How to Make GRE Vocab Flash Cards the Right Way

Studying for the GRE Verbal section can be a chore; getting a high score often entails memorizing lots of arcane vocab words. There are flash cards on the market that have high frequency words and their definitions, but to get a higher score you will need to know more than just definitions. Here's how to make super GRE flash cards.

Things You'll Need

• 3x5 index cards, unlined
• GRE prep book with a vocab list of the most frequently occuring words
• thesaurus

Instructions

1. Get a test prep book that has the most frequently tested word on the GRE, and select from that list of GRE words those that you don't know. You can also cull words from your reading, practice tests, and other GRE study guides.

2. On one side of the index card, write just the word in CAPITAL letters. The GRE presents words in caps, and seeing them this way on the cards will help you study.

3. 

   On the back of the card, draw a straight line about half an inch from the top, and another straight line about half an inch from the bottom. In the long skinny box you created at the top, write the definition. In the long skinny box you created at the bottom, break the word up into its roots and write the definitions of the roots. For example, if you chose the word "arachnophobia" you would write arachno=spider and phobia=fear.

4. You still have a blank section in the middle. Divide this into two columns and label them "Synonyms" and "Antonyms." Using the thesaurus, write down three or four synonyms and antonyms apiece in the columns. For some words you may not be able to fill out the back of the card completely, but be as thorough as you can.

5. The secret to doing well on the GRE verbal is knowing groups of words with similar meanings and being able to break apart a word into different roots. Knowing roots will help you if you encounter an unfamiliar word on test day. Good luck studying!

Resources

• GRE Issue Essay Tips
• GRE Math Problems, Solutions, and Explanations
• The Visual Thesaurus Vocab Builder