I am required to take the GRE's for graduate school but from what I hear, that actual test is nothing like the practice exams in the study guides. Any truth to this?
Thanks!
Justin
GRE's what to expect?
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SRanney
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I used the Kaplan GRE study guide which included a CD with at least 4 practice tests. Not only did the guide include some decent material on how to work through the quantitative section but also enough vocabulary words to keep me thumbing through home-made flash cards for several weeks.
What to expect? That all depends on how you well you do come test day. If you plan on taking the computerized test, be prepared for some difficult questions. As you may know, the computerized test will probe your abilitities by throwing several seemingly impossible questions at you (as well as several softballs) that are designed to get a "feel" for your intellect level. Further, as the test is "powered", the code allows the GRE program to increase the difficulty of your questioning string if you continue to get more and more questions right. In other words, if you feel like the questions are getting harder, they are. That's a good thing, too, as the more difficult questions are weighted more than the softballs. (If you get any stats questions, you're doing great.)
The quantitative section is fairly straightfoward. Just make sure you don't spend too much time on any one question. If you are, you've probably overlooked the concept the test is asking you about. Algebra and trigonomics are the two biggies, but there are some conceptual questions about calculus, physics, and some higher math. As stated above, if you get some stats questions, it just means you're doing well. Remember, there is no calculator allowed; if you find yourself needing one, you're looking too hard at the question.
Verbal? All you can really do is study a bunch of vocab words. When I got the study guide, the first thing I did was take one of the practice tests to get a baseline; I wrote down every word I was unfamiliar with and became familiar with it the next day. Same with the guide itself. If I saw a word I didn't know, I learned it. I carried my vocabulary flashcards around with me everywhere. If you've half a brain, the reading comprehension shouldn't be difficult and everyone knows that analagies are always exciting!
With the new analytical section, there's no real way to prepare for this, other than try to learn what the scorers are looking for which is another good use of a study guide. Most graduate schools have yet to figure out a way to incorporate this into their admission standards, so it's probably not as big a deal as doing well on the quantitative and qualitative sections.
Just remember that the quantitave section is all about concepts; if a problem is taking you a long time to work it out, you've probably looked too deeply into the question. The GRE is designed not to test how much information you have, but rather, whether or not you can reason through something.
Computerized or paper test? I'd go computer - instant results on the quant/qual is better than waiting 6-8 weeks. The nice thing about the computerized test is that, at the end, you will be asked whether or not you want to see your scores. If you choose yes, your scores will be reported where you asked them to be. If no, your scores will not be reported (nor will you have the opportunity to see your scores) and it will be like you never took the test at all. (This is recommended ONLY if you completely bombed the test.)
Where are you applying? For what kind of degree? Music?
Steve "happily working on a MS in Fisheries" Ranney
What to expect? That all depends on how you well you do come test day. If you plan on taking the computerized test, be prepared for some difficult questions. As you may know, the computerized test will probe your abilitities by throwing several seemingly impossible questions at you (as well as several softballs) that are designed to get a "feel" for your intellect level. Further, as the test is "powered", the code allows the GRE program to increase the difficulty of your questioning string if you continue to get more and more questions right. In other words, if you feel like the questions are getting harder, they are. That's a good thing, too, as the more difficult questions are weighted more than the softballs. (If you get any stats questions, you're doing great.)
The quantitative section is fairly straightfoward. Just make sure you don't spend too much time on any one question. If you are, you've probably overlooked the concept the test is asking you about. Algebra and trigonomics are the two biggies, but there are some conceptual questions about calculus, physics, and some higher math. As stated above, if you get some stats questions, it just means you're doing well. Remember, there is no calculator allowed; if you find yourself needing one, you're looking too hard at the question.
Verbal? All you can really do is study a bunch of vocab words. When I got the study guide, the first thing I did was take one of the practice tests to get a baseline; I wrote down every word I was unfamiliar with and became familiar with it the next day. Same with the guide itself. If I saw a word I didn't know, I learned it. I carried my vocabulary flashcards around with me everywhere. If you've half a brain, the reading comprehension shouldn't be difficult and everyone knows that analagies are always exciting!
With the new analytical section, there's no real way to prepare for this, other than try to learn what the scorers are looking for which is another good use of a study guide. Most graduate schools have yet to figure out a way to incorporate this into their admission standards, so it's probably not as big a deal as doing well on the quantitative and qualitative sections.
Just remember that the quantitave section is all about concepts; if a problem is taking you a long time to work it out, you've probably looked too deeply into the question. The GRE is designed not to test how much information you have, but rather, whether or not you can reason through something.
Computerized or paper test? I'd go computer - instant results on the quant/qual is better than waiting 6-8 weeks. The nice thing about the computerized test is that, at the end, you will be asked whether or not you want to see your scores. If you choose yes, your scores will be reported where you asked them to be. If no, your scores will not be reported (nor will you have the opportunity to see your scores) and it will be like you never took the test at all. (This is recommended ONLY if you completely bombed the test.)
Where are you applying? For what kind of degree? Music?
Steve "happily working on a MS in Fisheries" Ranney
