5 Mistakes to Avoid to Improve Your GRE Score
There are some common mistakes to avoid when preparing for the GRE, and avoiding them can make the difference between a mediocre GRE score and a competitive score for graduate programs in Europe. The GRE isn’t just a college entrance exam—it’s one of the most powerful keys to gaining admission to graduate programs, securing international scholarships, and unlocking future career opportunities at schools such as IESE, HEC, LBS, IE Business School, and Bocconi.
Many smart students make mistakes in their preparation that, due to a lack of guidance, cost them valuable points on their GRE score. Fortunately, these mistakes can be avoided. If you’re just getting started or have already taken some steps but lack structure, here are the five most common mistakes and how to a GRE prep course with a personalized assessment can help you avoid them.
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What Are the 5 Mistakes You Should Avoid to Improve Your GRE Score?
The most common mistakes that hurt your GRE score stem from a lack of strategy, self-awareness, planning, and practice under real test conditions. All five are equally preventable once you know how to identify them. Below, we’ll break down each one, explain why it affects your score, and show you how to fix it.
1. Studying Without a Strategy
Many hours of haphazard studying won’t guarantee good results if they aren’t focused on the areas where you can make the biggest impact. One of the most common mistakes is believing that the number of hours is what matters. Many students start by working on random exercises, focusing on topics that “sound familiar” to them and setting aside those they don’t fully understand, which leads to frustration without them knowing why they aren’t making progress.
The GRE rewards methodical planning, strategy, perseverance, and the ability to focus on what really matters. At EPIC Prep, the first step is always a personalized assessment to identify your strengths and weaknesses. From there, we design a specific plan with clear goals and structured sessions to make the most of every minute of study—a different approach that is explained in more detail in how to to balance verbal and quantitative reasoning on the GRE, where each section requires a different strategy.
2. Not Knowing Your Weaknesses
The GRE quickly identifies your weak areas, and if you don’t pinpoint them beforehand, they’ll surface during the test and affect your score. It’s tempting to spend more time on topics you already master, because solving easy problems gives you an immediate sense of accomplishment—but that false sense of security can become a trap.
EPIC Prep provides access to advanced analysis tools that identify your weak areas and show you how to improve them through realistic practice tests, exclusive materials, and personalized tutoring. Understanding your strengths is just as important: knowing where you can save time and how to pace yourself during the exam is part of the training—the same kind of self-awareness that helps you decide what GRE score you need based on the college you’re applying to.
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3. Leaving Everything for the Last Minute
The GRE requires time to develop specific skills —quantitative reasoning, advanced verbal comprehension, argumentative writing, and mental stamina—that don’t come overnight. The classic “I’ll do it when I have time” approach often leads to last-minute cramming and last-minute anxiety.
Preparation times vary depending on each student’s starting point. A student starting from scratch typically needs between 10 and 15 weeks of comprehensive preparation. If the timeline is tighter, it is possible to prepare for the GRE intensively in 5 to 7 weeks. A student who is already at an advanced level may need only 3 to 5 weeks of focused preparation. At EPIC Prep, each student works with a structured schedule that sets weekly goals and allows for progress tracking, so that the time available—whether it’s a lot or a little—is used as efficiently as possible.
4. Relying on a Single Study Resource
Relying on a single resource—a book, a free app, or just practicing on your own—leaves gaps that are rarely detected in time, because no single resource can cover the official exam content, expert feedback, and guided practice all at once. It’s as common a mistake as studying without a strategy, and it has the same effect: points lost due to a lack of a comprehensive approach.
The best-prepared students combine several sources rather than relying on just one: the official ETS practice tests such as POWERPREP, practice exercises with expert feedback, and structured classes—whether in small groups or one-on-one, depending on each student’s needs. EPIC Prep integrates all three: more than 2,000 GRE practice exercises, timed mock tests, and detailed answer review sessions, along with small-group classes or one-on-one tutoring led by its team of specialized tutors.
5. Not Practicing Under Actual Exam Conditions
Solving problems at home without pressure is very different from taking a timed, adaptive test, and that difference affects your performance more than you might think. Practicing under timed conditions—by completing sections or entire exams within the actual time limit, not just individual exercises with no time limit—is the only way to know if you can truly perform within the allotted time on test day.
