Scoring 320+ on the GRE in 2 months | Day-by-day schedule & Study Material | No coaching Needed

Summary

This video offers a comprehensive, two-month GRE preparation plan to help candidates achieve a 320+ score. The speaker shares a detailed day-by-day schedule, highlighting essential study materials for both concept building and practice. The plan includes phases such as untimed study, timed practice, and mock tests. The speaker also advises booking the GRE early, using Magoosh and Manhattan study guides, and emphasizes the importance of consistent review and vocabulary building. Additionally, mock test recommendations and tips for writing the AWA section are provided.

Takeaways

• 📅 Book the GRE test early to secure your desired date and avoid last-minute fees.
• 📊 Begin with a mock test to assess your current performance and set a realistic goal (Point A to Point B).
• 📚 For concept building, use Magoosh's 1000 GRE questions and videos package for optimal preparation.
• 💡 Free alternative for concept building: Manhattan's 8-book series, available via Library Genesis.
• 📝 Take detailed notes while studying to streamline your revision process later.
• ⏱️ Practice in untimed mode initially, focusing on mastering the concepts before moving to timed practice.
• 🎯 Use Magoosh and Manhattan 5-pound book for practice questions, moving to Princeton as a final resource if necessary.
• 📝 Follow a 3-phase prep plan: concept building, timed practice, and mock tests.
• 🖥️ Take mock tests from sources like Kaplan, Princeton, Manhattan, and finally, ETS PowerPrep for the most accurate experience.
• 🧠 Focus on vocabulary using Barron's 800-word list and evaluate your AWA responses with Grammarly.

Q & A

What is the purpose of this video?

The video provides a two-month study plan to help viewers prepare for the GRE and achieve a high score, ideally between 320 and 340.

Who is the target audience for the GRE study plan?

The plan is designed for all types of students and professionals, regardless of their current level of preparation. It works for beginners to experts.

Why does the speaker recommend booking the GRE test date early?

Booking the test early creates a sense of urgency and ensures availability for preferred dates without extra charges. It helps in motivating candidates to stick to the study plan.

How does the speaker suggest candidates should determine their starting point?

Candidates should take a mock test to assess their current performance and set realistic goals based on their initial score (Point A) and target score (Point B).

What study material does the speaker recommend for concept building?

For concept building, the speaker highly recommends the Magoosh GRE questions and videos package. Alternatively, the free Manhattan 8 books are also suggested.

Why does the speaker advise against using ETS materials for concept building?

The speaker advises against ETS materials because they make the test seem easier than it actually is, and their explanations are not in-depth, which can be misleading.

What is the suggested study strategy for Phase 1 (concept building)?

In Phase 1, candidates should study each chapter, make notes, and practice 50 questions in untimed mode. This phase lasts one month, with a focus on reviewing and understanding mistakes.

What does Phase 2 of the study plan involve?

Phase 2, which lasts for 20 days, involves testing performance under timed conditions. Candidates should practice 60 questions per chapter, 20 at a time, simulating real GRE sections.

What is the focus of Phase 3 in the GRE study plan?

Phase 3 focuses on taking mock tests every day for at least 10 days before the actual GRE. The goal is to familiarize the candidate with the exam format and improve their stamina for a 4-hour test.

Which mock tests does the speaker recommend, and in what order should they be taken?

The speaker recommends starting with Kaplan mock tests, followed by Princeton and Manhattan mock tests. The ETS PowerPrep tests should be saved for the last two days, as they are the most accurate but don't offer detailed reviews.

Outlines

00:00

🎯 Introduction to GRE Prep Strategy and Goal

The speaker introduces the video as a complete guide for acing the GRE, offering a plan to achieve scores from 320 to 340. This method does not require coaching and is suitable for all, including students and working professionals. The speaker emphasizes the importance of following the schedule diligently and assures access to study materials via the website ymgrad.com. Additionally, the speaker shares their own GRE experience, which resulted in a near 330 score, and highlights their extensive experience helping others achieve similar results.

05:01

📅 Importance of Booking the Test and Setting a Deadline

The speaker emphasizes booking the GRE test in advance on the ETS website to avoid procrastination and higher last-minute fees. Having a set deadline motivates serious preparation. The importance of understanding one’s current performance level by taking a mock test is highlighted, as every individual’s starting point (Point A) and target score (Point B) vary. Identifying this baseline will guide the study plan.

