GRE Preparation Guide for Indian Students

The GRE General Test is required by most US universities for MS admissions. Indian students typically score high in Quantitative (165+) but often struggle with Verbal and Analytical Writing. This guide covers everything you need to score 320+.

Get MS Admission Guidance — 0% Commission

GRE Score Targets by University Tier

University TierTotal GREQuantVerbalAWA
Top 10 (MIT, Stanford, CMU)325–340167–170158–1654.0+
Top 11–25 (Purdue, TAMU, UMass)318–328163–167155–1623.5+
Top 26–50 (ASU, UTD, SUNY)308–320158–165150–1583.0+
Safety Schools295–310152–160143–1522.5+

Best Resources for GRE Preparation

Official ETS Materials

Official GRE Guide (Big Book), PowerPrep tests — the most accurate representation of actual exam difficulty

Manhattan Prep 5 lb Book

1,800+ practice questions across all sections — essential for thorough Quant and Verbal practice

Magoosh GRE

Excellent video explanations and adaptive practice; especially helpful for vocabulary building for Indian students

Gregmat (Free/Paid)

Very popular among Indian students; Verbal strategies are extremely effective for non-native English speakers

3-Month GRE Study Plan for Indians

Month 1: Diagnostic test → identify weak areas. Focus: Quant fundamentals (Algebra, Geometry, Stats) + 10 new vocabulary words daily. Target: complete Official Guide once.

Month 2: Timed section practice. Focus: Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence strategies + Quant advanced problem types. Take 2 full-length practice tests.

Month 3: Mock tests every weekend. Review mistakes daily. AWA essay practice (2–3 essays/week). Target: Maintain Quant 167+ and push Verbal toward 155+.

Plan Your MS Application After GRE

0% Commission Charged. 100% Unbiased Guidance.

Talk to an Expert