GRE Preparation

We can help your score get you where you want to go with a comprehensive, yet accessible GRE program for test-takers of all levels.

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Process

Is the GRE right for you?

1

Determine when you need to take the test

The GRE is administered year-round in the computer-based format. Most programs only require an applicant's unofficial results in their application, so in theory you could take the exam on the day your application was due. However, achieving your best score on the GRE takes time and it's nice to have the test out of the way by the time your graduate program application process is in full swing. Because applicants may only take the GRE once within any calendar month, we advise students to schedule an exam date at least six weeks before the earliest application submission deadline.
2

Familiarize yourself with the format of the exam and official resources

In addition to understanding the different question types and familiarizing yourself with the timing requirements, we recommend that you complete the sample questions provided on the GRE website.
3

Establish a baseline on a practice test

Establishing a baseline is a critical step in the process of studying for the GRE. We highly recommend taking a full-length practice exam as your diagnostic. Take the diagnostic exam under timed conditions and complete it in one sitting. Give yourself three hours and forty-five minutes to complete the test, including a ten minute break. Your score on this diagnostic exam is not particularly important; your correct and incorrect answers serve as a starting point for building a syllabus customized to your strengths and weaknesses.
4

Create a preparation plan

Start your preparation early. The GRE is highly coachable, patterned, and predictable. Familiarity with the test material through repetition leads to dramatically superior outcomes on test day.
5

Start tutoring, and later practice testing

You’ll meet with your tutor regularly (ideally, at least once/week), complete homework in between sessions, and take practice tests. Practice tests are the best way to measure how well you’re applying the methods you’re learning in tutoring sessions, and to gauge the progress of your score.

Tutor spotlight

We are a group of exceptional GRE tutors prepared to meet the needs of every kind of student. As a prerequisite, every tutor joining us has scored in the 99th percentile on the exam. But, we also look for effective communicators, savvy interpreters of testing data, and structured thinkers.

Testimonials

“Tutoring with Harry was exactly what I was looking for — flexible and targeted. Harry patiently explained concepts in an intuitive way, and sessions were very productive. Harry made the most of the time discussing study strategies, material concepts, and practice problems. Overall, this was a great service, and I am very glad I didn't do one of those online courses that would've cost more and given me less personal attention.”

Shane WoolleyScore went from 320 to 330

“I am so glad I came across Cambridge Coaching for my GRE preparation last spring! Paul is not only an expert in every section of this exam, but he is also an incredible teacher. He preps and tailors each session to the specific needs of the individual. I am proud to say that a year later, I will be attending my number one graduate program of choice.”

GRE Student

“I appreciated having a personalized tutoring experience outside of the industry giants. I knew that I was getting high quality instruction because my tutor had taken the test himself very recently with excellent scores, and had already assisted multiple other students. Cambridge Coaching's tailored approach worked great with my pace of learning and testing schedule.”

“Alex was amazing. He is obviously a brilliant mathematician, but besides that, what truly stuck out to me was his positivity and encouragement. His way of breaking down both specific problems and underlying concepts were always clear, and definitely helped me improve my GRE skills. Cambridge Coaching is such a professional organization and Alex was the best tutor I've worked with.”

PhenixGRE

Testimonials

“Tutoring with Harry was exactly what I was looking for — flexible and targeted. Harry patiently explained concepts in an intuitive way, and sessions were very productive. Harry made the most of the time discussing study strategies, material concepts, and practice problems. Overall, this was a great service, and I am very glad I didn't do one of those online courses that would've cost more and given me less personal attention.”

Shane WoolleyScore went from 320 to 330

“I am so glad I came across Cambridge Coaching for my GRE preparation last spring! Paul is not only an expert in every section of this exam, but he is also an incredible teacher. He preps and tailors each session to the specific needs of the individual. I am proud to say that a year later, I will be attending my number one graduate program of choice.”

GRE Student

“I appreciated having a personalized tutoring experience outside of the industry giants. I knew that I was getting high quality instruction because my tutor had taken the test himself very recently with excellent scores, and had already assisted multiple other students. Cambridge Coaching's tailored approach worked great with my pace of learning and testing schedule.”

