Top GRE strategies to master your final week

The week and day before the GRE: Setting yourself up for success

Key takeaways

• Gradually reducing your GRE prep in the last week isn’t about slacking off; it’s a proven way to help your mind retain information and ease anxiety.
• Taking care of yourself is essential for strong performance, not just a bonus.
• In the days leading up to your exam, focusing on strategy, stress management, and getting quality rest is more effective than cramming new material.
• Performing well on test day depends on overall readiness: mental, physical, strategic, and logistical.

As test day approaches, it’s normal to notice anxiety increasing, even after dedicated preparation. Many students instinctively respond by studying longer or pushing themselves harder, but research shows this often leads to frustration and fatigue instead of better performance. In these final days, a better question than "How much more can I cram?" is "How can I make the most of my time and prepare my mindset for success?"

Academic pressure can heighten stress, which then creates challenges for both memory and concentration. Structuring your last week with smart study habits, like tapering your review, targeting weak spots, and caring for your well-being, prepares you to enter test day calm and ready.

The final week: Why less can be more

Tapering, not cramming

The week before the GRE, it’s easy to believe that pushing through as much material as possible will make the difference. Yet both research and the advice of seasoned educators point to a better approach: slow down and review intentionally. At this stage, your main aim is to reinforce strengths, clarify strategies, and walk into the exam with confidence.

How memory and learning work

Studies consistently show that spaced practice and rest promote stronger learning, while last-minute marathons make information harder to retain. When you cram, knowledge may fade quickly and feelings of overwhelm often follow. By tapering your study sessions, easing off on intensity and duration as the exam nears, you give your brain a chance to solidify what you’ve learned, lowering the risk of burnout.

A notable 2017 meta-analysis found that students who spread out their review and prioritized rest not only scored higher, but also felt less anxious than those who crammed. Brief, focused review instead of intensive new studying leads to better retention and results.

Balancing review and rest

An effective final week could include taking a full-length practice GRE a few days before the actual exam to check timing and identify trouble spots. Afterward, center your efforts on reviewing persistent weaknesses and tricky concepts. Skip heavy practice tests in the final hours, since they can drain your energy and motivation.

Pay attention to essentials: consistent sleep, nutritious meals, and activities that ease stress. These habits make a meaningful difference in your ability to think clearly and respond under pressure.

Practical steps

During your last days of preparation, avoid overhauling your approach or diving into unfamiliar areas. Review your most frequent mistakes, reinforce successful tactics, and plan your strategy for test day. Dedicate the final day to light review, logistical prep, and true relaxation so you’re recharged and mentally fresh.

In summary

Easing up during the home stretch is not taking it easy: it’s a proven, strategic move. Trust all the work you’ve put in so far. Use your last days to focus your review and rest up, rather than scrambling to do more.

Well-being is the foundation of high performance

Performing well on test day isn’t strictly about content mastery. Decades of research and hands-on experience show that your mental, emotional, and physical health are essential for success.

You’re most effective when you look after your well-being and customize habits for your personal needs. Classic self-care tips, like exercise, meditation, or creative pursuits, don’t have equal effect for everyone. What matters is experimenting and sticking with whatever helps you feel and perform your best.

It’s also important to move away from chasing perfection. Trying to be flawless can lead to added stress, avoidance, or even burnout. Focusing on growth and setting realistic goals builds resilience, making it easier to learn from mistakes.

Ultimately, self-care before the test should be adaptable and personal. Choose practices that help you feel ready and confident, instead of trying to fit a one-size-fits-all standard.

In the final days: Focus on strategy, not more content

As exam day nears, it’s common to feel pressure to cram or check every single topic. Yet evidence shows that prioritizing strategy and stress management offers greater payoff than rushing to cover extra material.

Years of research confirm that techniques like process of elimination, smart time management, and staying calm in the exam room influence your results more than trying to memorize new facts at the last minute. Reviewing official practice questions, refining your approach to challenging problems, and reading through test day instructions can build the right habits for peak performance.

Managing nerves is just as important. Deep breathing exercises, mindfulness, or even mentally rehearsing how you’ll handle tough questions can help you stay steady and direct your energy where it matters.

Sleep should remain a top priority during the final countdown. Adequate rest boosts memory, analytical skills, and judgment. Trading sleep for another hour at your desk rarely improves performance, and often does the opposite.

When it comes down to it, the days leading up to the GRE are about maximizing the progress you’ve already made. Focus on strategy, stress relief, and rest to get the most from your efforts, rather than piling on new material at the last minute.

Test day: Preparation, flexibility, and self-care

Succeeding on test day requires more than GRE knowledge. You need to handle logistics, stay flexible when plans change, and look after yourself throughout the process.

Prepare all logistics before you head to the test center. Know the route, plan your transportation, and organize what you’ll need to bring. A trial drive or practice commute plus packing your bag the night before helps calm last-minute jitters. Students who take care of these details in advance usually arrive more relaxed and focused.

Things don’t always go according to plan. There could be noises, technical problems, or other surprises. Practicing in mildly distracting settings and training yourself to refocus if something unexpected happens will make it easier to adapt during the actual test.

Remember, the GRE lets you skip and return to questions within each section. Make use of this feature: if something stumps you, flag it and continue. Studies repeatedly show that a "skip and return" approach leads to higher overall scores.

Consistent rest is crucial: even minor sleep deprivation can sap your concentration and reasoning. Rest up the night before your test: it’s a much smarter choice than staying up late to do one last round of studying.

Being truly ready means planning wisely, staying flexible, using effective strategies, and taking care of yourself. Manage what’s in your control, and let the rest unfold. This approach builds not just exam success, but also the resilience you’ll need for graduate study and beyond.

Key message: Rest and personalization guide final-week GRE success

The smartest GRE prep in the last week isn’t about working more, but working wiser, with thoughtful rest and approaches tailored to fit you. Tapering your study intensity and focusing on what makes you feel ready puts you in the best position for test day. Make time for relaxation, get logistics sorted out ahead of time, and remember there’s no universal template for success. Let go of trying to be perfect; focus on whatever increases your confidence and well-being. The GRE tests both your knowledge and your resilience. Sometimes, the best move is choosing to rest rather than pushing harder.