Two months — about eight weeks — is the most common GRE study timeline, and for good reason: at ~10–12 hours a week it balances content review, steady vocabulary growth, and several full-length tests without the crunch of a one-month plan.
This 2-month GRE study plan rebuilds Quant and Verbal fundamentals in the first weeks, keeps daily vocabulary running throughout, then moves into timed sets and full POWERPREP tests. It's the default choice for most test-takers.
Is 2 months enough to study for the GRE? Yes — two months at ~10–12 hours a week (about 90–100 hours total) is the sweet spot for most GRE test-takers and enough for a solid improvement across both sections. If you need a bigger jump or have less time each week, use the 3-month plan.
Your 2-Month GRE Study Schedule
The full week-by-week plan at about 11 hours a week (~88 total hours). Want to adjust the pace or pick a different length? Use the interactive planner on the GRE study plan page.
A 2-month (8-week) GRE study plan at about 11 hours a week.
Week
Focus
Time
Week 1
Diagnostic & setup
~11h
Week 2
Daily Vocabulary System • Arithmetic & Number Properties • Algebra & Word Problems
~11h
Week 3
Full POWERPREP test + review
~7h
Week 4
Text Completion • Geometry • Sentence Equivalence
~11h
Week 5
Data Analysis & Statistics • Reading Comprehension • Quantitative Comparison
~11h
Week 6
Full POWERPREP test + review
~7h
Week 7
Calculator Use & Quant Efficiency • Analytical Writing: Analyze an Issue
~11h
Week 8
Final review & test week
~7h
Week-by-week breakdown
Week 1 — Diagnostic & setup~11h
Take a full-length diagnostic under realistic timing, essay included, in one sitting (use a free third-party test, or spend one of your two free POWERPREP tests).
Break results down by section and question type; quantify your gap to target and rank your weakest areas.
Set up your systems: a vocabulary app (Anki/Magoosh), an error-log spreadsheet, and a running formula sheet.
Look up your target programs' score ranges, set a goal Verbal/Quant split and test date, and start daily vocabulary on day one.
Week 2 — Daily Vocabulary System • Arithmetic & Number Properties • Algebra & Word Problems~11h
Adopt one high-frequency word list (e.g., Magoosh 1000 or GregMat) and learn 15–25 new words a day.
Use spaced repetition (Anki or a flashcard app) and review all prior words daily.
Study common roots, prefixes, and suffixes to decode unfamiliar words.
Keep a word journal with your own context sentences, and self-quiz cumulatively each week.
The highest-leverage tactics for each section — worth internalizing whichever timeline you're on:
Quantitative Reasoning
Plug in or pick smart numbers for variable-heavy problems, and backsolve from the answer choices on “which value works” questions.
Estimate and eliminate — decide when NOT to use the calculator; it's often slower than mental math.
On Quantitative Comparison, test multiple cases (0, 1, negatives, fractions, extremes) and pick (D) only when the relationship can truly change; figures aren't to scale.
Do the easy questions in a section first, and answer every question — there's no wrong-answer penalty.
Verbal Reasoning
Predict the blank first on Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence, then match; lean on signal words; for SE, hunt for the synonym pair.
Trust the sentence's logic and secondary word meanings over gut familiarity.
On Reading Comprehension, read for structure and main point, not details, and answer only from the passage; on “select all,” judge each option independently.
Don't over-invest in one long passage — guess and move to protect easier points.
Analytical Writing (Analyze an Issue)
Use a repeatable template: intro with an explicit thesis → 2–3 body paragraphs, each with one specific example → a paragraph engaging the opposing view → concise conclusion.
Address the prompt's specific task instructions (e.g., “discuss the extent to which you agree…”) — this is explicitly graded.
Plan first (~5 minutes) and proofread last (~3 minutes), using concrete examples over vague generalities.
Common GRE Study Mistakes
On a 2-month timeline especially, avoid the habits that quietly cost points:
Starting vocabulary late or cramming it — vocab compounds through spaced repetition, so a late start tanks Verbal.
Passive studying without an error log — reading solutions but never diagnosing why a question was missed or re-doing it.
Burning all official POWERPREP tests too early, wasting the most predictive practice you have.
Poor pacing — sinking minutes into one hard question instead of guess-and-move, or leaving questions blank (there's no penalty).
Over-relying on the on-screen calculator and skipping estimation, which burns time on Quant.
Neglecting the essay until the end, or ignoring the prompt's specific task instructions.
Build your plan around trusted resources: ETS POWERPREP (two free section-adaptive tests) and POWERPREP PLUS (paid, with explanations), plus the Official Guide question books; ScoreItNow! for official Analyze-an-Issue essay scoring; Manhattan 5 lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems (strong for Quant), Magoosh, or GregMat for a full video curriculum and vocab.
What's on the GRE
Your 2-month plan should mirror how the GRE is weighted. Here are the sections to build into your schedule:
Verbal ReasoningTwo scored sections
Text CompletionSentence EquivalenceReading ComprehensionHigh-frequency vocabulary (daily)
Quantitative ReasoningTwo scored sections
Arithmetic & number propertiesAlgebraGeometryData analysis & statisticsQuantitative ComparisonOn-screen calculator strategy
Run vocabulary daily from day one. GRE Verbal rewards vocabulary depth, and words stick through spaced repetition, not cramming. Start a daily flashcard habit on the first day of your plan and keep it going until test day — even 15 minutes a day compounds into a major Verbal advantage over a two- or three-month plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — two months at ~10–12 hours a week (about 90–100 hours total) is the sweet spot for most GRE test-takers and enough for a solid improvement across both sections. If you need a bigger jump or have less time each week, use the 3-month plan.
About 10–12 hours a week, roughly 90–100 hours total. Daily vocabulary runs on top of that, in short separate sessions.
For most people, yes. It's the most-recommended GRE timeline because it gives you room to rebuild Quant, grow vocabulary steadily, and take multiple full-length POWERPREP tests.
Spend the first three to four weeks on content and strategy for both sections (weighted toward your weaker one), keep vocabulary daily, and use the back half for timed practice and full-length tests.
Ready to start your GRE prep?
Put your plan into action with practice questions, full-length tests, and progress tracking — free to start.
This 2-month GRE study plan is a general planning guide; adjust it to your diagnostic score, target, and schedule. Test Ninjas is not affiliated with the makers of the GRE. Hour estimates are approximate.