The GRE has an adaptive design for each section: if you do well on the first Quantitative Reasoning section, the second section of that same category will be more difficult. The entire exam currently lasts about 1 hour and 58 minutes, divided into five sections—and your practice tests should replicate that same duration, format, and, as much as possible, the same time of day as the actual exam.
The official POWERPREP practice tests are a good starting point, but ETS only offers a limited number of full-length exams. EPIC Prep supplements those official practice tests with its own practice tests and timed practice exams, so you can test yourself under pressure as many times as you need before the actual exam.
How Does EPIC Prep Help You Achieve Your GRE Goal?
EPIC Prep helps you achieve your GRE goals with personalized support from the very first contact: a dedicated tutor throughout the entire process, a study plan tailored to your goals and pace, and exclusive materials designed specifically for the exam—rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.
Each student receives weekly progress checks and course content tailored to their progress. This is especially important for those applying to competitive programs: to be a competitive candidate at IESE Business School, for example, a total GRE score of 317 or higher is generally recommended, with 156+ on the Verbal section and 160+ on the Quantitative section; at IE Business School, the typical target is a balanced score of 160 or higher on both sections. If you’re applying to other universities, you can check the complete list of GRE score requirements by university to see where you stand.
What GRE Score Do Universities in Europe Require?
Competitive GRE scores at top universities across Spain, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland generally range from a total of about 290 to 330, depending on the program and institution. Below is what current benchmarks look like at a few well-known schools in each market.
GRE Scores for Spanish Universities
IESE Business School recommends a total GRE score of 317 or higher (156+ Verbal, 160+ Quantitative). IE Business School’s typical target is a balanced 160+ on both sections, and ESADE generally looks for 160+ on each section, for an estimated total of 320+. EPIC Prep’s offices in Madrid and Barcelona reflect its established presence in the Spanish market.
GRE Scores for Italian Universities
Bocconi University generally recommends a GRE total of 330 (165 Verbal, 165 Quantitative). EPIC Prep’s Milano office reflects its established presence in the Italian market.
GRE Scores for German Universities
At the Technical University of Munich (TUM), a competitive score is typically 157+ Quantitative, for an estimated total of 310–320. The University of Mannheim expects a stronger profile: 159+ Verbal and 163+ Quantitative, for an estimated total of 320–325. EPIC Prep has supported students across Germany with the same personalized approach it uses throughout Europe since 2010.
GRE Scores for Dutch Universities
Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands looks for an estimated total of 307 or higher, and Leiden University’s benchmark is around 306+. Maastricht University is more accessible on paper, with typical scores of 144+ on both sections (288–300 total). EPIC Prep supports Dutch students with that same structured, Europe-wide approach.
GRE Scores for Swiss Universities
At ETH Zurich in Switzerland, students typically aim for a Quantitative score of 160 or higher, for an estimated total of 320–330. EPIC Prep’s own office in Zurich reflects its established presence in the Swiss market.
How Can You Start Improving Your GRE Score Today?
You can start improving your GRE score today by identifying which of these five mistakes is present in your current preparation and replacing it with a structured approach. You don’t pass the GRE by luck, but by following a method: every mistake you avoid is a step forward, and every decision you make during your preparation has a real impact on your results. Avoiding these five mistakes is the first step. Choosing a structured and personalized preparation plan is the next.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I need to prepare for the GRE?
It depends on your starting point: a student starting from scratch typically needs between 10 and 15 weeks of comprehensive preparation. If you’re on a tight schedule, it’s possible to prepare for the exam intensively in 5 to 7 weeks. An advanced student may need only 3 to 5 weeks of focused preparation before taking the exam.
Where can I take the GRE exam in Europe?
The GRE General Test can be taken at select test centers near you. There is also the option to take the GRE at home, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the same content and format as the in-person exam.
We hope this article has answered your questions. If you have any questions about your preparation, please contact us and we will be happy to explain how EPIC Prep can help you achieve your goals.
