I’ve taken the GRE 4 times. Yes, you read that right. Four. Times. I took it twice in 2020, and twice in 2024, and so I think I might be just a liiiiiittle bit qualified to give you advice based on my multiple experiences. (LOL)
The New GRE Format
I’ve taken the old GRE and the new GRE, and I will say I love the new GRE exam MUCH more. — I mean I still hated taking the test, but I’d rather take the new one than the old one. Unlike the old GRE, you now only have to write one essay, and the verbal and quantitative sections have been shortened. The test should now only take you about 2 hours as opposed to the previous 3 hours and 45 minutes.
Tip #1:
First thing’s first: Rip the bandaid off, and do SOMETHING GRE related. Whether it’s research which book to buy, buying the book, etc. Just get yourself in the mindset of “I’m taking the GRE.” It’s easy to procrastinate because of the anxiety of taking the test, so break your GRE journey into bite-sized pieces so that you can slowly get more comfortable with it. Start small, work your way up.
Resources
There are a plethora of resources to use, whether it be YouTube videos, study books, GRE classes, or websites. I recommend using resources that offer you a lot of practice questions and test-taking strategies. I personally used the Kaplan GRE book, and it was okay. I give it a 6/10 as far as how prepared I felt for the exam. The Kaplan website, however, was MUCH better for me. There are a bunch of practice tests and practice questions that will help you get reps in before the exam. I’ve also heard great things about Magoosh (they have a Youtube, a book, and a website), though I haven’t had any personal experience with their resources.
This might change, but to get access to the online Kaplan GRE resources, go to Kaplan’s online prep site (linked at the bottom of this blogpost) and enter the ISBN of the Kaplan GRE book, and create your Kaplan account. I was able to take a (very humbling) diagnostic test that showed me what I need to work on and a quiz that gave me a recommended study schedule. Very helpful.
ETS, the people who make the GRE, has a pdf that offers tips, problem explanations, and sample questions that was also very helpful. I’ve also linked that at the bottom of this blog post.
Tip #2:
I already mentioned this above, but focus on getting as much practice as possible, with actual GRE practice questions. This will help you with pattern recognition come test day. You might see similar test questions that trigger you to use certain strategies when solving that kind of problem, which brings me to the next tip:
Tip #3:
Watch GRE strategy videos. This is something I wish I’d done more of. I tried focusing more on learning the fundamentals (which is still good), but I didn’t take time to learn good strategies for solving certain problems quicker— and this is primarily relevant for the quantitative questions.
What Scores Do You Need for Physical Therapy School?
It honestly depends. Some schools have minimum score requirements, and some don’t. (Some schools don’t require the GRE at all). I would say a good ballpark score to aim for is a 150 verbal, a 150 quantitative, and a 4 for your writing score. If you don’t get these scores, but your scores are still good enough to apply, then APPLY! I got accepted into PT school with a 147 verbal, a 156 quantitative, and a 4.5 writing score. I was also offered two waiting list positions with those scores.
Just remember, your GRE score is just one small part of a big application. Don’t count yourself out because of what you read in a Reddit thread or some other online forum. (Trust me, I fell into that trap and it’s not worth it.) Do your best with what’s in front of you, and remember: your “best” differs from day to day. You might have study days that are better than others, but just keep showing up, and don’t be afraid to try again if you don’t reach your goals the first or second or even third time.
I think I’ve yapped enough, but if there’s something I didn’t mention that you have a question about, please leave a comment on this post and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can!
Wishing you all the best of luck,
Jaz
WEBSITES MENTIONED:
Kaplan’s website: kaptest.com/moreonline
ETS pdf: https://www.ets.org/pdfs/gre/gre-sample-questions.pdf
Magoosh: https://www.youtube.com/@MagooshGRE
