GRE Vocabulary Study Guide
The most common questions about GRE vocabulary — how many words, which lists, flashcard strategy, apps, and study timelines — answered by TestCrackers' 99th-percentile instructors.
What is a GRE vocab study plan?
A solid plan looks like this: learn 10 to 20 new words per day using flashcards, review your growing pile before adding new ones, and do GRE practice questions (TC and SE) 2 to 3 times per week to see vocabulary in action. Over 4 to 8 weeks, you'll build a strong working vocabulary.
Do the vocab math: figure out how many words you need to learn, then divide by the number of days until your test. People targeting top verbal scores often need to learn 1,000 or more new words. If you have 60 days, that's about 17 words per day. Adjust the daily count based on how quickly you retain words — some people can handle 20, others do better with 10 and more review.
What is the best way to learn GRE vocabulary?
Use physical flashcards with spaced repetition. Set a daily goal, learn words in batches, and review previous batches before adding new ones. The key is consistent daily exposure over weeks, not cramming hundreds of words the night before. Context helps too: when you learn a word, use it in a sentence so it sticks.
How do I study GRE vocab effectively?
Use physical flashcards with spaced repetition. Set a daily goal, learn words in batches, and review previous batches before adding new ones. The key is consistent daily exposure over weeks, not cramming hundreds of words the night before. Context helps too: when you learn a word, use it in a sentence so it sticks.
How do I remember GRE words?
Create personal associations for each word. If "laconic" means "using few words," picture the quietest person you know. Mnemonics, word roots, and vivid mental images all help. The real trick is spaced repetition: review words at increasing intervals so they move from short-term to long-term memory.
How many words do I need to learn for the GRE?
Most students benefit from learning 500 to 1,000 high-frequency GRE words. You don't need to memorize every obscure English word. Focus on curated high-frequency lists and learn them deeply rather than skimming thousands of words superficially.
How long does it take to memorize GRE vocab?
Most students need 4 to 8 weeks of daily study to build a strong GRE vocabulary, depending on your starting point. If you already read widely and have a solid vocabulary, it could be faster. If English is a second language or you haven't been a regular reader, budget more time. Consistency matters more than marathon sessions.
What is the best GRE vocabulary list?
Start with established high-frequency GRE word lists that focus on the 500 to 1,000 words most likely to appear. ETS publishes practice materials that give you a sense of tested vocabulary level. The best list is one you actually study consistently, not the longest one you can find.
What are the GRE high-frequency words?
High-frequency GRE words are the vocabulary that appears most often across official ETS practice tests and real exams. These tend to be college-level words with nuanced meanings, like 'equivocal,' 'pragmatic,' or 'perfunctory.' Focus your study on curated lists of these recurring words rather than random vocabulary.
What are the best GRE flashcards?
The best GRE flashcards are the ones you make yourself, because the process of making them is as valuable as what you get out of studying them. Making them yourself also lets you focus on the components you find most useful — the definitions, context, or memory hooks that work for how you learn.
If you do want to buy pre-made flashcards, the Manhattan flashcards are our favorites currently.
How do I make GRE flashcards?
Put the word on one side and the definition plus a sample sentence on the other. Include a personal mnemonic or association if you have one. Don't just copy dictionary definitions. Write meanings in your own words so they actually stick. Group cards by difficulty and rotate harder words into your review pile more frequently.
Can I get printable GRE vocab flashcards?
You can find printable GRE vocabulary flashcard PDFs online from various sources. But honestly, making your own flashcards is more effective because the act of writing definitions and examples helps you learn the words. If you're short on time, printable cards are fine as a starting point.
Should I use physical flashcards or an app?
Most people who try both end up happier with — and seeing better results from — physical flashcards, even if they'd describe themselves as the kind of person who would prefer something digital or app-based.
That said, any studying you do is better than any studying you don't. Studying daily through an app or digital format is much better than not studying at all because you don't have flashcards or aren't using them.
The best option is to try a little of both and see what works for you. If you don't want to invest in buying physical flashcards, start by making a few and see how that goes.
We're working on what we believe will be the best vocab study engine. Leave your contact information in the form below if you'd like to be notified when it's available or try out a test version.
Should I use flashcards for the GRE? Are they worth it?
Yes, flashcards are one of the most effective tools for GRE vocab. The best results come from setting a daily goal and using physical flashcards to work through curated high-frequency word lists. The act of writing them out, quizzing yourself, and using spaced repetition is hard to beat.
What is the best GRE vocabulary app?
Any flashcard app that uses spaced repetition (showing you words you struggle with more often) will work. That said, physical flashcards have a real advantage because writing words out by hand improves retention. The best app is whichever one you'll actually use every day.
What is spaced repetition for GRE vocab?
Spaced repetition is a study method where you review words at increasing intervals. You see new or difficult words frequently, and words you already know less often. This is far more efficient than reviewing every word every day. It's the difference between cramming (which fades fast) and building lasting memory.
Should I learn vocab through roots/word parts?
Word roots are a useful supplement, not a replacement for learning individual words. Knowing that 'bene' means 'good' helps you decode unfamiliar words like 'benevolent' or 'beneficent' on test day. But roots alone won't get you there. Combine root knowledge with flashcard study of high-frequency words for the best results.
How do I study GRE vocab in context?
Practice with real GRE Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions so you see how vocabulary is actually tested. When you learn a new word, read example sentences and try writing your own. The GRE rarely tests you on raw definitions. It tests whether you understand how a word functions in a sentence.
Could memorizing GregMat Vocab Groups 1-28 be enough for V165+?
The degree to which studying any vocabulary helps your verbal score is entirely determined by the degree to which not knowing vocab words is currently holding back your verbal score. For students where that's a significant issue, vocab study can make a really big difference — so long as you can translate it into greater success on vocab questions by not only recognizing more words but understanding the context well enough to make the right choices.
One challenge is that vocab study is never perfectly targeted at exactly what will show up on your exam. You can learn a lot of words without necessarily learning the ones that make a difference for you. All vocab study is statistical — the more words you learn, the better your chances, particularly if the words you're studying are well targeted at the kind of words actually showing up on your tests.
The Gregmat vocab groups significantly overlap with other lists that we and other companies use. They're a decent strategy for some students. One issue is that they tend to skew toward easier vocab that helps with easy and moderate vocab-based questions on the GRE but don't necessarily include enough of the more advanced vocab you may need to reach a 165 verbal, particularly in the harder second section where there can be very challenging vocabulary. Other lists such as the Manhattan Advanced List or our own vocab list can do more to help you get there.
Reach out if you'd like our vocab list, or if you'd like to be notified when we launch our new free vocab tool that helps you prioritize the words most useful for you to study.
Ready to raise your score with 99th-percentile instructors? TestCrackers runs the highest-rated small-group GRE courses and 1-on-1 tutoring.
Explore GRE courses →