“Alex was amazing. He is obviously a brilliant mathematician, but besides that, what truly stuck out to me was his positivity and encouragement. His way of breaking down both specific problems and underlying concepts were always clear, and definitely helped me improve my GRE skills. Cambridge Coaching is such a professional organization and Alex was the best tutor I've worked with.”

PhenixGRE

“Colleen was an excellent tutor and helped me score considerably higher on the GRE in less than 2 months. I enjoyed working with her for her expertise both on the GRE and general graduate school knowledge. It felt like she was able to help me unpack what was important and what needed to be paid attention to in each question.”

MaritessGRE

“Andrew is organized, easy to talk to and has an excellent command of the subject matter. He is patient and is able to break down difficult problems so they are easy to understand. I would recommend him to anyone studying for the GRE.”

StephanieGRE

“Sean was an excellent tutor. He is knowledgeable, flexible, encouraging, and reliable. I used him to tutor for the GRE, and it worked out great!”

JackiGRE

“Weike was very professional, and very well prepared. She made sure I had enough materials to practice and study with, and held me accountable to studying and doing practice sections every week.”

JordanGRE

FAQs

• What is the structure of the GRE?

There are six sections on the GRE: the Writing section, two Verbal sections, two Quantitative sections, and one Experimental section (ungraded).
• How long is the GRE?

The Writing section clocks in at 60 minutes, the Verbal sections are 30 minutes each, the Quantitative sections are 35 minutes each, and the ungraded Experimental section is 30-35 minutes long. Including breaks, the entire test will take you about 4 hours.
• How is the GRE scored?

Your GRE score is listed as three separate scores: one for Quantitative Reasoning, one for Verbal Reasoning, and one for Analytical Writing. The Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning sections are scored on a scale from 130-170. The Analytical Writing section is scored on a scale from 0-6. You’ll receive your scores online up to two weeks after you take the GRE.
• How many times can I take the GRE?

You can take the GRE up to five times in a single year, with at least 21 days in between test dates. There are no limits for lifetime attempts of the GRE. Although different admissions committees will handle multiple GRE scores differently, all of your prior GRE scores will typically be seen by the adcomm. You will not be penalized for multiple retakes, however, and score increases over multiple attempts are typically considered a positive.
• How long should I take to study for the GRE?

It depends! There's no right or wrong answer, and everyone will need to study for a different length of time. There are a few factors that determine how long you should give yourself to study for this test. If you haven't taken a math course since high school, it's best to start preparing early for the quant section of the exam. And, if you're someone who isn't so fond of standardized tests, you might want to give yourself a few extra months to get used to the structure and pacing of the GRE. The best way to determine what's right for you is to take a diagnostic GRE as soon as possible to get a sense of where you're scoring (and compare that to your goal score and application deadlines).
• How do I register for the GRE?

You can register to take the GRE through the official GRE website.

The GRE costs $205 to take. • What are the GRE Subject Tests? The GRE Subject Tests focus on specific academic areas and are designed to test your knowledge in those areas. The Subject Tests currently available are: biochemistry, cell and molecular biology; biology; chemistry; computer science; literature in English; mathematics; physics; and psychology. These tests are administered once in November, December, and April only, and have different fees associated with them. • Are GRE Subject Tests required? While subject tests are not required by most graduate programs, strong subject test results can demonstrate your expertise in a particular area relevant to the programs you are applying for, and help your application to stand out. (Be sure to consult the requirements for the specific programs you're interested in.) Plans We've created a structured yet flexible pricing plan that offers everything you need to succeed on test day. While the frequency and length of sessions are flexible, most students find one or two 90-minute sessions per week to be ideal. Choose a Tutor Tier Hourly Rate 1 Hour All of our tutoring is available on an hourly basis. If you're not sure how much tutoring you'll need or when you plan to test, you can enroll in our "pay as you go" option.$ 120

$160$ 240

$290 First Time Package 4.5 Hours The three session package is a good way to get a student's feet wet, evaluate the amount of tutoring they’ll ultimately need, and see if they feel comfortable with a tutor. Most students use this package to gauge their preliminary strengths and weaknesses so that the tutor can chart a longer term plan.$ 540

$720$ 1080

• Senior

150-200 hours

350+- hours
\$290/hour