GRE 325+ Success Experience

From 316 to 326 — study notes for the second attempt

2026-07-30

Overview

My two GRE attempts at a glance:

  • First attempt: March 27, 2025 · Total 316 (Verbal 144 · Quant 162)
  • Second attempt: July 3, 2025 · Total 326 (Verbal 156 · Quant 170)

Verbal improved by 12 points, Quant by 8.

Lessons from the First Attempt

My first attempt was rough: I memorized the 6000-word full list before switching to the 3000 core list — inefficient. I barely did any practice questions and no mock tests at all. Verbal ended at 144.

What Changed for the Second Attempt

  1. Vocabulary: Went straight for the 3000 core word list + high-frequency words, skipping the 6000-word full list.
  2. Practice: I did almost no practice before the first attempt; in the month before the second, I practiced intensively on the A+GRE practice site. On exam day I met a Verbal fill-in-the-blank question from the practice pool and directly picked all 4 correct options.
  3. Mock tests: I took Verbal and Quant mock tests before the second attempt. The mock scores weren't high (Verbal 142/150), but I stayed calm on exam day and finished with Verbal 156.

One-Line Summary

Vocabulary is the only thing that truly needs long-term accumulation; everything else can be crammed in the week before the exam.

Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Memorizing 20 words a day is far too slow — you'll fall behind schedule.
  • Don't underestimate Quant; there are many traps, and carefulness matters most.
  • Get enough sleep the night before; if you take the 9 AM slot, adjust your routine well in advance.