The effects of intensive,extensive, structured study on GRE scores

Thirty-eight undergraduate students engaged in self-paced self-study using standard materials in one of five Graduate Record Examination (GRE) preparatory courses, lasting 5.5 to 7.5 weeks, offering 66 to 140 hours of study, and using attendance and participation incentives. Statistically and practically significant improvements were found from pretest to posttest verbal, quantitative, and combined scores. In one series of courses, the mean combined scores improved 96 points, increasing from 842 (pretest) to 938 (posttest). In the other, the mean improved 186 points, increasing from 888 to 1074. Earlier published research involved brief training (3 to 9 hours) and showed no benefits. The present research suggests that intensive, structured training can produce a mean improvement of at least 96 points, which is a socially significant accomplishment.