155+ scorers don’t cram 1,000 random flashcards. They read 2 GRE-like articles a day, learn vocabulary in context, and cross a critical threshold (often ~700 mastered words). Here’s the system — and how Liwaza automates it.
GRE Verbal feels hard for a simple reason: you face a wide vocabulary range, with many near-synonyms that don’t carry the same nuance.
On Liwaza, we see a clear pattern among 155+ scorers: they don’t cram random word lists. They build a daily system where vocabulary is learned in context, through high-quality reading, reinforced at the right time.
GRE Verbal is difficult because it requires mastering 1,000+ words in context, not just memorizing definitions — flashcard-only approaches typically plateau around 145-150.
GRE Verbal doesn’t test “do you know this word?”. It tests: do you understand this word here, with its nuance, inside this argument?
Flashcards often create an illusion of progress:
Result: you memorize a lot… but your score stays volatile.
In contrast, reading demanding texts trains exactly what the test requires: decoding, inferring, and choosing between two close answers.
Reading 2 high-quality GRE-level articles per day that contain tested vocabulary in natural context is the most effective method to build lasting word mastery.
The core “hack” behind 155+ is simple: read 2 articles a day containing GRE-tested vocabulary in natural sentences.
But there’s a condition: texts must be GRE-compatible (lexical density, argumentative tone, structured long sentences, logical connectors).
Spot only:
For each key word:
Do a micro-exercise (synonyms, traps, cloze) and schedule spaced review (D+2, D+7…).
It’s not “reading a lot” that raises your score. It’s read + consolidate.
Liwaza's AI scheduler diagnoses your exact vocabulary gaps, builds a data-driven profile of your behavior, and delivers personalized daily readings at the right difficulty level.
The hard part isn’t knowing the theory. The hard part is sustaining the system every day without burning out.
On Liwaza, the AI handles the invisible work:
In short: you keep the useful effort (read, understand) and remove the noise (what to read, what to review, when to revisit it).
On Liwaza's data, candidates who score 155+ on GRE Verbal have almost always mastered at least 700 words on the platform — this threshold consistently predicts strong performance.
In our data, one threshold shows up again and again: people who go above 155 on Verbal are almost always those who end up mastering ~700 words in the app.
It’s not a “magic” number. It’s a critical-mass effect:
From there, improvement becomes far more predictable.
Start with a 7-day restart plan: take the diagnostic, read 2 AI-selected articles daily, review flagged words each evening, and track your mastered-word count toward the 700-word milestone.
If you want something concrete, here’s a “low-friction” week:
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s consistency.
The “secret” behind 155+ GRE Verbal scores isn’t mysterious: it’s a daily system built on high-quality reading, vocabulary in context, and smart reinforcement.
Aiming for your GRE (or GMAT) target scores to get into a top school? Talk to us: we’ll give you access to Liwaza’s AI to support your full learning workflow.
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No. What matters is true mastery (meaning + nuance + usage) of a core vocabulary set, learned in context and reinforced over time. Many 155+ scorers cross a threshold around ~700 mastered words rather than “1,000 words seen once”.
GRE-compatible texts: argumentative tone, high lexical density, structured long sentences, and logical connectors. The goal isn’t easy reading; it’s useful reading — with vocabulary that actually shows up in SE/TC.
Even 25–45 minutes can be enough if it’s well structured: 2 short readings + ~10 minutes of consolidation (nuance, micro-drills, spaced review). Consistency beats occasional intensity.
Usually because reading isn’t active enough (uncertain words not captured), not GRE-like enough (too comfortable), or not consolidated (no reinforcement + spaced review).
Yes for vocabulary and contextual reading (fast comprehension, nuance, tone). But GMAT has different demands for logic and grammar (SC), so you should complement it with GMAT-specific practice.
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