When you’re working through your GRE prep book, you’ll probably find at least one GRE practice test available for you to complete. You might be inclined to jump right in and take this practice exam just to see how well you do, but this won’t really tell you much. After all, you’re not going to take the GRE right away, so what’s the point of knowing the score you could get without studying? Instead, save the GRE practice test until after you’ve worked through the various topics and practice questions.
Why wait? Because the first one or two GRE practice tests you take will tell you what you don’t know. If you take a practice test before studying for the GRE, you may be discouraged at your low score and think you know nothing. What you really don’t know, however, is how the GRE is set up and how the questions are asked. If you take the time to learn about the GRE, see how each section is set up, and find out how the GRE questions are phrased, you’ll find that you do much better on the GRE practice exams. For this reason alone, it’s better to wait until after you’ve done some preparation. Study for a week or two before taking you first practice test.
And even if there's only one included in your prep book, you'll want to take more than one GRE practice test. Why? Because the first GRE practice exam you take will show you what you need to focus on. Once you have an idea of what you need to study, you can work on increasing your score in that area. After working on these areas for a few weeks, take another GRE practice test to see if you’ve improved. It’s also a good idea to take several practice tests so that you get a better idea of how the GRE is arranged and what sort of questions will be asked. The more familiar you are with the GRE as a whole, the less stressed you’ll be on the actual test day.
When it comes to taking a GRE practice test, you’ll want to try to simulate the actual exam in every way possible. Find yourself an isolated place with little distractions. This could be your bedroom, but it's also a good idea to try to find a quiet library study room or empty classroom on campus. Make sure you’ll have enough time to take the practice test according to the actual GRE time specifications. You don’t want to have to stop halfway through because of another appointment or because you’re hungry.
Get a stop watch or a timer and follow the time limits as outlined in your GRE book. The first time you take each practice test, stop after the time is up – even if you haven't answered every question – and figure your score based on your answers. Later, you can go back and finish the questions you didn’t get to as a way of getting in more practice.
No matter how they're used, the GRE practice tests are one of the best resources you have in preparing for the GRE. Using them as outlined above can help make a huge difference in your final
GRE test score – and, consequently, the college programs you can get into.
