GRE Prep for target score of 323-325

GRE General
1

Hello,

I’m starting my prep with the “overwhelmed” plan and my goal is a 323-325 score (targeting Q: 163-165 and V: 160-162).

To be as efficient as possible, I want to prioritize the most important topics in both sections rather than trying to master everything. I’m looking for a “priority list” to help focus my study on what is most essential for my target score range.I know there’s no single magic formula, but I’m hoping to get your expert guidance on where to focus my energy to reach my specific score range.

For Quant (Targeting Q: 163-165):

Could you please advise on the high-yield topics within each area?

  • Arithmetic: Are number properties, percentages, and ratios the most critical?

  • Algebra: Should I focus mainly on linear equations, inequalities, and functions?

  • Geometry: Is it mostly about triangles, circles, and basic coordinate geometry?

  • Data Analysis: For a ~164 score, how much depth is needed for topics like standard deviation vs. combinatorics?

For Verbal (Targeting V: 160-162):

Similarly, I want to focus on the most impactful areas to reach my goal.

  • Question Type Balance: Roughly how many questions should I expect from Reading Comprehension vs. Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence combined? I want to allocate my study time accordingly.

  • Reading Comprehension: For a 160-162 score, is it more important to be accurate on “main idea” and “specific detail” questions than on “inference” questions? Should I prioritize short passages over the long passage?

  • Text Completion & Sentence Equivalence: Is it better to master the logic of 1 and 2-blank TC questions, or is it necessary to be proficient in 3-blankers for this score range? How much of this section is pure vocabulary vs. strategy?

Any guidance you can provide on where to focus my energy would be incredibly helpful. Thanks.

2

I would encourage you to shift the way you’re approaching studying. It sounds like you’re trying to min-max by focusing on individual topics but the only way to score well on the GRE is to make sure your foundations are airtight across the board. These are the building blocks that allow you to mix and match skills to solve a particular question. You never know which foundational skills might be required, so you have to have them all ready to go.

Quant:
All four content areas build on each other and overlap constantly. Gaps in arithmetic and algebra especially will lead to issues with geometry and data analysis. For mid 160’s you need fluency in every core area. The only topic you might be able to get away with de-emphasize is combinatorics/probability (maybe one or two questions total, so make sure the rest of your foundation is excellent).

Verbal:
The skills are integrated too. RC, TC, and SE all hinge on understanding structure, tone and logic. This means passage length or number of blanks are irrelevant—if you have the skills to solve one iteration, you can solve them all. Frankly, the only time to think about prioritizing questions by length is for timing purposes. TC and SE require you to have both a strong vocabulary and sentence deconstruction strategy. Accuracy on main idea and sentence-function questions is fundamental to correctly answering inference questions as well.

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