10:01

📚 Study Material Recommendations

This section provides detailed recommendations for study materials. For concept building, the speaker advises against using ETS materials, as they can misrepresent the actual difficulty of the test. Instead, they recommend the Magoosh GRE package and the free Manhattan eight books for those who don’t want to invest in premium materials. For practice, the Magoosh 1000 questions and the Manhattan 5-pound book are suggested. If more practice is needed, Princeton's 1014 GRE questions book is recommended as a last resort.

📖 Phase One: Concept Building

The first phase of preparation, lasting one month, focuses on concept building in untimed mode. The speaker advises studying Quant and Verbal sections simultaneously, spending 2-3 days per Quant chapter and 6-8 days per Verbal question type. Learners should make detailed notes to avoid revisiting full materials and begin practicing in untimed mode. Practicing small sets of questions (5-10 at a time) and thoroughly reviewing mistakes is critical to understanding where one is going wrong.

⏱️ Phase Two: Timed Practice

In the second phase, which lasts 20 days, learners shift to timed practice. They begin by revising notes, then take 60 practice questions in timed mode, mimicking GRE conditions. The questions should be completed in 20-question sets with appropriate time limits. The speaker stresses the importance of reviewing answers thoroughly to ensure steady progress. This phase consolidates the learner's understanding of both Quant and Verbal sections.

📝 Phase Three: Mock Test Strategy

Phase three involves taking daily mock tests over the course of 10 days to prepare for the final GRE. Each day consists of taking a mock test, reviewing it, and addressing weaknesses. Recommended mock tests include those from Kaplan, Princeton, and Manhattan, which offer comprehensive evaluations. The ETS Powerprep tests should be reserved for the last two days before the actual exam, as they are the most accurate but lack a review feature.

📖 Final Tips and Vocabulary Strategy

The speaker shares additional advice, particularly on vocabulary improvement, recommending creating a personal dictionary and using the Barron's 800-word list, which has a high success rate. They also suggest using Grammarly to review essays for the AWA section but advise practicing on notepad software to avoid auto-corrections that won't be available during the test. Finally, the speaker encourages viewers to follow their social media channels for more tips.

Keywords

💡GRE

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is a standardized test that is often required for admission to graduate schools. In the video, the speaker focuses on how to prepare for the GRE, providing a detailed two-month study plan aimed at achieving a high score. The test is a major focus as the video revolves around techniques to ace it.

💡320+ Score

A 320+ score on the GRE is considered competitive, and the speaker emphasizes that this video will help viewers achieve scores in this range. The speaker uses this score to motivate viewers by claiming that the study plan provided can help them attain this level of performance, regardless of their starting point.

💡Study Plan

The study plan refers to the structured, day-by-day preparation guide laid out by the speaker. It divides the preparation into phases, focusing on concept-building, practice, and mock tests over the course of two months. The video centers around this plan as a roadmap for viewers to follow diligently in order to succeed.

💡Mock Test

A mock test is a practice exam designed to simulate the actual GRE experience. The speaker highlights the importance of taking mock tests throughout the preparation process, especially during the final phase, to familiarize oneself with the test format and timing. Mock tests help assess progress and pinpoint areas for improvement.

💡Concept Building

Concept building involves learning and understanding the foundational topics required for the GRE. In the video, the speaker recommends specific study materials, like Magoosh GRE videos, to strengthen these core concepts before moving into timed practice. It is the first phase of the preparation plan.

💡Timed Mode

Timed mode refers to practicing GRE questions under real test conditions, including time limits. The speaker introduces this as part of phase two of the study plan, emphasizing the importance of building speed and accuracy through timed practice after mastering concepts in untimed practice sessions.

💡Magoosh

Magoosh is an online GRE prep platform that offers study videos, questions, and resources. The speaker frequently recommends Magoosh for concept building and practice, calling it a reliable source for achieving high scores. Magoosh materials are integrated into the suggested study plan, including the '1000 questions' package.

💡Manhattan Books

The Manhattan GRE books are a series of study guides recommended by the speaker for concept building. These are offered as a free alternative to Magoosh in case viewers prefer not to invest in premium materials. The speaker advises using them alongside the Magoosh videos for a comprehensive understanding of GRE topics.

