Top 5 ‘Powerful’ GRE Vocabulary Learning Techniques

How do I remember all the 3500 high frequency words of GRE? Many students are both perturbed and frustrated by this question. The task is arduous indeed, since the number ‘3500’ is huge. You need to sweat out many an hour to commit these words to your memory. These words help you get an awesome score in GRE. They also help you during your stay on the University campus. The Native Americans use these words frequently. For this reason these words are asked in GRE.

Powerful Techniques that help you remember all the 3500 words of GRE:

These are some proven Vocabulary learning techniques. Research says that many students have benefited from them. We have mentioned these techniques many a time in our blogs. We now feel the need for discussing them here, exclusively! For convenience let us call Vocabulary Technique as VT.

VT 1: Work with the Word

A word is not just something that has to be seen from an examination perspective. You need to work with the word. The word has to become a tool in your hand. You need to apply it at the right time and right situation. You need to get into a relationship with it. Spend some considerable time with it. Only then will it be retained in your memory. Owing to a commitment like this you need to plan your GRE preparation well in advance.

Fact 1: You can never memorize the high frequency GRE words in 1 month’s time. You need a ‘minimum’ 6 month’s time frame.

VT 2: Expand its meaning into a suitable context

A word exists only in context. The beauty of the word is realized in context alone. So whenever you learn/memorize a new word use it in context immediately. Not a single context. Use it in all possible contexts and situations. Paint your imagination deeper and darker. Think where all the word can be applicable. Believe me when you use a word in multiple contexts like these you will never forget it.

Fact 2: ‘Mugging up’ GRE High Frequency words vaguely is a very bad thing to do!

VT 3: Relate it to the person or situation you know

Adjectives are best learned this way. Adjectives generally suggest a person’s trait. When you look at a word like ‘loquacious’, which means ‘talkative’ you can immediately think of a relative/friend/colleague/neighbor who is loquacious. Relate the word to that person and you will never forget it. And whenever you see that person you will instantly remember the word too. Isn’t that great?!

Fact 3: The actual GRE Verbal test has ‘only’ adjectives/nouns/verbs!

VT 4: Share the word with your friends, colleagues

Sharing doubles the knowledge! When you know a word, its context the next best thing is sharing it with your buddies. I strongly suggest until the day of your GRE test organize weekly ‘Vocabulary Review Meets’. During these meets share all the new words that you learned and let your friends share their words with you. This way you will be unendingly adding to your long list of Vocabulary. Great once again! Isn’t it?

Fact 4: Never prepare for GRE in isolation. You will never know where you stand in competition!

VT 5: Try to pronounce the word aloud at least five times

A word’s pronunciation is as important as its meaning. Some words are not pronounced the way they are written. For example consider the word ‘ennui’ which means ‘boredom’. Ennui is pronounced as ‘Onwee’. Now is that not interesting? Keep handy a good dictionary that also suggests pronunciation. When you learn a new word, look at the pronunciation aspect immediately. Jot that down in your notebook in the way you can easily understand it. Talk about pronunciation too during your weekly ‘Vocabulary Review Meets’. This will keep the meets interesting and happening.

Fact 5: Knowing the word Pronunciation is as important as knowing its meaning!

Learning Vocabulary is fun. Do not make it a stressful process. Do not get intimidated looking at the exhaustive word list that is quintessential for your GRE preparation. Practicing the above mentioned techniques will certainly help you memorize many words. A few diligent students have already shared with us some powerful techniques to memorize GRE Vocabulary. You can share your techniques too. Share them here with us. And do leave your valuable comment when you complete reading this blog on Vocabulary Learning.

Wishing you Success!!

Regards,

Anu Veluri

Manager- learnwordlist.com

2 Responses to “Top 5 ‘Powerful’ GRE Vocabulary Learning Techniques”

1. sisira on January 17th, 2010 1:01 pm

   I realy felt academic enjoyment and enhanced my GRE knowledge through thid sie.

   Hence it reproduced our vision and directed us to sophesticated path of learning English

   Thank you

2. AnuVeluri on January 18th, 2010 2:44 am

   Hi Sisira..if u are aspiring for GRE go through our blog segment..and yes be there on the forum and post some relevant topics..hope to see u there soon!!

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