How to Build Vocabulary for GRE?

Enhancing Vocabulary for the GRE is essential not just to score high in the GRE verbal section but also to gain confidence in the language and to stand tall among the competing students wishing to apply for their graduate-level studies. In today's article, we shall analyze some of the important GRE vocabulary study tips and the web portals you can use to enhance your GRE vocabulary practice and preparation.

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Overview of the GRE Vocabulary Section

Candidates often wonder the reason vocabulary is an important aspect of excelling in the GRE verbal reasoning section. The answer to that can be given simply as to look smarter, for example, if you were to ask someone a simple question ‘How was your day?’, an average answer would just be ‘It was difficult’, this does not tell the other person anything about your level of mastery on the language, but if you say, ‘ I had an increasingly arduous day.’, it has the same meaning but tells the listener that you have a deep understanding and knowledge of the language. This has become increasingly important as communication is the key to everything in today's world, even your GRE result.

In GRE the test makers are known to prefer a certain type of words, these mostly include words with Latin and Greek roots and prefixes. Due to this don't feel stressed about having to know every word there is. Another thing to keep in mind is that knowing the exact meaning of words is not important, just knowing what the word implies is enough. For example, words like Fatuus and turpis have negative connotations and can be used as such. Equipped with this knowledge let's proceed to see how you can increase your GRE vocabulary practice.

Strategizing Vocabulary Acquisition

Assessing Your Current Vocabulary

The initial stage always starts with analyzing the current level of language and understanding the gaps, the weaknesses, and the strengths, and then the journey begins.

To start with GRE vocabulary practice, we recommend that you use only authenticated material available on GRE-authenticated web portals and not just start reading and listening to random texts and documentaries.

Setting Realistic Goals

After analyzing the level of language, the next important step in GRE vocabulary practice is to prepare a timetable for yourself that you can strictly follow, be mindful while preparing this and keep it realistic, and do not forget that as a human we do need to freshen our minds and stay consistent. In the timetable, you should keep some time for basic freshening activities to keep yourself motivated.

Targeting Word Count

From the authenticated resources you have selected for GRE vocabulary preparation, target a word count daily and a target every week to boost your GRE vocabulary. Follow the given steps when you start GRE vocabulary preparation:

• Prepare a personal dictionary

• The dictionary should be divided into sections of academic context like environment, science, non-fiction, law, and many more.

• The dictionary should have the meaning of the word along with its synonyms

• The added word should be followed by making a sentence on it.

Choosing the Right Resources

Although contextual academic reading is one of the preferred ways of increasing GRE vocabulary, some of the free resources are as follows:

• www.nationalgeographic.com publishes amazing photography that covers a large part of topics related to the natural environment and human societies.

• If you wish to get comfortable with science-related topics, you must prefer reading from www.scientificamerican.com

• If you are interested and wish to gain vocabulary of nonfictional content then you may refer to www.theatlantic.com

• Current issues going on in the world can be referred to www.econimst.com

We often recommend our students to read newspapers so that they are able to gain rich vocabulary that can be used in the essays of GRE, some of the best resources are as follows:

• Most of the articles on www.nytimes.com are free.

• For national and international news on economy and business, one should refer to www.wsj.com

• Another preferred resource is www.washingtonpost.com

Always remember that while you prepare diligently for the GRE, you should always be mindful and have a balance in life, keeping yourself entertained is equally important and this will also help you improve more. Some of the best short stories mentioned in www.americanliterature.com are best to grasp and retain vocabulary.

For historical articles, one may also refer to longform.com and you will find some of the high-level words.

GRE Word Lists

Always remember that you cannot rely on any particular GRE word list, it is either too short or too lengthy, and it is a proven philosophy that until you start using the words in your language, the human mind shall not be able to retain it for a longer time. Hence, we again recommend that you create your own GRE word list dictionary which divides the words into different academic topics along with their meaning and sentences.

Vocabulary Builder Apps

Although there are a plethora of applications that you can install on your device and start your practice, we recommend that you use only the ETS application as the authorized body has a well-developed application system with regular updates.

