• Become familiar with the test before test day. It is always best to know as much as possible about what to expect before you arrive at the test center. Read on to learn about the purpose of the test, the content of the questions, test day procedures, and test preparation strategies and materials.

• Once you know what to expect on the test, it's time to practice. Review the free POWERPREP software sent to students upon registration. For additional practice, try answering the free, interactive sample questions or download the Math Review (PDF) or the full-length paper-based GRE® Practice General Test (PDF).

• For the analytical writing section, the software will give you advice about how to write effective essays for the Issue and Argument tasks. It will also let you practice writing essay responses under simulated testing conditions. For the verbal and quantitative sections, try to answer some sample questions to become familiar with the question format.