💡Phase One, Two, Three

The three phases refer to the different stages of preparation in the study plan. Phase one is focused on untimed concept building, phase two introduces timed practice, and phase three involves taking full-length mock tests. These phases ensure a gradual buildup of skills and familiarity with the GRE format.

💡Mock Test Platforms

Mock test platforms are online services that provide simulated GRE exams. The speaker mentions several, including Kaplan, Princeton, and Manhattan, as top resources for mock tests. These platforms help learners track their progress and prepare for the final test day with realistic practice exams.

Highlights

This video provides a two-month GRE prep plan that claims to help achieve scores of 320, 330, or even close to 340.

No coaching is required, and the plan is suitable for both students and working professionals.

The creator of the video has personally scored close to 330 on the GRE and has worked with many students to create personalized study plans.

The first step is to book the GRE test date, which creates a sense of urgency and avoids last-minute price increases.

Understanding your current performance level by taking a mock test helps set realistic goals for improvement.

For concept building, the video recommends using the Magoosh 1000 questions and videos package, which is said to significantly boost scores.

As a free alternative for concept building, the Manhattan eight books are recommended, which are available on Library Genesis.

For practice, the Magoosh 1000 questions and the Manhattan 5-pound book are highly recommended for being close to the actual GRE difficulty.

The study plan is divided into three phases: concept building (1 month), timed practice (20 days), and mock tests (10 days).

In Phase 1, concept building is done in untimed mode, with 50 questions tackled daily to develop a deep understanding.

Phase 2 involves timed practice to simulate real exam conditions, focusing on solving 60 questions daily in timed sessions.

Phase 3 includes taking daily mock tests to simulate the actual GRE experience and reviewing weaknesses for improvement.

Recommended mock tests include those by Kaplan, Princeton, Manhattan, and finally ETS PowerPrep, in a specific sequence.

Vocabulary practice is important, with emphasis on creating a personal dictionary and studying the Barron's 800-word list.

For AWA practice, it is advised to write answers on a plain text editor (e.g., Notepad) without spellcheck, and use Grammarly for post-writing review.

