Study Guide - Stage I

Orientation, Baseline Scores, and GRE Math

You’re now ready to begin your GRE preparation.  In Part I of the Learning Guide, you will:

  • Familiarize yourself with the GRE
  • Establish your baseline scores
  • Learn general GRE strategies
  • Learn all of the math content that the GRE tests
  • Begin developing the proper mindset to take the GRE with confidence
  • Learn the content and strategies required to answer GRE Verbal Reasoning questions (Sentence Equivalence, Text Completion and Reading Comprehension)
  • Learn how to write great essays in the Analytical Writing section

Please note that, in order to follow this Study Guide, you need the resources outlined on the Overview and Resources page.

IMPORTANT: This guide is arranged so that you cover all of the math topics first and then cover all of the verbal topics. You need not complete that learning tasks in that particular order. If, for example, you don't feel like studying math one day, feel free to study verbal topics. Just be sure to complete all of the learning tasks to ensure you've covered everything that the GRE tests!   

Okay, let’s begin Part I.

Getting to Know the GRE

Go to The GRE webpage and review the information there

For more general information about the GRE, visit the official GRE website

Create an account on the ets.org/gre website to access practice tests, register for the test, view your scores, and so on

Establishing your Baseline Scores

Before you can establish your baseline GRE scores, you'll need to first familiarize yourself with Quantitative Comparison questions, which are unique to the GRE.  

Go to the the Quantitative Comparison module and watch video #1, Intro to GRE Quantitative Comparison

For additional information about Quantitative Comparison questions, visit this ETS webpage

Take the paper-based practice test, which starts on page 35 on the downloadable pdf found here.

Upon completing the test, use the answer key on page 114 of the pdf test booklet to score your test. Calculate the total number of correct responses on the 2 verbal sections and the 2 quantitative sections. These are your RAW verbal and quantitative scores. Then use the score conversion table on page 115 to convert your raw scores to the GRE's scaled verbal and quantitative scores.

Note: There are 4 official computer-based practice tests in total. I recommend that you save these practice tests until later in your prep. However, if you have limited prep time and don't intend to take more than 2 or 3 practice tests, then you can take a computer based test instead of the paper-based test. 

General GRE Information and Strategies Module

In this module, you'll learn about different GRE question formats, and you'll learn some useful strategies that can be applied to a wide variety of GRE questions.

Watch all of the videos in the General GRE Info and Strategies module.

Quantitative Comparison Module

In this module, you will learn systematic techniques for solving GRE Quantitative Comparison questions. 

Watch all of the videos in the Quantitative Comparison module

Note: Don’t worry if you are unfamiliar with some of the math content in the Quantitative Comparison videos.  The primary purpose of these videos is to provide a solid understanding of this question type before you begin working on the math content.  Later in the Study Guide, you will be directed to revisit most of these videos.

Arithmetic Module

In this module, you'll learn the core content and GRE-specific strategies related to:

  • Basic operations
  • Order of operations
  • Signed numbers
  • Decimals
  • Absolute value
  • Fractions
  • Percent
  • Ratios

The Basics – Integers and Decimals

Go to the Arithmetic module and watch videos #1 to #8

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE 3rd edition):

Or answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (2nd edition):

  • 118(2), 124(1), 147(8), 148(10), 154(14)  

Note: The practice questions are listed in the form page#(question#). For example, 118(2) refers to question #2 on page 118. 

Fractions and Percent

Go to the Arithmetic Module and watch videos #9 to #29

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd edition):

Or answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (2nd edition):

  • 111(3), 126(4), 145(1), 146(3), 149(14)

Practice your guessing skills.  If you can’t answer a question, see if you can eliminate some answer choices and then choose the best answer.

Ratios

Go to the Arithmetic module and watch videos #30 to #35

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd edition):

Or answer the following question in the Official Guide to the GRE (2nd edition):

  • 148(11)

Reinforcement Questions

Go to the Arithmetic module and answer video questions #36 to #42

Answer 1to 4 linked practice questions from the Reinforcement Activities boxes found beneath most video lessons in the Arithmetic module.

Developing the Proper Mindset

To get high GRE scores, it's vital to not only develop GRE-specific content knowledge, but also develop the proper mindset as you prepare for this test.

