An 8-week GRE study plan that balances Verbal, Quant, and AWA preparation. Designed for students who can dedicate 15–20 hours per week.
Eight weeks is a realistic timeline for GRE preparation if you can dedicate 15–20 hours per week. This plan assumes you've taken a diagnostic test and know your baseline scores.
Before You Start
Take the free ETS PowerPrep practice test. Record your Verbal, Quant, and AWA scores. This determines where to focus.
Weeks 1–2: Foundation
Verbal (8 hrs/week):
- Begin systematic vocabulary study (learn 20 words/day using flashcards)
- Practice Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence question types
- Read challenging material daily (The Economist, academic journals)
Quant (6 hrs/week):
- Review fundamental math concepts (algebra, geometry, number properties)
- Practice basic GRE Quant question types
- Identify your weakest math areas
AWA (1 hr/week):
- Read sample Issue and Argument essays
- Understand the scoring rubric
Weeks 3–4: Skill Building
Verbal (7 hrs/week):
- Continue vocabulary (you should know 200+ GRE words by now)
- Focus on Reading Comprehension strategies
- Practice identifying argument structure in passages
Quant (8 hrs/week):
- Work through Data Interpretation questions
- Practice Quantitative Comparison strategies
- Drill your weakest math areas with focused problem sets
AWA (2 hrs/week):
- Write 2 practice essays (1 Issue, 1 Argument)
- Review and revise based on the rubric
Weeks 5–6: Practice Integration
- Take a full practice test at the start of Week 5
- Analyze results: where did you lose the most points?
- Spend 70% of study time on your weakest areas
- Continue vocabulary review daily
- Take another practice test at the end of Week 6
Weeks 7–8: Test Simulation
- Take 2 full practice tests per week under exact conditions
- Review every wrong answer thoroughly
- Light vocabulary review (maintenance mode)
- Write 1 practice essay per week
- Final week: reduce study intensity, focus on rest and confidence
Tools That Help
Adaptive study technology can make this plan more efficient by automatically identifying and targeting your weak areas. Wizeprep GRE [blocked] offers this kind of personalized scheduling.
For a complete comparison of all GRE prep options, see our Best GRE Prep Courses [blocked] rankings.