GRE Snacks

"Getting ahead of the clock" means building a time buffer early in the test so that you have time and spaciousness to complete the rest of the questions. In last week's episode, we covered how to create that buffer on the GRE quant. This week, Orion shares his tactics for getting ahead of the clock on the GRE verbal, including a smart strategy for reading comp that could make a big difference in a pinch.

Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the GRE exam - visit https://achievable.me

The GRE quantitative section is 20 questions and you have 35 minutes to complete them. This isn't a lot of time. How do you get 'ahead of the clock' and stay ahead of pace, both for your sanity and to help reduce your likelihood of making careless errors? Orion explains his tactics for getting ahead of the clock on the GRE quant. Stay tuned for our GRE verbal version in next week's episode.

Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the GRE exam - visit https://achievable.me

You've been learning how to learn all your life. You probably already know how to solve an algebra problem or determine the meaning of a word. Thing is, the GRE is unique, and the tactics you need to learn to beat the test are not the same tactics that solve math problems. There is a Zen story that Orion shares in this episode about how, in order to learn, you must first forget what you know, and this is especially important when preparing for the GRE.

Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the GRE exam - visit https://achievable.me

For variable-based problems on the GRE quant (ie "if x3, then.."), you can "plug in" numbers to test the answers out and see which are even feasible to be correct. But not all "plug in" numbers are created equal - some are much more useful to use than others for eliminating wrong answers and ensuring you don't fall into any traps. Orion shares his hierarchy of the best plug-in numbers to use on the GRE quant.

Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the GRE exam - visit https://achievable.me

Shouldn't you try to get the highest GRE score possible on all sections? Not necessarily. Remember, your main goal is to have a GRE score that doesn't get you rejected from your first choice program. The bar that you need to clear varies dramatically - not just from school to school, but from program to program within a school. Orion shares how he advises his clients to best set their target GRE scores.

Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the GRE exam - visit https://achievable.me

The GRE essay section is not what you think it is. Spelling, grammar, and even an airtight argument aren't as important as - you guessed it - word count! Wait, ok, so you didn't guess that? Well have no fear, in this episode, Orion explains what the key metrics for the GRE Essay Section are and how to train yourself to hit the word count goal in 30 minutes or less.

Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the GRE exam - visit https://achievable.me

When you're doing something high stakes and in the moment, whether it's playing music or playing sports, you don't have time to think about the small tactical details of how to play this note or how to dribble properly. The GRE exam is the same - thinking is overrated on test day because you want muscle memory to take over the small stuff and leave you with the big picture problems. Orion explains how to strike this balance.

Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the GRE exam - visit https://achievable.me

The GRE is hard enough as it is. Many students, especially those who are really strong at math, will try to solve the math instead of just getting the answer. But that's not the way to ace the GRE. You should be doing arithmetic, not algebra, and more. Learn how to keep it simple with Orion on this episode.

Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the GRE exam - visit https://achievable.me

As you practice for the GRE, you'll get more and more confident. This is great! But - that confidence might inspire you to cut corners. You are trying to go as fast as you can, right? Well, it turns out, cutting corners is often not worth it. Orion explains why in this episode.

Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the GRE exam - visit https://achievable.me

Eliminating bad answers is key throughout the GRE, but it can be tricky for the reading comprehension section. Luckily, Orion has three tried-and-true, clever tactics that help you immediately identify wrong answers for reading comp problems. Learn all three on this episode of our podcast.

Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the GRE exam - visit https://achievable.me