Transcripts

guys if you're going to be taking the GR

in the next two months this is the only

video you will ever need to Ace the test

all right you can use this video to get

a 320 plus 330 Plus or even as close as

340 but what you need to do is to follow

the schedule diligently so going right

from beginner to expert your day by day

plan is mapped out right over here and

this is the latest one by the way for

2023 and other candidates of course in

the future as well and the important

thing here is that there's no coaching

needed very important works for everyone

students working professionals we've

created on every single kind of person

and really no matter what you're doing

you can actually pull this off just by

following this proven methodology and a

lot of study material is going to be

made available to you when you just go

ahead and sign up on ymgrad.com very

important remember that

so before we actually get into the

schedule a little bit about me I took

the GRE myself and over here you can see

my scores they're a little shy of 330

itself and it's been a long time since I

took the test but I've been working with

a lot of students as well and helping

them ensure that they get similar scores

if not better I've made hundreds of

customized plans just like the one that

I'm going to be giving you in this video

for free by the way and all of those

have been paid until now and on top of

that we also have helped 5 000 questions

get into their dream universities

overseas so we do a lot of stuff

including Sops and loss and if you're

interested you can always take a look at

vanguard.com and you can take a look at

the service section for it but this

video is about the two-month GRE prep

plan everything mapped out so let's

begin

here's the plan for you guys right here

the first thing you got to do is you

gotta go ahead to the ETS website and

you book The Test very important over

here why do I want you to book the test

it's simple really until you have that

that knife hanging over your head until

you have that deadline that I need to

finish off before this point in time or

my money goes to a waste

you won't get serious happens with a lot

of people and trust me having that

deadline can help massively choose a

date in advance so that you can get the

date that you want without paying any

extra charges for you know a lot of

people basically book the test at the

end moment which is again a bad thing

you get you basically pay more right so

we can actually avoid all of that by

just booking the test the second thing

that we're going to be doing under this

plan is that we want to understand our

current performance so we'll take a

mockness all right we need to understand

every person is different from point A

to point B maybe for someone this point

a is 300 and they just want to get to

320. but for another person this point a

could just be 315 and maybe they just

want to get to a 325. again it's a very

different scenario and you need to

understand what is your point a and what

is your point B all right where where do

you currently stand and what is your

goal number three what are we going to

talk about over here that is which study

material to use I'm going to be giving

you the exact names that you need to Ace

now of course this does depend on your

current performance and your point a and

your point B but from a general point of

view this is what I would recommend

there's of course two types of study

materials number one concept building

number two practice first let's talk

about concept building for concept

building I highly recommend that you

stay away from ETS material if you

follow ETS material the official test

makers their material itself you will

actually fall into their trap you will

think that the test is too easy but when

you actually go on to the test on the

D-Day you're gonna actually realize that

it's actually way harder than they show

it and the concepts of course are also

not explained so well in ETS Works they

just go over them from a bird's eye view

really so over here for concept building

the only material that I recommend and

this is the only time I'll tell you that

you invest a little bit is the Thousand

Magus GRE questions and videos back all

right you get it anywhere you get it

from the official website you get it

from our partner website where you can

get it cheaper as well at

newsstudymaterial.com but this is the

only premium material that you will ever

require for concept building and I'll

highly recommend you go for that because

really that really does actually boost

your score based on what I've seen for

most applicants

but if you're not willing to invest

that's okay I have an alternative for

you and this one is available for free

the Manhattan eight books these are of

course available for free on the library

Genesis website all right you go ahead

you find out these books you type in

their names you can download all the

guides in PDF form really very

conveniently you can use them on your

laptop next number two what kind of

material will you be using for practice

very important over here pay attention

again Magoosh 1000 questions if you've

bought the videos package that comes

with a thousand questions good to go

right out the box and they are very

close to the actual level of the GRE so

I highly recommend that you use these

there's also the Manhattan five pound

book this is again one of the best

resources if you would like to take the

GRE and I highly highly recommend it

finally if you've exhausted all of these

resources then you can move on to the

Princeton 1014 GRE questions book again

this is one that I recommend that you

use as a last resort you probably won't

need anything else after this one all

right we're good to go let's finally get

to the chase let's talk about the prep

plan day by day what do you have have to

do depending on again you know who you

are essentially and where you stand all

right remember point a and point B we're

going to do this in three phases the

first phase is essentially just concept

building so this is going to be in

untimed mode entirely remember phase one

is going to give us about one month of

time so we have to actually finish it

off within one month to make it easier

for you I recommend that you actually

spend two to three days per chapter for

quants and six to eight days per

question type for verbal very important

note it down if you have to but take

care of these what do you do in this one

month the first day you actually pick up

any chapter you start watching the

Magoosh videos if you have access to

them or you finish up that chapter from

the Manhattan Aid books but study that

particular chapter it could be anything

it could be just fractions and decimals

could be anything really all right but

whatever chapter you pick up you finish

that and you make the notes why do you

want to make the notes it's because when

you revise you don't want to go ahead

watch the videos again again or read the

entire book again again you've basically

just want all the important formulas and

all the important things that you as a

person did not know to be jotted down

all right now if you're short on time

you can take a look at my notes as well

