[tinderbox]

What materials did you guys use to prepare/study (I know, you can't really "study" for it, but you know what I mean)?

How long did you prepare before actually taking the test?

[romie]

There are a couple of free websites that offer advice on preparing for the GRE. One site focuses on vocabulary developement and outlines a plan for learning 1000 words in about 3 months. Freeuniversity.com has self-directed mathematics study programs for free to help you brush up on your math skills.

I did end up getting a Kaplan book-- there are several out there, some with accompanying CD-ROMs that contain practice tests and print-outs. I found the Kaplan book to be pretty helpful, but you should balance out your preparation with other sources.

You really should expect to prepare three months ahead of time. Do an hour each day learning words or practicing math concepts. I made up my own vocabulary flashcards and practiced while I was riding the bus to and from work every day.

There are some VERY EXPENSIVE GRE test preparation programs out there, but I would advise that you see if your local college or university has a less expensive GRE class first. The University of Illinois at Chicago has a GRE@UIC class for around $400--it is every Saturday for about 4-6 weeks and is a fraction of the commercial GRE test preps.

Good luck with your exam!

[FLAgal14]

I bought the ETS GRE book (can find it in any book store) and took all the practice tests in it. They also had practice questions in there - it worked for me. I studied for probably about a month before I took it. I took a diagnostic GRE test then assessed my strengths and weaknesses and really honed in on my weaknesses to tweak them. If I were you I would take a practice GRE then try to see whether you would need to enroll in a prep class if that was in your original plans because the prep classes are expensive. I really think that you can self-study for the GRE though but everyone has their own study methods and knows what works for them.

[burn out]

I used some prep GRE book I bought at the bookstore. Quite honestly the GRE was the hardest test I have ever taken (even though I did well , no I did not ace it but I did well enough to get into grad school). I would rather have taken boards ten times over.

[lovingpecola]

About three months for me as well (June - August of last summer). I agree with other posters, free websites, check out prep books from local library (or university library). I also used the dvds that came with the prep books. It had been a while since I had a math class, so I used engineering students as math tutors, brushing up on formulas helped A LOT! Practice writing essays using the sample questions from the GRE website, if needed.

Good luck!

[NHavenRN]

I used the Princeton Review book, and the free CD-ROM that came from the company that administered the GRE (I thinK). Because of a few other circumstances, I only had two weeks to prep, and so I studied pretty hard those two weeks. My secret weapon was a stack of vocab cards that my husband had made when he had taken the GRE a few years prior - I think studying those was the most valuable thing I could have done - it definitely resulted in my getting an attention-getting verbal score (which I think made up for so-so grades!).

Good luck - whatever you choose, I'm sure you'll do fine!

[christvs]

I studied for 3 months for it. I made vocab flashcards and also spent time practicing the math and language sections on CD roms. I bought the Barron's book and the princeton review book. I scored well above the minimum level to get into the grad school I applied to, so I was very happy.