Develop your GRE Vocabulary with these Preparation Strategies

Vocabulary plays a major role in determining the GRE verbal section score. It often happens that candidates stumble upon a question because of an unknown word in a verbal question. ETS believes that GRE vocabulary is a crucial knowledge that candidates preparing for masters/Ph.D. should know about. Moreover, studying ample GRE vocabulary words will be very beneficial in selecting the answer choices of the GRE verbal section. Therefore, ‘how to learn GRE vocabulary words fast?’ is a big question for many.

How do I Study for GRE Vocabulary?

Candidates preparing for GRE general test often raise the question of how to study for GRE vocabulary. The learning process is categorized into three steps:

Introductory stage

This is the stage when the candidate first comes across the new word, learns its meaning from the GRE flashcards. Repeated usage of the word and its meaning familiarises the candidate with the new word.

Association stage

This is the stage when after learning the meaning of the word, the candidate can create the distinction between that specific word and similar other words. GRE verbal reasoning provides similar answer choices and the test-taker needs to find the accurate one by distinguishing among the words.

Final Stage

When the candidate finally puts the word into use and has added it to the GRE vocabulary list too, the final stage takes place. At this stage, the candidate can not only form a sentence with the word but can also remember it for future use.

Learning the word thoroughly is a necessity as it enables the candidate to remember it throughout their life. The above steps also help the candidates in finding the solution to ‘how to remember vocabulary for GRE?’

How to learn GRE Vocabulary Words Fast?

It often happens that candidates have their GRE exam dates nearing and their GRE vocabulary list is still not over. The tips about the fastest way to memorize vocabulary words are helpful for those times:

GRE Vocabulary Flashcards

Flashcards are one of the most promising ways of learning the GRE vocabulary list. You can make your own flashcards by writing the new word on the blank side. If the pronunciation bothers you, write it down too along with the meaning. Write a proper sentence with that word to remember in which context to use them.

Jot down new words

It often happens that we come across new words while reading a magazine or newspaper but completely ignore it. Writing those down maybe in a napkin, or text it on your cellphone, or in your notepad. While practicing for GRE, sort out the new words noticed in the questions and answers choices too, and separately write them down. Consider this as your official GRE vocabulary list and learn from it.

Continuous Reading

Even if you have less time, engage in the constant reading of books, magazines, newspapers, journals, and so on. Read articles of different genres, which you are not comfortable with. A continuous reading will take away the uneasiness of reading it.

Learn from root words

Learning from root words can be very helpful while understanding the meaning. For instance, the word ‘soliloquy’ can e divided into ‘sol/solo’ which means alone and ‘loquy’ which means speech and when we joined it together it means a speech given by a single person or to yourself, or in other words monologue. As can be noticed, the dictionary is nowhere used.

Keep repeating the old words

One of the main reasons behind forgetting the GRE vocabulary words is not repeating those. You might think that the words are stuck in your head but during usage, you tend to forget it. Therefore, add new GRE vocabulary words to the list of old words. This way you can simultaneously revise the old words with the new ones.

Study buddy at the rescue

To test your vocabulary, ask your friend to question the meanings and you also do the same. Once you engage in a healthy game of learning the vocabulary words, it will be easier to learn. You can jumble the learning process by stating the definition and guessing the accurate word for it.