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The Graduate Record Examination is a Standardized test that measures verbal, mathematical and analytical skills. It is intended to help the graduate schools (of all fields other than business) assess the potential of applicants for advanced study . Nearly 2300 universities in the US require GRE® scores from each applicant.
The GRE tests the fundamental skills - Reasoning and Comprehension included - and does not require any subject-specific theoretical study. (This is true only for the General GRE Test, and not the GRE Subject, which is required by certain universities. In this section, we mean the General GRE Test whenever we refer to the GRE Test)
The test is designed in such a way that it would be unlike any other test you would have taken at school or college. First, the test has no question paper or answer sheets, nor does it have the same set of questions for all the examinees. Further, it does not give you the option of not answering a question (unless, of course, you run out of time at the end). All this because the GRE Test is an entirely Computer based test - the keyboard and mouse do the work of a pen or pencil. The test is scored out of 1600 (in multiples of 10).
The GRE Test is only one of several parameters which the graduate schools look at to determine the selection of an applicant. A high score alone does not translate into an admission offer from a great school. But the test can be looked upon as the first major hurdle to be cleared in the process of getting admission into a Graduate school of your choice.
Not So Scary: Studying for the GRE the Right Way
Studying for the GRE really isn't as hard as it seems at first. There are
plenty of resources to help you, and the GRE even provides you with some
excellent practice materials when you sign up to take the test.
Study Books
Several companies provide books that help you study for the GRE. Since the test
is now online, most of these companies also provide practice tests that you can
take on your computer. Often the best way to study is to simply take these
tests, grade yourself, and study what you didn't know.
Take a Class
Now first off, you should know that these classes are VERY expensive. Companies
like Kaplan offer them for all the tests, but in reality, you probably don't
need a class to help you study for the GRE. If you decide to take one, though,
inquire about the curriculum first to make sure that they aren't just using the
study materials you already have and walking you through them.
Study Groups
Oftentimes, your professors will be willing to put together a GRE study group as
your success reflects on them and the school. Additionally, you may want to get
together with a buddy or a group and study together. Having someone else remind
you to keep studying can be the most powerful tool you have when getting ready
to take the GRE.
GRE CD
When you sign up for the GRE, the company will send you a CD full of information
and practice tests. The earlier you sign up, the earlier you will receive this
valuable resource. When I was getting ready to take the GRE, I found that this
was the most important tool I had, but since I didn't sign up early, I only
received it about a week before the test.
Set Aside Time
Make sure you set aside time each week for about a month or two to study for the
GRE. If you spend 3 or 4 hours a week on the test for a month, you will probably
make a good grade. By spacing out your studying, you'll avoid having to cram for
the last week in order to get through everything. It's much more enjoyable to go
have coffee one night a week with a friend and study together than it is to lock
yourself in your room for a week to cram.
Studying for the GRE: Your Options
Study Books
Classes
Study Groups
GRE CD
Set Aside Time to Study
How to Conquer the GRE - Tips on How to Succeed
Graduate schools require that you to take the GRE exam before applying to
graduate school. Graduate student who scored high on their GRE tend to have
better success in graduate school than those that scored lower, which is why
graduate schools like to use test scores as part of their admission process.
First of all, it is important for you to know what will be on the test, so that
you know what to expect and can properly prepare for the exam. The GRE test is
composed of 3 main sections. The first section of the GRE is the verbal section.
This section is made up of 30 multiple-choice questions that you will have 30
minutes to complete.
The second section is the quantitative or math section, which is designed to
measure comprehension in arithmetic, algebra and geometry. You will have 45
minutes to complete 28 questions.
The third and final section is the analytical writing section. You will have 45
minutes to complete 2 essays.
Now that you have an idea of what is included on the exam, you will need to take
the necessary steps to prepare for the exam. Since everyone prepares for major
tests and exams differently, you will need to follow a course of action that
will allow you to best prepare for the exam.
#1 Make a plan. Whether you need to take a GRE preparation course or you can
study on your own with a GRE practice exam book, choose the way that you are
going to go about studying for the exam.
#2 Create a schedule. Set aside a certain amount of time each day to devote to
studying for your exam. Allot yourself enough time in these study sessions to
complete the areas that need to be covered in order to keep you on schedule.
#3 Practice, practice, and then practice some more. Set up simulated practice
test sessions. Use practice tests from books or online. Go back to the areas
that you still need to work on and review, practice and study until you have
mastered those areas as well.
So now you know the format of the test, what is going to be on the test, and how
to study for the test. Now you need to know what to do while you are actually
taking the test to totally conquer it.
#1 Read the questions carefully. Do not rush through the exam because you think
that you know it like the back of your hand. Missing just one word can totally
throw you off from the correct answer. The questions at the beginning of the
test have more of an affect on your score than the ones at the end. This means
that you take special care in answering these questions with the best of your
ability because getting these correct will dramatically improve your score.
#2 Do not leave answers blank. On the GRE you are not penalized for wrong
answers. You are graded on the number of correct answers. If you do not know the
answer to a question, then use the process of elimination to narrow down the
choices given as much as possible. If you can narrow down the choices to two
options, then you now have a 50/50 chance of getting the answer correct.
If you do not know the answer and cannot make an educated guess then randomly
fill it in. The odds are better for you to answer those questions that you
cannot figure out at random than it is to leave them completely blank.
#3 Manage your time. Since each section of the test is timed, you will need to
be able to manage your time effectively so that you have enough time to complete
each question on the exam. Don't spend too much time on any one question that
will cause you to not have enough time to answer the remaining questions.
#4 Check your work. When you have completed a section and you have time left
before the end of that portion of the exam, go back and check your answers.
First, make sure that you have answered all of the questions. Revisit the
questions that you were having trouble with and recheck your answer choice now
that you have a few more minutes to spend on it. On a computer-based test you
will not be able to go back and change your answers, so be sure to make an
educated guess without spending too much time any on one question. Do not leave
it blank because you will not have an opportunity to go back and fill it in.
Relax, take a deep breath, and prepare for your GRE exam. The material on the
GRE is based on information that you already know. When you are studying, you
are not really studying to learn new material. You are really refreshing your
memory and learning test taking techniques to help improve your score. By taking
the necessary steps to prepare for the exam, you will have everything you need
to conquer the GRE.