Glossi and DK,
Here are all the details of my GRE prep.
I used the Barron's How to Prepare for The GRE guide. It was actually recommended to me by several LHCF ladies in an OT thread. Maybe do a search over there for GRE and see if you can find that thread--lots of good advice there. Anyway, I did not get the latest edition. I got the one right before it and I DID get the one with the CD-Rom. The CD-Rom is a useful tool. I started the Barron's book about 3 months before I planned to take the test. Barron's was my main source.
There is a free website called number2.com which was also recommended by ladies on this site. I signed up for number2.com, probably 3 years ago but was very half-hearted with it. Still, it is a good resource. When I got serious about taking the GRE, I did use the number2.com site more often but only as a supplement.
To begin, I took the Barron's diagnostic test.
I put myself on a study schedule with the Barron's book. I actually wrote my daily schedule on a paper calendar for all the days up to test day. Now of course, the schedule was not set in stone but served as a great guide to keep me in line. There is a 3,500 word list in the Barron's book--it is invaluable. The list is chunked into 50 lists. I took on the grueling task of studying all 50 lists. It was painful, but worth it. You will find that you probably already know 25-40% of the words. There will be some that you know that have other definitions that maybe you were not aware of. Then there will be those that you have the essence of the meaning already, but if someone asked you you would not be able to put the meaning into words. Either way, the list is really a great tool.
After each list is a little quiz that you take the next day to see how well you retained the info. I would usually study 1 list daily, occasionally 2. After every 5 lists I studied, I would go over those 5 to see which definitions I was solid on. Any that I had forgotten, I would make a flashcard for. There were some words that I would put a dot by because maybe I semi-recalled (not a real word!) them, but I didn't make a flash card. I studied my flashcards daily. When I knew that I knew that I knew a certain definition on a flash card, I'd set that card aside so as not to waste time on it any longer. I went back to the words I'd dotted about a week and a half before test day. If I had trouble with them, I made a card for them.
My usual regimen the first 1-2 months was to do a word list and one of the Barron's exercises each day. Depending on my mood, I would possibly double up on exercises or lists on a particular day. I would always take a day to study the "tactics" on a particular type of exercise before actually doing the practice exercises.
After about the first month of study, I began taking practice tests. I would take about 2 each week. By the time it was all over, I'd probably taken 10-12 practice tests. Only the first 2 that I took were untimed. After that, I started timing myself on all of them. There are 5 practice tests in the Barron's book and 1 on the CD-Rom. I also found a free test online at Kaplan.com This test, if you ask me, is nothing like the real deal but still good practice. My score was very low on this test, but I got hipped to Kaplan's game real fast. "Take our test. We'll score you low and then you'll think you need to buy one of our products to help you."
Once I got to the Barron's Math, I realized that GRE Math was not straight forward Math. I was rusty. I've never considered myself to be good at Math and only had to take 3 hours of Math in college. The Barron's Math practice exercises are good and so are the "tactics"--definitely confidence boosters. There is also an extremely thorough Math review in the back of the Barron's book. However, being rusty I found that some of it was still confusing or over my head. I found out about a book called
The Ultimate Math Refresher. I read about it on amazon.com from some of the reviewers of the Barron's book. So, I ordered it about 2 weeks before the test. This book was great at simplifying things and reminding me of so many things I had been taught in high school Math, but had simply forgotten from lack of use. It took me a week to work through it. This book made me feel a whole lot better about the Math.
Writing--I feel that I am a pretty good writer. I thought the Barron's book provided suitable and ample information about tackling the writing portion of the GRE. Some of the amazon reviewers were not satisfied with it. I guess it depends on how much help someone really needs on that area. I don't like that the writing is timed. I didn't really like that any of the test was timed! Good thinking takes time if you ask me... no soapbox right now! I only practiced writing both essays 3 times before the actual test. The first time I did it untimed, the last 2 I timed myself.
About 6 weeks before the test, I downloaded the Powerprep software from the ETS website. (www.ets.org) ETS will send you the software for free when you register for your test, but they send it about 2 weeks before the test and I'd say you need it way before then. The Powerprep has 2 practice tests that will resemble the testing situation exactly as far as the interface you will see at the real test. There are some that say the Powerprep tests are easier than the real thing. My opinion is that it's pretty close. There are also many great practice exercises with the Powerprep software. I completed ALL of them. I took the 2 Powerprep practice tests within the last week and a half before the test.
Also, within the last week before the test, I bought the ETS GRE preparation book which has quite a few practice tests that were once actual GRE tests. Now, some are from the 80's, but I just wanted the practice, especially in the Math. I took 3-4 tests out of this book.
Within the last month before the test, it was not unusual for me to spend 4-6 hours a day working on GRE stuff. Two weeks before the test, even my exercise regimen that I've been faithful with since November came to a screeching halt! There was definitely a point within my prep where I knew I would make a "satisfactory" score, but there was something in me that wanted to strive for excellence just for the sake of excellence.
Oh and about 2 and a half weeks before the test, I found a GRE forum! It's testmagic.com It was helpful and lots of advice and lots of intimidating people who made 800 on the Math! They would say that the real test was harder than any practice material, but if you are at the 800 level then that makes sense. The GRE is computer adaptive meaning if you get a question right, your next one is going to be harder. So of course with those 800 people getting all the answers right, the computer was going to continue to spit out more challenging questions.
How long was the actual test? I was schedule for my test at 12pm. I'd say that I started right around 12 and left the testing facility right at 4pm. To start, there is a tutorial on the test which is really not necessary especially if you've used the powerprep software. The tutorial teaches you how to scroll, and use a mouse, and click the right answers... Like I said, unnecessary but a great opportunity to relax and get yourself together and let the nerves subside
I was given an experimental math section too.
This is common at the real GRE, but SO unnerving. You don't know which section is experimental so you have to do your best on all of them. This was an extra 45 minutes! If you don't get an experimental section, then you won't be there for 4 hours like me.
I know this was detailed, but y'all know I'm verbose <-----GRE Word
I wanted this to be helpful and thorough.
See, you are surrounded by His love and ours.
Congratulations Supergirl and a Super Superior Girl you are! Child of God, highly favored of the Lord... 
That is wonderful news!!!!! 
