I recently wrote a series that described the whole application process for graduate school. If you didn’t catch the series, you can read the introduction to the series here. In that series, I wrote a little about the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and how you need to earn the best score possible on this test to get into your desired grad program. Whether you are an undergraduate trying to get mentally and academically prepared for the GRE, or you are coming back from the workforce to further your education, I know that you might feel a bit anxious about this test. I wanted to help calm your nerves by providing a few practical ways you can prepare for the GRE:

Register to Take Your Test

I suggest registering for the test at least 6 months out. This way, you’ll be able to create a study schedule, buy your preparation materials, study all the materials you’ll later find on the test, and give yourself plenty of break times in between studying.

Purchase Your Studying Materials

It may seem like a burden, but yes, you’ll need to invest some money into the GRE. You might be able to get away with borrowing books from friends and renting books from the library, but just be careful about specials that you might receive if you buy your own book. Some books come with codes that allow you to take multiple practice tests. These practice tests are more valuable than you think. So while you’ll be fine without buying your own books, just be aware of the benefits that come with buying your own.

Visit these sites to see which materials will suit you best for studying for the GRE:

• The Best GRE Books of 2013
• The Best GRE Prep Books for 2016

Study Your Materials

Not only will you need to invest money into the GRE, but you’ll also need to invest a lot of your time. As I mentioned before, be careful about when you register to take your test because it could be too close, and you won’t have enough time to properly prepare for the test. When you study, make sure you study your worst subjects the most. Most people enjoy studying materials and concepts that they understand because it’s easier for them, but get that brain stretched while you’re studying so you can be prepared for the test.

You also don’t want to get too used to studying only one specific way. For instance, if you study in the library at a specific desk with a specific soundtrack on your iPod at a specific time every Sunday afternoon, you might feel weird and be distracted with the newness of your environment during the GRE. Try different things and different combinations of study times. For instance, study with a partner or with a group throughout the week and then by yourself on the weekend; study in your apartment, in the library, and in the bookstore. This idea only applies for studying for the test. I’ll let you know in a couple of paragraphs how to take practice tests for the GRE.

Throughout all these study times, you’ll need to take a few breaks. It’s just like when people train for marathons; they shouldn’t train every day, so we shouldn’t give our brains hardcore workouts every day. My top suggestion happens to agree with Laurie Dove from How Stuff Works. She describes, as her fifth study tip for the GRE, that getting plenty of sleep is extremely important while preparing for the GRE.

Take Your Practice Tests

Many people don’t take the practice tests, and on top of that, people who do take the practice tests don’t tend to take them as seriously as they should. They’re called practice tests for a reason: They’re going to be the best thing to prepare for the GRE because they look just like the GRE. Jennifer Dziura, from Manhattan Prep, agrees with me in her article called GRE Tips: Top 5 Study Tips for the GRE.

A way to make sure that you take the GRE practice tests seriously is by creating the environment that you expect to experience while taking your GRE. For instance, turn off all of your electronic devices, make sure you won’t be disturbed by friends or family in the surrounding space where you’re taking the test, and de-clutter the area in which you’re taking your practice test. Create a quiet and focused atmosphere for your practice tests. Earlier, I had mentioned that you shouldn’t study in the same place and time every week. This is true for studying, but when you take the practice tests, you’ll want to give yourself the best environment that most closely represents the room in which you’ll take the real GRE.

Good luck, everyone, and please let me know if you have any questions or comments by writing in the comment section below.