Our Unique Format

A Common Problem

GRE students often become stuck in their progress and can’t understand why they’re unable to push past their score plateau. Let’s examine why this happens and what you can do to avoid the same fate.

Cause #1: The Content Mastery Trap

With some possible exceptions, the concepts tested on the GRE are somewhat straightforward. In fact, you learned many of the quantitative concepts in elementary school, and you learned the rest during the first few years of secondary school. Take, for example, the concept of average (aka arithmetic mean). Most students learn this at an early age, and most still remember how to find the average of a set of numbers. So, when students see that averages are tested on the GRE, many assume that, since they already know how to calculate averages, they need not bother to learn HOW this concept can be tested on the GRE.

The truth the matter is that the test-makers can take a straightforward concept like average and create simple questions like this, hard questions like this, and many different questions in between.

So, simply mastering the content is not enough to achieve your dream scores.

Cause #2: Unfocused Reinforcement

Students often take a scattered approach to practicing. For example, while studying Geometry, they first learn all of the geometric rules and properties, and then begin answering a variety of questions that fall under the broad category of Geometry. So, first they might answer a question about right triangles, then one about parallel lines, then one about quadrilaterals, and so on.

This unfocused approach doesn’t promote a deep understanding of the different ways the test-makers can challenge your understanding of each individual concept.

The Solution: Laser-Focused Reinforcement

For each individual concept (quadrilaterals, standard deviation, quadratic equations, etc.), you must understand and anticipate the many different ways the test-makers can challenge your knowledge. So, for example, if you visit our webpage for mean, median & mode, you’ll find links to dozens of different practice questions (many of which are official GRE questions) that test the somewhat straightforward concepts of average, median and mode.

It is this unique format that sets our course apart from other courses.

Free Access to our Unique Framework

Anyone can access the Reinforcement Activities (i.e., linked practice questions) we have for each concept (here’s an example). So, if you’re already using a reliable resource to prepare, you can still take advantage of our website’s unique categorization of practice questions.

That said, if you wish to purchase access to our video lessons, we won’t stop you!

The Third (and Final) Piece of the Puzzle

So, if you’ve mastered the content, AND you’re familiar with the different ways your content knowledge can be tested, then you’re ready to achieve your target scores, right?

Almost!

Keep in mind that the GRE is a test of your math and verbal skills, AND it's a test of your test-taking skills (endurance, time management, anxiety control, etc.). So, 165-level math/verbal skills, combined with 155-level test-taking skills, will likely result in a score that's closer to 155 than to 165.

With this in mind, your study plan should include several full-length practice tests. Taking regular practice tests not only helps build your test-taking skills but also helps identify remaining weaknesses that need strengthening.

Final Note

It’s entirely possible to achieve your target scores without the focused approach described above. It may just take longer to synthesize the commonalities and differences among questions that test the same concept.