Best Ways to Study for the GRE

Private tutoring gives you one-on-one instruction for the GRE. Although you get private teaching, it may not be the most effective way to prepare for the GRE for everyone, especially if you want to save money.

Advantages

In an ideal situation, the tutor will customize teaching to the parts of the test you need to focus on. They should also give you GRE study tips to help you practice outside of tutoring sessions. With an online or in-person tutor guiding you, you may have more motivation to study than working on your own.

Disadvantages

The level of experience attained by tutors is wide and varied, meaning, you could find someone with no experience or specially trained test experts. Unless you have thoroughly vetted a private tutor or sought assistance from a GRE test prep company's trained tutors, you could find yourself getting poor advice and wasting your money.

The monetary aspect is a big disadvantage for some; private tutoring is one of the most expensive test prep options.

Online courses give you an overview of the GRE as a comprehensive study option.

Advantages

The advantage of taking an online course is the flexibility to study anywhere you have access to a computer. These classes cost less than private tutoring, making them better choices for those on a budget. Online courses also give you a complete package of practice, information and study tips. Depending on the service, you can even find online study courses that offer a score guarantee, such as the Princeton Review.

Disadvantages

Unless you practice on your own outside of the online class, you may not get the full benefits from the course. Additionally, online learning doesn’t give you interaction with your fellow students or teacher that you get from in-person classes.

In-person courses require physical attendance in a class with other GRE students. Among the ways to study for the GRE, this is one of the most well-known, but is it the best?

Advantages

In-person courses are ideal if you need interaction with other students and the teacher. You can ask questions and collaborate on problems or form study groups with classmates. Since the classes happen on a pre-set schedule, you must keep up with studying and practice to avoid falling behind.

Disadvantages

In-person classes can feel tedious, especially with large amounts of information to learn. Additionally, depending on the class size, you may not get any personalized instruction during the course. Like tutoring, in-person classes can be expensive. However, some people find the investment a driving factor, to study harder and put more effort into participating in the class.

Regardless of how you study for the GRE, you can’t wait until the last minute to begin preparation. As soon as you decide to take the GRE, start your search for the best study methods for you.

What are good study methods for the GRE? That depends on you. Think about how you study best. Do you need individualized tutoring, or can you motivate yourself to study through an online course? You will need many methods to get the desired results regardless of whether you take a class – you still need practice outside the class to reinforce what you learned.

Sources: 

1. https://www.princetonreview.com/grad/gre-tutoring-course?ceid=nav

2. https://www.princetonreview.com/grad/gre-honors-course?ceid=nav

3. https://www.princetonreview.com/grad/gre-test-prep?ceid=tersh-nav-honors-course