How to score 340/340 in GRE

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) remains one of the most significant hurdles for students pursuing postgraduate studies abroad. With its analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative sections, the test measures not just knowledge but the ability to think critically under pressure. For many international students, particularly those from Bangladesh, a strong GRE score can determine their entire academic trajectory abroad. Each year, thousands of Bangladeshi students sit for the GRE, hoping to secure admission to graduate programmes in the United States, Canada, and Europe. And for many of these candidates, a strong GRE score can separate a modest scholarship from a fully funded opportunity worth upwards of US$ 50,000 annually. Top-tier universities often reserve their most generous financial packages for applicants who score in the 90th percentile or above, making the difference between studying abroad and staying home.

Recently, a perfect 340/340 on the GRE was achieved by me - an outcome that brought immense gratitude and satisfaction. As a final-year student at Bates College studying on a full scholarship, I understand the weight that standardised tests carry in shaping academic futures. When people began asking how I prepared, it became clear that offering another vague "work hard and believe in yourself" story would add little value. Instead, my goal was to share the specific, replicable system was used in my prep, one built on affordable resources, deliberate practice, and strategic execution.

Whilst my academic background provided a good foundation, in addition to a good ranking in the IBA entrance exam at Dhaka University and scoring in the 99th percentile on both SAT sections, it can be said with certainty that prior achievements mean little without a focused plan. What follows is the exact approach of eight weeks, and how you can adapt it to your own preparation.

Two simple principles: My entire preparation rested on two ideas. First, practise with official materials. No third-party resource can truly match how ETS phrases questions, sets traps, or designs data interpretation problems. That's why I built everything around ETS POWERPREP tests and Official Guides. ETS offers two free POWERPREP Online tests plus three paid POWERPREP PLUS tests with detailed explanations.

Second, use targeted practice to fix weak spots. After identifying my problem areas through official tests, I turned to affordable resources: GregMat for US$ 7.99 monthly, the r/GRE subreddit for community insights, The Tested Tutor on YouTube for verbal strategies, and KMF for high-volume practice. GregMat's structured plans and video explanations gave me incredible value, whilst The Tested Tutor helped me spot patterns in reading comprehension traps.

What I actually used: Study resources were intentionally kept simple to maintain clarity and consistency throughout the preparation. The POWERPREP tests gave me realistic baselines. The Official Guide to the GRE, 4th Edition covered the shorter format, and the Official GRE Value Combo bundled the quantitative and verbal reasoning books affordably. GregMat became my main platform, supplemented by r/GRE discussions, The Tested Tutor videos, and the KMF app for extra question volume. A Bangladeshi website providing solutions to KMF's 1,147 quant problems proved especially helpful.

Weeks one and two—getting started: Preparation began with an untimed POWERPREP 1 test, undertaken to become familiar with the interface and the logic behind the questions. Working slowly let me analyse every mistake and create an error log, categorising problems as conceptual gaps, careless errors, or timing issues. GregMat's 'I'm Overwhelmed' plan was then adopted, focusing on arithmetic, integers, and divisibility in the initial phase.

Four years earlier, I'd already studied Nova's GRE Math Bible and memorised 1,531 words for the IBA exam, so I could focus on applying shortcuts and contextual vocabulary. Each day I spent three to four hours on quant by watching videos, doing PrepSwift quizzes, and solving 40 to 50 official problems and three hours on verbal, pairing strategy work with vocabulary groups one through four. By week two's end, I'd covered exponents, roots, and remainders whilst learning about 100 new words.

Weeks three and four—building momentum: Progress continued through modules three to five, which involved tackling algebra, coordinate geometry, and functions with increasing confidence. Quant practice increased to four or five hours daily, working through 60 timed questions plus all PrepSwift exercises. Key tactics for number substitution, managing quantitative comparison traps, and interpreting charts efficiently were absorbed through GregMat's guidance.

For verbal, I alternated between GregMat and The Tested Tutor to sharpen reading comprehension logic, adding 20 words daily from groups five through ten whilst reviewing earlier sets. The KMF app gave me fast text completion and sentence equivalence drills. Each weekend I took two full timed mocks, one from GregMat and one official POWERPREP test, then reviewed every mistake thoroughly. My scores consistently hit 328 to 330.

Weeks five and six—pushing higher: I completed modules six through eight on advanced geometry, data analysis, and sequences, doing 60 to 70 timed quant questions daily. For verbal, I practised four reading comprehension passages and 25 to 30 text completion or sentence equivalence items each day whilst reviewing 80 to 100 vocabulary words across groups one through fourteen.

At week six's end, a score of 335 with 170 quantitative and 165 verbal was obtained on the POWERPREP PLUS 2 test, marking a significant milestone in the journey. I then spent hours dissecting every error to identify the thinking patterns that caused my mistakes.

Week seven—fine-tuning: After scoring 337 on POWERPREP PLUS 3, I targeted specific weak spots such as geometry, weighted averages, and reading comprehension tone questions using GregMat's focused videos and official problem sets. I completed modules nine and ten, reviewed all vocabulary groups, and stabilised a 2,000-word GRE lexicon drawn from GregMat and WordSmart.

Week eight—final preparation: The test-day routine was carefully rehearsed, with sufficient rest and proper sleep ensured prior to the examination. The last week was pure simulation and mental preparation. I did 30 to 40 difficult quant problems and three to four tough reading passages daily, with brief vocabulary reviews and light drills. On day four, I took the remaining GregMat practice tests and consistently scored above 335.

The exam concluded with a sense of calm and assurance, built upon weeks of structured practice and reflection. The result was 170 quant plus 170 verbal, totalling 340.

The real takeaway: Scoring 340 wasn't about natural talent. It was about structure, consistency, and strategy. By relying on official ETS materials, following GregMat's plan with discipline, completing the KMF materials, and tracking every mistake through my error log, I built habits that made improvement inevitable. Every resource that was used was affordable, and every step was deliberate. For the thousands of Bangladeshi students preparing for the GRE each year, many of whom are balancing jobs, family obligations, and limited budgets, this score demonstrates what's possible without expensive courses or overseas coaching. A score in the 320s opens doors to decent programmes with partial funding. A score in the 330s puts full scholarships within reach at strong universities. A perfect score, whilst rare, simply requires the same disciplined approach pushed further. The financial implications are substantial: the difference between a 310 and a 330 can mean the difference between taking on US$ 100,000 in debt or studying entirely free.

For students in Bangladesh or anywhere else, this score is absolutely achievable without expensive courses. With the right approach, prioritising accuracy over speed and reflection over repetition, you can build a system that works for you, stay consistent, and reach your own version of perfect.

The writer is an aspiring economist, US university admission consultant and founder of EdBridge Scholars.

Tthamid@bates.edu