Boost GRE scores with full practice test strategies

How to take a great practice test for college and graduate exams

Taking practice tests is one of the most effective ways to prepare for exams like the SAT, ACT, and GRE, but only if you use them correctly. Many students take multiple practice exams without seeing meaningful score gains because they treat them as checkpoints rather than tools for improvement.

A great practice test does more than measure where you are. It helps you identify weaknesses, build stamina, refine strategies, and prepare mentally for test day. When used intentionally, practice exams can bridge the gap between studying content and performing under pressure.

This guide explains how to take practice tests the right way, so each one moves you closer to your target score.

Key points

• Only realistic, full-length practice tests build true test readiness.
• Official practice exams provide the most accurate feedback when used at the right time.
• Simulating real test conditions prepares you for both performance and content.
• Building test stamina is as important as mastering the material.
• Small habits, such as sleep, nutrition, and clothing choices, can significantly impact scores.
• Regular review and strategic adjustments help you handle surprises on test day.

Why full-length practice tests matter

Real test preparation isn’t just about knowing formulas or rules: it’s about applying them consistently over several hours. Full-length practice tests replicate the mental, physical, and emotional demands of test day in a way that short drills cannot.

When students only practice in short bursts, they miss critical skills like:

• Pacing across multiple sections
• Sustaining focus while fatigued
• Recovering from mistakes without spiraling

Completing entire practice exams helps reveal issues that don’t show up in isolated problem sets, such as rushing at the end, zoning out during the test, or struggling after breaks.

Each full-length test should be treated as both:

• An assessment of your current readiness, and
• A learning opportunity to refine timing, endurance, and strategy.

Whenever possible, use official timing, scheduled breaks, and approved materials to mirror real test conditions.

Using official practice exams strategically

Official practice exams, such as GRE PowerPrep tests or College Board SAT exams, are the most accurate predictors of real test-day performance. Because these exams closely match actual difficulty, format, and scoring, how and when you use them matters.

When to use official exams

• Midway through prep: to benchmark progress and identify remaining gaps
• Near test day: to confirm readiness and rehearse test-day strategy

Early in your prep, high-quality, third-party materials are often better suited for building skills and filling content gaps. Save official exams for later, when the feedback will be most meaningful.

Using official tests too early or repeating them too often can reduce their value due to familiarity.

Practicing under realistic test conditions

The closer your practice feels to the real exam, the more prepared you’ll be. Research on learning and memory indicates that performance improves when practice conditions closely match those of the test.

For every full practice test:

• Use official timing rules, including those for breaks
• Complete the exam in one sitting
• Use only permitted tools (calculator, scratch paper, etc.)

Match your environment as closely as possible to the test day. If you’ll be testing in a quiet center, practice in silence. Turn off your phone, notify others not to interrupt, and stay seated the entire time.

If perfect simulation isn’t possible, approximate it. Noise-canceling headphones, online proctoring tools, or designated “test-only” practice spaces can still provide strong preparation.

Building test stamina over time

Even well-prepared students can struggle if they lack stamina. Long exams demand sustained focus, emotional control, and physical endurance.

Build stamina by:

• Completing full-length practice tests regularly
• Practicing under realistic timing
• Resisting the urge to pause, check answers, or take extra breaks

Use these exams to experiment with pacing, snack choices, hydration, and mental resets during breaks. Pay attention to when your focus dips and how you recover.

If you receive testing accommodations, practice under those same conditions so your endurance matches the length of your actual exam.

Creating a reliable pre-test routine

What you do before the test affects how well you perform during it. Practice tests are the perfect time to experiment with routines so nothing feels new on test day.

Sleep

Maintain a consistent sleep schedule in the week leading up to your exam. Practice waking up at the same time you’ll need on test day.

Nutrition

Eat familiar, balanced meals before practice tests. Avoid trying new or heavy foods that could cause discomfort or energy crashes.

Hydration

Stay hydrated, but avoid drinking so much that bathroom breaks become distracting. Practice finding your ideal balance.

Clothing

Wear comfortable, temperature-appropriate clothing during practice tests. Small discomforts can become major distractions over the course of several hours.

When your routine is tested in advance, it becomes a performance aid rather than a risk.

Reviewing practice tests effectively

The biggest score gains come after the practice test, not during it.

After each exam:

1. Review every missed question
2. Identify why you missed it (content gap, misread, pacing, fatigue)
3. Look for patterns across sections
4. Adjust your study plan and test strategy accordingly

Example

If you notice that accuracy drops in the final section, the issue may be related to stamina, rather than content. Your solution might include more full-length tests or pacing adjustments rather than more drills.

Occasionally, introduce variation in practice (such as different locations, start times, or minor distractions) to build flexibility and resilience.

Summary: Turning practice tests into real improvement

Great practice tests are intentional, realistic, and reflective. To prepare effectively for exams like the SAT, ACT, and GRE:

• Prioritize full-length practice exams
• Simulate real test conditions
• Use official tests strategically
• Build stamina alongside content mastery
• Refine your routine and review process

True test readiness comes from combining knowledge with strategy, endurance, and self-awareness. By treating every practice test as a chance to learn, not just a score to record, you’ll walk into test day prepared, confident, and ready to perform at your best.