I actually have them up on

newstudymaterial.com as well but I

highly recommend that you make your own

because that would actually be very

catered to your particular requirements

finally once you're done watching the

videos and making the notes what I

recommend is that you start practicing

that means you start practicing but in

untimed mode hence what I want you to do

is on the first day itself after you

have watched the videos or you know made

the notes from the book itself you go

ahead and you do 50 questions I

recommend that you do these 50 questions

in untime mode I recommend that you do

only about five to ten at a time so that

again we're focusing on those questions

rather than just running through them

the goal is not to finish off the

questions the goal is to actually spend

time reviewing and understanding where

you are going wrong at this point so

really important just do about 10

questions you review them repeat this

five times all right that's day one for

you they they do again you do the same

thing you do the questions this time you

can revise the notes if you want in the

morning and then you do the questions

again in on time mode and if you're

still not able to do it you spend the

third day doing the same thing but again

it's really important that you get the

gesture over here we don't want to

exhaust the questions we want to use a

little bit of questions really just 10

10 at a time Max to Max and then we want

to go ahead and review very very quickly

very important over here remember

finally you always review very important

and then you move on right from you know

you day one itself again you pick up

another chapter and you do this again

and again and again just like that I

told you the schedule very easy right

same thing for Quantum verbal but this

happens every single day so in parallel

you're doing both Quant and verbal also

on the same day every single day okay

once phase one is over you move on to

phase two very important this is

actually your testing phase what is the

testing phase you actually see if you're

able to retain the performance that you

had in Untamed mode but only this time

with the timer all right this phase is

going to be for 20 days so remember it's

very important that you are quicker than

of course the phase one all right what

you have to do over here is you pick up

a chapter you revise its notes really

important really easy all right and then

you start off with the questions you

practice 60 Questions in timed mode how

do you do these 60 Questions you do 20

at a time just like the actual GRE right

you do 20 questions you give yourself

the time 30 or 35 minutes depending on

the section of course you know and then

official timer again same thing right

you review everything so you do this

price and your 60 Questions are done of

course after you're done very important

you review and as long as you're doing

well you don't really need to spend too

much time you can move on to the next

chapter but within 20 days you got to

finish everything go on and verbal with

the time mode all right remember it's

gonna be easy because in phase one

you've already studied all of this phase

three mock test here's what you gotta do

every single day you take a mock test

that's easy right you don't have to do

too much you take a mock test in the

morning you review it in the afternoon

if you have some weaknesses you work on

them in the evening that's it that's

phase three for you remember phase three

is going to be for 10 days of course if

you can do more do more it really

depends on you but at least for 10 days

I recommend at least take 10 mock tests

before you actually go ahead and sit for

the GRE this will get your mind and your

body used to actually sitting down for

four hours and taking the test now

you're gonna ask me that's okay but

where do we get the best mock tests

which are the best ones see mock tests

actually come in the form of online

accounts all right so they're not going

to be in the form of books so chances

are you may not be able to get them for

free but at the same point in time you

can get them for discounted prices on

again the same website new study

material.com which are the best mock

tests to take I'll tell you in the order

you should be taking them you start with

capelin tests all right kepling guns are

great really good results really close

to the actual test again then you move

on to the Princeton ones again same

they're really good they also evaluate

to AWA by the way finally you move on to

the Manhattan ones all right that's also

going to give you about six tests over

here so that's also great and they have

very good very tough tests

and for the last two days you leave for

the ETS power brand why only the last

two days these are the most accurate

but they have one gone what is it they

don't offer a review hence you don't

want to do them in the first couple days

because you would not be able to review

the U.S right hence that's what you got

to do do them in this order itself all

right again you don't have to buy all

the tests you just take any device I

believe and you should be good to go

because there's I think a lot more than

10 over here couple of pro tips just

before you leave hear me out very

important I know a lot of you guys are

facing issues with your vocabulary I

know it's hard and you're focusing on

GRE materials so always focus on making

your own dictionary but also do this 800

word list by Barons very important all

right because they actually have a very

good hit ratio it's very easy you just

sign up on vimegrad.com you complete the

offer of the year and you will basically

get all these study material directly

delivered to you on your email within

the next 30 minutes and on top of that

of course this word list is given to you

for free within that you can also just

search it on Google a lot of times you

can find it over there as well but yeah

don't miss out on the bear earns 800

wordless it's important the next thing

when we are practicing for AWA I know we

didn't talk about that a lot it's

important you understand this you write

your answers on a Windows or MacBook

notepad do not use Microsoft Word

because that would underline the parts

where you get the wrong spelling or you

know your tense isn't correct and all

that we don't want any of that okay

because you will not have that on the

actual test so we really don't need to

actually make it more complicated we

just want to replicate as as closely as

possible really finally after you write

down the AWA the time is over you go

ahead and you evaluate it on this tool

called grammarly use the free version or

the pro version I don't mind but use it

so that you at least understand your

mistakes and you stop making them over

time and of course for more such tips

and tricks you can also subscribe to

this channel where we have a lot more

content for you guys and follow us on

Instagram where we actually post a lot

more about this as well I hope that you

guys get a massively amazing score

whatever whatever you thought maybe two

or three points more than that in most

cases but yeah let me know of your

scores down below I hope that this video

helps goodbye and take care until next

time

[Music]