How Many Words Should You Learn? GRE Vocabulary

If we say that this question is probably one of the most frequently asked ones, we wouldn’t be lying. Everyone, especially non-native English speakers, is eager to know how many words they need to learn to ace the GRE vocabulary section. I wish I could give you the exact number, but it doesn’t work that way.

Vocabulary is very different from quant and is not quantifiable. The vocabulary section of GRE has tens of thousands of words that can trip you over. What does it mean for you? Locking yourself in a room till you learn the entire dictionary? Definitely, No.

Here are a few things that can help:

Know Your Starting Point

The first thing we recommend to people before beginning their prep is taking the mock tests or attempting GRE practice questions. It will give you a crystal clear idea of your strengths and weaknesses and allow you to set a benchmark for yourself.

More than Words

The vocabulary section of GRE is more than knowing the meaning of particular words. It also involves a lot of complex sentences. Hence, learning about simply the definition of the word won’t necessarily translate into success. So, once you are done understanding the meaning of certain words, know how they are used in context. You can get a lot of help if you start reading books, newspapers, and magazines. Make sure you are reading and not skimming and paying attention to the formation of sentences.

Family Matters, Even in Words

We all know about synonyms, and you should totally have a grasp over them. Each synonym has a specific shade, but they all essentially mean the same thing. While memorizing a word, make sure to familiarize yourself with all the synonyms.

Learn About the Roots

Sometimes, learning a part of the word can prove more beneficial than learning the entire word. Let me explain what I mean. For instance, the path is a Greek word that means feelings. Once you know the basics, you can guess the meaning of many words that contain paths in them; pathos, apathy, antipathy, and empathy.

But, how many words do I need to learn?

It’s not about learning thousands of words; instead, it’s about learning the right way. Your goal should be to work smarter. So, put that dictionary down, grab a book or a newspaper, highlight the words that you don’t know the meaning of, and get to their root.

I hope you found this post helpful. If you have any questions, queries, or concerns, leave them down in the comments section below, and we will get back to you shortly.

Best of luck with your test prep! We know you will ace it with a killer percentile!