Read the article, The Mindset and Body Language of a GRE Destroyer.

Powers and Roots Module

In this module, you'll learn the core content and GRE-specific strategies related to:

  • Exponent laws
  • Exponential growth
  • Negative exponents
  • Fractional exponents
  • Units digits of large powers
  • Equations with exponents
  • Square roots and other roots
  • “Fixing” the denominator

Powers (Exponents)

Go to the Powers and Roots module and watch videos #1 to #15

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd edition):

Or answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (2nd edition):

  • 121(1), 123(4), 151(6), 156(3), 156(6)

Note: The practice questions listed above are in the form page#(question#). For example, 121(1) refers to question #1 on page 121. 

Roots

Go to the Powers and Roots module and watch videos #16 to #30

Note: If you're unfamiliar with the FOIL method mentioned in video lesson #29, you may want to go to the Algebra and Equation Solving Module and watch video #7, The FOIL Method.

Reinforcement Questions

Go to the Powers and Roots module and answer video questions #31 to #43

Answer any remaining practice questions from the Reinforcement Activities boxes found beneath most video lessons in the Powers and Roots module.

Algebra and Equation Solving Module

In this module, you'll learn the core content and GRE-specific strategies related to:

  • Simplifying expressions
  • Expanding expressions
  • GCF factoring
  • Differences of squares
  • Quadratic factoring
  • Basic equations
  • Equations with fractions
  • Quadratic equations
  • Systems of equations
  • Number of solutions
  • Equations with square roots
  • Equations with exponents
  • Equations with absolute value
  • Strange operators
  • 3 types of inequalities
  • The coordinate plane
  • Equations of lines
  • Graphs of quadratics

Simplifying, Expanding and Factoring

Go to the Algebra and Equation Solving module and watch videos #1 to #18

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd edition):

Or answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (2nd edition):

  • 113(6), 114(7), 115(8), 243(2), 244(5)

Note: The practice questions listed above are in the form page#(question#). For example, 113(6) refers to question #6 on page 113. 

Equations - Basic, Quadratic, Systems, Roots & Absolute Value

Go to the Algebra and Equation Solving module and watch videos #19 to #32

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd edition):

118(6), 119(8), 122(1), 156(4), 158(9), 261(6), 261(7)

Or answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (2nd edition):

  • 112(5), 115(9), 117(1), 146(4), 148(9), 244(6-7)

Functions, Formulas, Inequalities and Strange Operations

Go to the Algebra and Equation Solving module and watch videos #33 to #46

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd edition):

Or answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (2nd edition):

  • 151(4), 157(8), 243(3-4), 244(8)  

Coordinate Geometry (lines, parabolas and more)

Go to the Algebra and Equation Solving module and watch videos #47 to #58

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd edition):

Or answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (2nd edition)

  • 118(3), 147(6), 152(7), 153(12), 158(10), 245(17-20), 246(21) 

Reinforcement Questions 

Go to the Algebra and Equation Solving Module and answer video questions #59 to #78

Answer any remaining practice questions from the Reinforcement Activities boxes found beneath most video lessons in the Algebra and Equation Solving module.

Developing the Proper Mindset

So, how are you feeling about the GRE these days? If you feel you’re losing momentum, the following article may help. 

Read the article, Thought Awareness, Rational Thinking, and Positive Thinking

Word Problems Module

In this module, you will learn the core content and GRE-specific strategies related to:

  • Assigning variables
  • Writing equations
  • Testing the answer choices
  • Age questions
  • Motion questions
    (distance-rate-time)
  • Work questions
  • Double-Matrix method
  • 3-part Venn diagrams
  • General sequences
  • Recursive sequences
  • Sums of sequences
  • Growth tables
  • Mixture/solution questions
  • Variables in the answer choices (2 techniques)

Basic Word Problems - Ages, Systems, Ratios, etc.