Reading Challenging Material

In the resource list mentioned above there are many sources for you to grasp vocabulary and start refining yourself. Any authenticated reading wherein you find yourself not interested in the topic may sound difficult at the initial stage, However, just focus on the target of scoring high on the GRE, so develop your interest and come out of the shortcomings if any by reading authenticated material mentioned in the resources above.

Effective Vocabulary Learning Techniques

Contextual Learning

Reading contextual material on various topics like those mentioned above will surely help in enriching language skills, however, to better acquire and absorb the words to use and retain them, let’s now follow certain strategies:

Learning Words in Contextual Sentences

While you try your best to retain words by writing them in your journal and making sentences on them, there are chances that they may skip from your mind, so this time try making a meaningful context of the word so that you can never forget it.

For example: if you find a word that has a unique meaning like noisome, one might think its meaning is something regarding noise but it means ‘bad smelling’, to remember this you can make sentences like ‘My friend's pet is noisome’ this will help in remembering the word as you would associate it with a characteristic of something you know.

Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Mnemonics are retention games and techniques designed to help learners retain and be able to recollect words at the right time. By linking new information to familiar concepts or images, mnemonics create memorable associations that make learning vocabulary more engaging and efficient.

Creating Acronyms

Create memorable phrases or acronyms using the initial letters of the words you want to learn. For example, to remember the words "gregarious," "raconteur," "ebullient," "venerable," and "effervescent," you could form the acronym "GREVE," associating each letter with a word and its definition.

Visualization Techniques

Visualize vivid and absurd mental images that connect the word's meaning with its sound or spelling. For instance, to remember the word "ephemeral" (meaning fleeting or short-lived), imagine a delicate butterfly fluttering for a brief moment before vanishing into thin air.

Spaced Repetition

Reviewing and revisiting the information helps in better retention and is a proven concept by some famous psychologists. In spaced repetition, Initially, newly learned material is reviewed frequently to solidify the memory trace. As proficiency increases, the intervals between review sessions gradually extend, with less frequent but strategically timed repetitions.

Flashcards

Another useful tool would be to use flashcards, which can either be purchased or self-made, these will help you in remembering the important words when in a pinch. Having a set of flashcards will also help you in properly using the people around you. If you have proper cards, you can have people from your family, or your friends quiz you regarding the meaning of the words.

To make proper flashcards, remember to have every meaning of the word on the same card.

For example, the word dessert can be a sweet dish or an aired wasteland. Having them on the same card will help in properly remembering the meaning that word can mean.

For example, if someone says ‘I would like to have some dessert’ you can infer that they want something sweet to eat, but this deduction can only be made if one is aware of the different meanings. This will help you in avoiding confusing situations.

SRS App

One of the best for this case is GRE Vocabulary Builder from Galvanize Test Prep, this app offers a comprehensive collection of GRE vocabulary words organized into thematic categories. It features flashcards with definitions, example sentences, and audio pronunciations.

H1: Active Engagement

Along with these, other methods are useful like engaging in online forums. There are many people online who are preparing for the same and going through the same problems as you. In your preparation, you can interact with them and learn the words they have while teaching them what you know.

There are many places where you can find like-minded people like Telegram groups and Facebook. Interacting with them can also aid you in refining your skills while finding flaws to avoid in your test.

Word Games and Quizzes

In case you are to find all these methods useless or boring there are other more fun methods out there to improve like playing word games like Wordle: This is a browser-based word game that has taken the world by storm. Players have six tries to guess a five-letter word. After each guess, the letters change color to indicate how close you are to the correct word.

Crosswords: A classic word puzzle that challenges you to fill in a grid with words that fit the clues given. Crosswords can be a great way to test your vocabulary and knowledge of current events.

GRE Test-Day Tips

Last-Minute Review

The most important thing you have to make sure to do is to review all your study material at least once before the exam. This will ensure that you don't have last-minute memory lapses. You should find a quick revision technique that can suit your study style. It doesn't matter what the method is, the only thing that matters is that it will work for you.

Quick Revision Techniques

Focus on high-yield topics, review flashcards and notes, practice with official materials, identify mistakes, refresh test-taking strategies, manage test anxiety, and prioritize rest and nutrition, you can make the most of your final preparation efforts. Approach your last-minute revision with confidence, diligence, and a strategic mindset, and trust in your ability to succeed on the GRE.