Course · GRE
Are you taking practice test after practice test, hoping your Verbal Reasoning score will finally move?
Keywords are small words that make a BIG difference on the Reading Comprehension passages and argument questions in GRE Verbal Reasoning.
GRE Verbal gives you roughly a minute and a half per question, and the Reading Comprehension passages are dense on purpose. The test uses keywords to signal which sentence a question will hinge on. If you can spot them, you stop rereading the whole passage and start reading the sentence that matters.
The GRE uses keywords to engineer right and wrong answer choices. When you see a keyword, you can bet that the information needed for the right answer is nearby and hinges on the precise meaning of that keyword.
Because these tests are standardized, there's a STANDARD way they engineer questions and answers. As a result, the same keywords show up on every test — and on every GRE you will ever sit for.
Keywords aren't difficult. They're words you think you already know. The trick is knowing how to turn them into points.
For example, one of the 180 keywords you'll learn is “new.” Seems easy — you probably know that “new” means something is, well, new. But did you know that “new” implies there is also something “old,” and that the test will likely ask about what WAS “old” on an inference question? Suddenly there are three distinct time periods to track.
In this course, you'll learn the 179+ other keywords just like “new” that you need to know to score your best on the GRE and become the grad student you are destined to be.
If keywords are not understood, you are throwing POINTS OUT THE WINDOW!
The corporation employs two types of professionals: managers and creators. The latter specialize in generating content, while the former specialize in organizing the entity's projects and delegating its tasks. The organization has several detractors. They say that there is not enough communication between the two groups. Such critics are misguided, however, because the company recently implemented a new employee messaging system that both groups of employees have embraced.
Pretty boring. How are you supposed to stay awake and recognize the information that matters most?
The corporation employs two types of professionals: managers and creators. The latter specialize in generating content, while the former specialize in organizing the entity's projects and delegating its tasks. The organization has several detractors. They say that there is not enough communication between the two groups. Such critics are misguided, however, because the company recently implemented a new employee messaging system that both groups of employees have embraced.
Once you learn the power of keywords, you'll recognize which ideas are most likely linked to right answer choices.
We weren't naturally good test takers...
We studied hard and got good grades, but that never translated to standardized tests. Meanwhile, we knew people who barely studied and got amazing scores. What were these “natural” test takers doing that we weren't doing?
After studying several test-taking “naturals,” we realized that high performers clearly understand 180 keywordsthat appear on almost every standardized test. It was after learning those keywords that we first cracked the test for ourselves, and we've been teaching these methods and helping students beat the GREand its cousins ever since – almost ten years now!
Taking test after test will only get you so far... You must understand how to interpret keywords to improve your score.
Fortunately, you're in the right place. GRE Vocab 101 walks you through a step-by-step process for learning keywords and turning them into points on test day.
In 17 keyword sections you will:
Through a simple, step-by-step course, you'll learn the 180 most important words on the GRE and how to turn them into points.
After using keywords for just a few weeks, you'll start to see order in passages that used to baffle you. Eventually, even the most complicated science passages will look as familiar as any other passage.
Your prep course can't hit everything. This course fills in the blanks and includes tips and tricks you won't find anywhere else.
Keywords tell you which sentences the test is going to ask about. If you don't recognize keywords, you might miss information critical to answering the questions.
GRE Verbal gives you about 90 seconds per question. By focusing on the right words, you'll spend that time on the parts of the passage that yield right answers instead of rereading trivial details.
Never heard of pro-forms? Tests use them to engineer confusion. Once you learn how to handle pro-forms, you will avoid aimless rereading — one of the top causes of timing issues on any test.
There's not a lot of time, but that's okay. This no-frills course gets straight to the point. It guides you through learning keywords all the way through turning them into points on official practice tests.
Whether you're on paper or a screen, powerful scratch-work techniques let you comprehend complex passages without wasting time on digital highlight and underline tools.
Plans start at $5/mo
One subscription gives you access to all courses and downloadable templates. Add Office Hours with our team when you're ready for personalized coaching.
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Results from our LSAT students. Keywords were first mapped on the LSAT, where they are densest, and the same method carries straight into GRE Verbal.
“Just wanted to let you know that I got my LSAT score back and I got a 171!! Thanks so much for all of your help in getting me to my goal.”
“I'm the only person who came into an Internet cafe in Luang Prabang, Laos to check my LSAT score. Good news, 170! ... Thank so much for all of your help. I was very lucky to get such a talented and dedicated teacher.”
“I'm writing to let you know that I got back my LSAT score yesterday, and that I did better than I could have ever imagined! Somehow I ended up with a 174. Thank you for your advice regarding when I should take the LSAT... really glad I didn't wait until December like I was thinking of doing.”
“I'm guessing you've been getting bombarded with e-mails since scores were released yesterday but I just wanted to let you know how I did... 169! I'm really happy with the score, especially considering it was a bit above my average on practice tests.”
“I just want to let you know that I took a full LSAT today and got a 163 (up 7 points)! I am SO happy. I have been doing the timed sections everyday like you suggested; and yes, I even gave in and started a journal to track the wrong answers.”
“I got a 167 on the october LSAT. I'm filling out applications and hoping it will be enough to maybe get me into one of the top 14. Georgetown possibly. We'll see.. thank you for your efforts and time over the past 4 months. You're an excellent teacher and a caring person. Respect!”
Revenge. Standardized tests didn't come naturally at first. They kept us up at night. When we finally cracked them for ourselves, we started sharing our tips with friends and family. They started performing better too. It felt great. As we realized we could help more people beat these tests, we made it our mission to make these tips widely available.
Buy this course if you're inconsistent on the Reading Comprehension passages and argument questions in GRE Verbal Reasoning. If you have good days when you don't miss a single reading comp question, but bad days when you miss an entire passage — this course may shed light on what you do on your good days so you can get consistent results. Also buy this course if you're self-driven and willing to put in the work, if you want to understand how the GRE engineers right and wrong answers, or if you don't want to leave points on the table.
This course is meant to supplement a full prep course — not replace it. If you're just starting out, haven't taken at least 5 practice tests, or are looking for a quick fix, come back later. Keywords take time and dedication to turn into points.
Yes, and that's a feature. The LSAT uses keywords more densely than any other standardized test, which made it the perfect place to catalog them. The GRE builds its Reading Comprehension and argument questions the same way: the right answer hinges on the precise meaning of a small word near the tested sentence. Our GRE students use the identical 180-word list and the identical step-by-step plan.
Indirectly. This course is about the structural keywords (contrast, continuation, causality, qualifiers, and so on) that reveal how a passage or argument is built, not the obscure vocabulary GRE fill-in questions test. That said, contrast and continuation keywords are exactly what tell you whether a blank needs a synonym or an antonym, so most students see a lift there too.
The course is organized into two parts. Part I: The Step-by-Step Plan explains best practices for studying and walks you through a step-by-step plan to install keywords and use them for maximum benefit. Part II: Keywords and What to Do with Them explains each keyword category, lists its relevant keywords, and explains what to do when you see each one.
Not yet. This course is a supplement, not a replacement for a standard GRE prep course. Come back after you've taken at least five practice tests and have a baseline score you want to improve.
Plans are monthly and cancel anytime. Basic ($5/mo) gets you every course. Plus ($20/mo) adds Office Hours — email our team your questions directly. Premium ($100/mo) adds a live 1-on-1 call with a member of our team every month.
Start with Basic for $5/mo and get every course. Upgrade anytime for Office Hours or 1-on-1 coaching with our team.
Taking a different test?
We made this course to help you increase your score. If you have any questions, we're more than happy to answer them.
