provides an effective idea of how many mock tests you should take based on your available time: 

• 8 - 12 weeks to prep before the exam: Take 1 full-length test every 1 - 2 weeks 
• 4 - 6 weeks to prep before the exam: Take 1 full-length test per week
• Under 4 weeks to prep before the exam: Take 1 full-length test every 5 - 7 days

Make sure to balance practice exams with review during GRE preparation. Analyze each section of your completed mock tests and take note of correct answers and those you missed. Also consider where you lost the most time; when you meaningfully analyze each practice GRE, you can be sure to refine areas of weakness and improve your GRE score, instead of repeating the same mistakes time and again!

III. Step-by-Step Guide to Using Practice Tests for Score Improvement

Set a Baseline Score Before You Start Studying

Be sure to take a full-length practice exam before you review any GRE content. This will help you to isolate your strengths and weaknesses and will give you a baseline score from which to measure your progress as you study; it will also help you to set a realistic target score for the actual GRE.

Simulate Real GRE Testing Conditions

Each time you sit down to take a practice GRE, try your best to closely mimic exam day conditions. Find a quiet room and use a timer, giving yourself only the amount of time allotted for the actual GRE general test (118 minutes). Complete all parts of the GRE in one go; these steps will teach you to pace yourself correctly when the day of your actual test arrives. 

Analyze Your Mistakes and Weak Areas

Each time you complete a practice GRE, review your mistakes and any questions or concepts you felt unsure about and might have guessed the answer to. Isolate the cause of each mistake; in doing so, you will gain a better understanding of why your test scores are not yet where you want them to be. 

Adjust Your Study Plan Based on Results

Modify your study approach based on the results of your practice GRE. Work on improving your weaker content areas and answering specific question types you have difficulty with. Implement strategies to target specific problems you encounter often. For example, if you struggle with pacing, one such strategy includes skipping difficult or time-consuming questions and returning to them once you have answered those you feel more confident about.

Track Your Progress Over Time

Always record your practice GRE scores, in addition to the scores in each individual section of your mock tests. This will help you to isolate areas of weakness that require additional study time. Additionally, keep notes about your pacing (how well you managed your time in each section). Keeping tabs on your pacing will help you better understand where you sped up, slowed down, or ran out of time, allowing you to adjust your pacing accordingly in the future. 

IV. Common Mistakes When Using GRE Practice Tests

There are several common mistakes related to GRE practice GRE that most students will make unless they learn to avoid them: 

• Taking too many mock tests in a row without reviewing your mistakes: if you take several tests back-to-back and don’t review them, you will experience burnout and probably won’t improve your score, since, without review, you won’t know why you made the mistakes you did. Depending on how much time you have before your actual exam it is advisable to limit the number of mock tests you take to a certain number (e.g., if you have 8 - 12 weeks to study, take 1 test every 1 - 2 weeks) and thoroughly review each test to determine what areas you are struggling with, why you got certain questions wrong, and how you will avoid getting them wrong in the future. 
• Being too reliant on non-official practice materials: if you only use third-party mock tests, these tests may not reflect the actual difficulty level of the GRE; they may be too difficult or too easy, but, either way, if you use these tests as your benchmark, they may not accurately reflect your real score. Students should use official tests from the Educational Testing Service as primary scoring benchmarks and use third-party materials for extra practice. To avoid more common GRE mistakes, click here: GRE Mistakes That Can Cost You Points.

V. How to Combine Practice Tests with Other Study Strategies

Practice tests are a key component of GRE study, but they need to be used correctly in order to gain points and result in a GRE score increase; therefore, it’s important that you learn how to balance accuracy and test endurance when implementing tests in your GRE study routine! Before completing any full-length practice exams implement targeted practice to build accuracy - such practice might include small sets of timed questions intended to improve specific skills (e.g., this could include a drill of 5 text completion questions for verbal reasoning completed in six minutes), untimed drills to learn strategies (e.g., learning to walk through multi-step quantitative reasoning problems), and, as always, a close review of any mistakes made. Full-length tests ought to be added in gradually and will help you build focus and perfect your pacing; when you begin to study, focus more on accuracy; towards the middle of your study period, divide your time between accuracy and mock exams, and towards the end, gear your study toward taking more full-length practice exams.

VI. When to Stop Taking Practice Tests Before the GRE

It is advisable to stop taking practice GRE exams 3 - 5 days prior to taking your real test. Your brain needs time to rest, and cramming in tests in the final few days before the exam can actually be problematic and probably won’t improve your GRE score or help you learn new concepts; doing so can cause you to have anxiety and may leave you feeling drained. Furthermore, you probably won’t have enough time to implement any meaningful review of these tests. It’s a better idea to practice some light revision in the days leading up to your GRE - for example, you might choose to go over your vocabulary words for the GRE verbal section and brush up on some quant formulas.

VII. Final Tips to Improve Your GRE Score Faster

• As with most standardized tests, the best answer for how to improve your GRE score faster is through consistency, continual review, and realistic simulation of test conditions during studying.
• It is better to partake in short study sessions weekly rather than engaging in long, irregular cramming sessions. 
• Analyze and record all mistakes that you make to avoid making the same errors again and again.
• Mimic test day conditions when taking tests (follow the GRE limit of 118 minutes with no breaks or distractions) to build stamina, improve pacing, and reduce anxiety on the day of your exam by knowing what to expect.
• Be patient with yourself and focus on any positive strides you make when studying. You do not need to obtain absolute perfection on the GRE, but with a focused study plan and solid effort, you will experience positive growth. As you gain confidence and become more resilient, you will be able to improve your GRE score. 

VIII. FAQ

Q: How many practice tests should I take before the real exam?

A: Depending on how much time you have to study before your exam it is recommended to take 4 - 8 mock tests over the course of your GRE study; 4-8 tests will leave you space for review and will allow you to track your progress, build stamina, and perfect your timing.

Q: Can practice tests predict my real GRE score?

A: These tests can give you a reasonable estimate, provided you are using official ETS GRE materials and are simulating exam day conditions.

Q: Should I review every question after each test?

A: Yes, you should review all the questions after each test, as this will help you to assess areas of difficulty and refine these, building your knowledge before you take your actual GRE and helping to improve your performance.

Q: What’s the best time to take a full-length GRE practice test?

A: Ideally, you should take a full-length test at the same hour of the day you booked your GRE to teach your mind and body to be alert and focused at this specific window.

Q: Are online practice tests accurate?

A: Good quality online tests are usually accurate, especially those provided by ETS; the latter will provide students with the most accurate picture of the actual GRE’s difficulty level, format, and timing.