Useful GRE Tips for Non-Native English Speakers

Oftentimes when we aren’t native English speakers, we observe, assimilate or process a phrase in our native tongue, then translate it into English. Challenge yourself and your GRE verbal preparation by thinking thoughts in English—including new and challenging vocabulary, idioms, and summaries. Try to make English your default language as you process the world around you, as this tactic will accelerate your English use and understanding.

You know you’re really getting somewhere when you’re able to dream at night in English and not your native tongue. For many, this signals a huge leap in real English immersion, and you should lead to an optimal GRE verbal performance.

Okay, this may seem a little silly—you’re probably thinking: How the heck does this enhance a new vocabulary? Well, when you’re able to text and email in English, you’re incorporating this language into your day-to-day communication. It might help to also find a friend who is studying for the GRE and to make it a goal to text or communicate only in English between the two of you. Yes, gym buddies are a thing, but so are GRE English-speaking buddies!

While most of the English reading, listening and writing you encounter in GRE preparation will be ‘correct,’ it’s very valuable to expose yourself to spelling and grammatical errors. This is where having access to GRE verbal practice exercises as well as diagnostic exams would be invaluable, as studying, breaking down, and evaluating incorrect answers can help inform your own process. Deconstructing why a particular grammatical example is erroneous will assist you in spotting them when it comes to test day.

You want to employ ‘active reading’ in the GRE, not passive; after all, reading on this exam isn’t Stephen King leisure reading. Just like when you take notes whilst solving a mathematical equation, you want to take notes when reading dense passages. This is called ‘mapping passages,’ which is basically taking note of all main ideas, important details, and the tone/opinion expressed by the author. This will aid you in navigating the academic topics more seamlessly and answering comprehension questions faster.

English basically comes from Latin and Greek, so familiarizing yourself with the roots of words will help you in guessing when you encounter words you’re not sure on. This primarily entails the memorization of prefixes and suffixes, which comes in handy for longer, more complex and unfamiliar words.

In the end, exposure to English will help you master English, so you have to continue to read, listen, write, and immerse yourself in the language to expect a better GRE verbal score. Make sure to allot ample preparation time, as much of this work requires revisiting words and grammar rules time and time again. English is like a muscle, the more you flex it, the stronger it gets.

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