How do I improve my reading comprehension for the GRE in one month?
Asked by Manav K about 2 months ago
Improving your reading comprehension in 1 month is possible but you need to follow a daily plan. GRE reading passages are usually 400–500 words long and cover topics like science, history, or economics. Start your prep by reading 2–3 GRE-style passages every day. Use the official ETS GRE guide for this,it has real GRE questions.
You should also focus on learning how GRE asks questions. Most RC questions test your main idea, tone, or inference skills. Don’t try to remember every word. Instead, practice finding the main idea of each paragraph quickly. Apps like Magoosh or GregMat give great tips for this and even have daily reading drills.
Vocabulary also matters. If you don’t understand the words, you’ll struggle to follow the passage. Learn 10 new words daily using the Magoosh GRE vocab app or Quizlet flashcards. But always read them in full sentences so you remember how they’re used.
Lastly, build a habit of reading short opinion pieces from The Economist, Scientific American, or NY Times. Spend 30 minutes every day reading and summarizing what you understood in 2–3 lines. This helps you stay focused and improves your speed and accuracy for GRE day.
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Improving your GRE reading comprehension in one month needs a clear, daily plan. ETS, the official GRE provider, recommends regular practice using their PowerPrep Online and official Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions Volume 1 and 2. These include real exam passages and question types.
You should begin by reading 2–3 GRE-level passages daily, preferably from ETS materials. Focus on understanding the main idea, the tone of the author, and how each paragraph connects. Don’t just answer the questions review why each correct option is right and why others are wrong.
Spend 30–45 minutes each day on RC. Mix it with reading editorials from The New York Times, The Atlantic, or Scientific American. These sources use GRE-level vocabulary and ideas. After reading, write a one-line summary of the main idea in your own words. This builds retention and comprehension.
In the final week, take 2–3 full-length verbal sections under timed conditions. Review your mistakes and focus only on your weak question types. With consistency, this focused approach can help you build confidence and accuracy in GRE reading.
Scoring well in GRE reading comprehension within one month is possible when you follow a simple and steady approach. You’ll first need to build comfort with the types of passages GRE usually asks like science, social science, and argument-based texts. The best place to start is ETS’s official materials, like the Official GRE Super Power Pack, since they follow the real exam pattern.
Your daily plan can include reading 2–3 GRE passages and spending extra time understanding each answer choice. Focus on the main idea of the passage, how the author supports it, and the tone. That’s how most reading comp questions are framed. Reading sources like The Economist or Scientific American can also help sharpen your comprehension in real-world context.
As you move into week three, add timed practice sessions. Take a full verbal section from ETS’s PowerPrep test and review every mistake. Understand whether your error was in
One month is enough time to improve your GRE reading comprehension if you follow a focused plan. The best place to start is with ETS’s Official GRE Prep materials, since these use real exam passages and question types. You should practice 2–3 RC passages daily from this source and track your accuracy and timing.
You’ll notice that most questions are based on the main idea, author’s tone, or logical inferences. So your focus should be on understanding the passage structure, not memorizing details. A good method is to pause after each paragraph and quickly summarise what it says in your own words. This helps you follow the argument without getting lost in complex sentences.
Strong vocabulary helps, but only when used in context. Apps like Magoosh Vocabulary Builder or the Barron’s 1100 Words list are useful, but reading them in full sentences is more effective than just learning word meanings. Try reading short articles daily from sources like Scientific American or Smithsonian Magazine to boost both your reading and vocabulary at once.
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