Go to the Word Problems module and watch videos #1 to #12

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd edition):

Or answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (2nd edition):

  • 110(2), 146(5), 151(5), 243(1), 244(9-13), 245(15-16)   

Distance-Rate-Time, Work and Other Rates

Go to the Word Problems module and watch videos #13 to #22

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd edition):

Or answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (2nd edition):

  • 119(4), 150(1), 244(14)

Overlapping Sets, Sequences, Mixtures, and Growth Tables

Go to the Word Problems module and watch videos #23 to #36

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd edition):

Or answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (2nd edition):

  • 152(9), 158(12)

Variables in the Answer Choices

Go to the Word Problems module and watch videos #37 to #40

Answer the following question in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd edition):

Or answer the following question in the Official Guide to the GRE (2nd edition):

  • 152(8)

Reinforcement Questions

Go to the Word Problems module and answer video questions #41 to #54

Answer 1 to 4 linked practice questions from the Reinforcement Activities boxes found beneath most video lessons in the  Word Problems module.

Geometry Module

In this module, you'll learn the core content and GRE-specific strategies related to:

  • Lines and angles
  • Isosceles and equilateral triangles
  • Right triangles
  • Special triangles
    (30-60-90 & 45-45-90)
  • Similar triangles
  • Quadrilaterals
  • Circles: area & circumference
  • Circles: sectors & arcs
  • Circles: inscribed angles
  • Circles: inscribed angles
  • Circles: tangent lines
  • 3-dimensional objects

Lines and Triangles

Go to the Geometry module and watch videos #1 to #16

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd edition):

Or answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (2nd edition):

  • 111(4), 147(7), 154(13), 259(1-3), 260(6-9)

Note: The above practice questions are listed in the form page#(question#). So, for example, 111(4) represents question #4 on page 111. 

Practice your guessing skills. If you can’t answer a question, see if you can eliminate some answer choices and then choose the best answer.   

Quadrilaterals, Polygons, Circles and Volume

Go to the Geometry module and watch videos #17 to #29

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd edition):

Or answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (2nd edition):

  • 125(2), 146(2), 149(12), 151(3), 153(11), 155(1), 156(4), 158(11), 260(4-5), 260(10), 261(11-13), 262(14)

Reinforcement Questions

Go to the Geometry module and answer video questions #30 to #48

Answer 1 to 4 linked practice questions from the Reinforcement Activities boxes found beneath most video lessons in the  Geometry module.

Integer Properties Module

In this module, you'll learn the core content and GRE-specific strategies related to:

  • Divisors and divisibility
  • Prime
  • Squares of integers
  • Rules of divisors
  • Odd/even numbers
  • Greatest common divisor (GCD)
  • Least common multiple (LCM)
  • The GCD-LCM formula
  • Consecutive integers
  • Remainders

Divisibility and Factors

Go to the Integer Properties module and watch videos #1 to #12

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd edition):

Or answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (2nd edition):

  • 110(1), 121(2), 159(14) 

Note: The above practice questions are listed in the form page#(question#).  So, for example, 110(1) represents question #1 on page 110. 

GCD, LCM, Evens/Odds, Consecutive Integers, and Remainders

Go to the Integer Properties module and watch videos #13 to #25

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd edition):

Reinforcement Questions

Go to the Integer Properties module and answer video questions #26 to #34

Answer 1 to 4 linked practice questions from the Reinforcement Activities boxes found beneath most video lessons in the  Integer Properties module.

Statistics Module

In this module, you'll learn the core content and GRE-specific strategies related to:

  • Mean
  • Median
  • Mode
  • Range
  • Weighted averages
  • Standard deviation

 

Go to the Statistics module and watch all of the videos

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd edition):

Or answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (2nd edition)

  • 122(3), 125(3), 149(13), 150(2), 155(2), 156(5), 157(9), 159(13), 160(15), 296(1-4), 297(5), 298(16)

Note: The practice questions are listed in the form page# (question#). For example, 122(3) refers to question #3 on page 122.   

Reinforcement Questions

Answer 1 to 4 linked practice questions from the Reinforcement Activities boxes found beneath most video lessons in the  Statistics module.

Counting Module

In this module, you'll learn the core content and GRE-specific strategies related to:

  • The Fundamental Counting Principle
  • Factorial notation
  • Handling restrictions
  • “At least” & “at most” questions
  • The MISSISSIPPI rule
  • Combination questions
  • Permutation-type questions

 

Go to the Counting module and watch all of the videos

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd edition):

Or answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (2nd edition):

  • 157(7), 297(6-10)   

Reinforcement Questions

Answer 1 to 4 practice questions from the Reinforcement Activities boxes found beneath most video lessons in the Counting module.

