The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a test taken by prospective grad school students. It has three sections, namely verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. Similar to other standardized tests, the GRE General Test can be challenging for some students to prepare and study for such tests. It will definitely require a lot of effort and time but it will help you boost your score and achieve your goal of going to graduate school. Applicants have different ways and strategies of preparing for an exam. There are also various opportunities for each one. Some may not have access to materials and finances in enrolling on a GRE prep program. Fortunately, there are tons of preparation resources available online and for free. Read more through this article to answer the commonly asked questions.
Is it possible to study for the GRE General Test for free?
Yes, it is possible to study for the GRE for free and significantly boost scores. So, yes, it is possible, and it is effective.
Can you study for the GRE General Test using only free GRE prep?
Yes, you can study for the GRE using only free GRE prep. Many free available resources are as good as paid prep courses and test materials.
Who should take a GRE prep program online?
Examinees who lack the funds to enrol in a paid GRE prep program should take a GRE prep program online. Even if you choose to take free courses or use free resources, these are still a great way to study for the GRE. You still get the content, format, and a realistic test-taking experience of the exam. You get to prepare yourself without breaking the bank.
Why should I take a GRE prep course online?
Working at your own pace and schedule is the primary advantage an online prep course has. Compared to in-person courses, students can study whenever and wherever they want. Especially now that the world is in a global pandemic, many people do not want to risk going out for non-essential trips and would prefer to do everything online when possible. Some online prep courses also offer adaptive testing where a system recognizes an individual’s knowledge based on questions answered. Through this, the strengths and weaknesses are identified.
What will I gain from taking a GRE online prep course?
A score improvement is guaranteed by most online prep courses. Some of them are very confident that they are willing to return the fees when the score did not increase by a certain value. On top of that, an increase in GRE score is an increased chance of getting accepted at one’s prospective university.
What is the best free GRE prep?
The free test prep offered by the ETS is the best free GRE prep resource. Since it is offered by the maker of the GRE, it is safe to assume that these materials are the closest one can get to the actual exam, may it be in the content, format, or experience.
Are free GRE prep courses sufficient?
It depends. While it is undeniable that these free prep courses and resources are helpful, it is not guaranteed to be sufficient. Some may think that it is only a great addition to other paid courses while others believe otherwise. So, it really depends on the goal of the test taker.
Are online GRE prep courses hard?
Yes, online GRE prep courses are considered hard. This is because course providers try their best to anchor the practise tests to the actual GRE test. Therefore, the difficulty and question types may be similar and tend to be viewed as difficult. Some professors also like to test their students by presenting them with challenging questions. Anyway, answering tough questions can be advantageous since it will help you think deeper.
Are free online GRE prep courses worth it?
Yes, online GRE prep courses are worth it. With free online courses, the only thing you risk is your time. And if you really are determined to raise your score, you will find time to prepare for the test with these resources.
Read more: Is a GRE prep course worth it?
List of Free GRE Prep Courses Online
Preparing for a standardized exam like the GRE is tough. Then, you have to enrol on a prep program which makes it tougher. Good thing, there are now free prep courses. Enumerated below are the free GRE prep courses available online.
- Free GRE Prep Course by 800Score
- Leap GRE Prep Network by QS Leap
- Khan Academy Instructional Videos for the GRE
- Magoosh GRE Prep
- GRE Prep Course 2 by SkillShare
- Test Prep: GRE by LinkedIn Learning
- Kaplan GRE Bootcamp
- GMAT/GRE Math by Udemy
Listed above are prep courses available online and 100% free. These courses will help boost your score, which will help you get accepted to your dream graduate school.
List of Free GRE Resources Online
If you want to go through the materials on your own, then obtaining resources online might be the one for you. Listed below are the free GRE resources or study materials online.
- ETS Powerprep Tests
- ETS Essay Topic Pools for the Argument Task and Issues Task (Analytical Writing section)
- LEAP Test Platform
- Quizlet
- Manhattan GRE Practice Test
- Magoosh’s GRE Vocabulary Flashcards
- Khan Academy
These free study resources are a big help, especially to students who cannot take time off from work and commit to a program. These resources are easily downloadable and accessible 24/7.
List of Best Free GRE Practice Tests & Questions
The best way to be familiar with concepts and test questions is to probably answer as many as possible sample tests. Below are the free GRE practice tests and questions.
- PowerPrep
- ETS Practice Test PDFs
- Old ETS Practice Test PDF
- Manhattan Prep Practice Test
- CATPrepsample tests
From the list, 3 out of 5 are produced by ETS. These three might be the best practice test one could answer. Again, because it is the closest a test taker could get to the actual GRE.
List of Best Free GRE Games, Flashcards, & Apps
Each person has a different way of learning. There are some who learn best when incorporating studying with fun. Below are the free games, flashcards, and apps to use in studying for the GRE.
- Ready4GRE
- GRE Prep by Varsity Tutors
- PrepScholar’s GRE Vocab Flashcards
- Magoosh GRE Vocabulary Flashcards
- Cram
- Quizlet
Learning while having fun through these is one of the helpful strategies to be familiar with what you are studying. That’s why when you feel like having a different style of learning, use these free games, flashcards, and apps.
Read more: GRE Apps For Test Preparation
The Best Free Resources for GRE Content Review
Below is a list of the free study materials a student can use for content review:
- Argument Essay Topics and Issue Essay Topics for the Analytical Writing
- ETS Mathematical Conventions PDF
- ETS Math Review PDF
- Khan Academy
Above are online resources to use in preparation for the GRE. As you can notice, three out of four are from ETS again. Since these will be used for content review, these three have high content validity since the creators of the exam produce them.
How to study for the GRE for free?
It is totally possible to study for the GRE without breaking the bank. To study for the GRE for free, make sure to have the following:
- Video Explanations
- Prep books
- Online lesson materials
- Study Guide
- Practice questions or sample questions
- Full-length practice test
- Study plan or study schedule practice exams, Practice writing essays
This will serve as a guide if you plan to use free resources rather than acquiring paid materials and programs. However, you have to remember that along with these, what you should have is a tremendous amount of discipline and hard work.
References:
- https://www.onlinecoursereport.com/free/gre-prep/
- https://www.qsleap.com/gre/resources/7-free-gre-resources-available-online-you-should-know-about
- https://magoosh.com/gre/free-gre-study-materials/