Probability Module

In this module, you'll learn the core content and GRE-specific strategies related to:

  • Finding probabilities by counting
  • Complements
  • “At least” & “at most” questions
  • “Or” probabilities
  • “And” probabilities
  • Mutually exclusive events
  • Independent events

 

Go to the Probability module and watch all of the videos

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd edition):

Or answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (2nd edition):

  • 120(5), 152(10), 297(11-13), 298(14-15)

Note: The above practice questions are listed in the form page#(question#). So, for example, 120(5) represents question #5 on page 120. 

Reinforcement Questions

Answer 1 to 4 linked practice questions from the Reinforcement Activities boxes found beneath most video lessons in the Probability module.

Data Interpretation Module

In this module, you'll learn the core content and GRE-specific strategies required to effectively answer Data Interpretation questions.

 

Go to the Data Interpretation module and watch all of the videos

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd edition):

Or answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (2nd edition):

  • 127(1), 128(2), 128(3), 149(14), 161(1), 161(2), 162(3), 162(4), 163(5), 163(6), 163(7), 299(17), 299(18), 300(19)

Note: The above practice questions are listed in the form page#(question#).  So, for example, 127(1) represents question #1 on page 127.

Reinforcement Questions

Answer the questions labeled "Additional Practice" at the bottom of the Data Interpretation module page

Sentence Equivalence Module

In this module, you will learn strategies for solving Sentence Equivalence (SE) questions on the GRE.

Go to the Sentence Equivalence module and watch all of the videos. 

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd or 2nd edition)

Note:  The above practice questions are listed in the form page# (question#).  So, for example, 55(6) refers to question #6 on page 55. 

To achieve high scores in the Verbal sections of the GRE, you will need a large vocabulary. So, throughout the Study Guide, you will be encouraged to spend time learning the definitions of hundreds of words found on the GRE. 

Go to the list of 500 basic GRE words on Quizlet and spend some time familiarizing yourself with the variety of games and activities you can use to learn the definitions of common GRE words.

If you wish to achieve a very high Verbal score, spend some time learning the definitions of the words in the 500 advanced GRE words on the Quizlet site.

Reinforcement Questions

Answer the questions labeled "Additional Practice" at the bottom of the Sentence Correction module page

Text Completion Module

In this module, you will learn how to effectively answer Text Completion (TC) questions on the GRE.

Go to the Text Completion module, and watch all of the videos.

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd or 2nd edition):

Note: the above practice questions are listed in the form page#(question#). For example, 49(1) refers to question #1 on page 49.

Reinforcement Questions

Answer the questions labeled "Additional Practice" at the bottom of the Text Completion module page

Reading Comprehension Module

In this module, you will learn how to answer the various types of Reading Comprehension questions found on the GRE.

Go to the Reading Comprehension module, and watch all of the videos.

Answer the following questions in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd or 2nd edition):

Note: The above practice questions are listed in the form page#(question#). So, for example, 56(1) refers to question #1 on page 56. 

Reinforcement Questions 

Answer the questions labeled "Additional Practice" at the bottom of the Reading Comprehension module page

Vocabulary Building

Don't forget to spend some time building your vocabulary. 

Go to Quizlet and spend time learning 500 common GRE words.

Go to Quizlet to learn the definitions of the 500 advanced GRE words (optional)

Analytical Writing

In this module, you will learn how to write great essays on the GRE.

Go to the Analytical Writing module and watch all of the videos.

Read pages 11-42 in the Official Guide to the GRE (3rd or 2nd edition)

Review the official Issue essay prompts on the GRE website.

Review the official Argument essay prompts on the GRE website.

Develop a template for each of the two essays in the Analytical Writing section.

Write at least one Issue essay and one Argument essay.

(Optional) Use the ETS's for-pay ScoreItNow service to have your essays scored by the official GRE essay-scoring engine.

Congratulations, you’re ready for Part II of the Study Guide!

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