GRE

ege02

Okay, so this summer I'll start preparing for the GRE.

I don't know where to start. I need suggestions on resources, tips and tricks on how to study for it, things like that. I'm pretty serious about getting an awesome score.

Thanks in advance!

Steev

Practice GRE tests came in handy for me. You can usually find them in books about the GRE, of which there are a ton. It's been about 4 years since I took it, so I don't remember exactly which ones I used. I think one of the better ones was Barrons's Guide. Of course, check your local library to see if they have it before you purchase one.

When I registered for the GRE, they sent me a CD with a sample test on it as well.

I didn't get the greatest score, but I made it into my desired school.

Kewop Decam

Kaplan's GRE books are really good. Also checkout the gre.org because you can download two full practice test from like 6 years ago. Test hasn't changed for a while and they are stuck figuring out when to make the new changes now.

I took my GRE less than a year ago. The GRE is basically the SAT that requires you to know less hard math, but still has some pretty tricky questions. THe Reading is pretty much exactly the same as the SAT, except there isn't a grammar section. The real difference between the two is the grading style. They both go to 1600 (800/800), BUT the GRE is computer based and the difficulty of th next question depends on if you got the previous question right. Harder questions = more points. lAso, the first questions get you the most points. So in theory, someone could get less questions right and get a higher score than you if they started the test better.

The only way to score high in reading is to have a good vocabulary (or know the romance languages really well)... that's it, there's no real way around it. Math is easy if you REALLY understand basic math like algebra and geometry. You can easily get a 700 in math without much effort.

Just make sure you take the practice test from gre.org so you get a full understanding of how the test is because that practice test is the EXACT style of the real on (ugly low resolution and all).

Also there are two essay sections that are easy and came be done very mechanical. Get the Kaplan books, they're very good and have an assload of practice test.

Sentry

Don't pay attention to that stupid GRE Elf... the thing that adjusts your questions based on how well you answered the last one. It will really mess you up.

Kewop Decam

Sentry wrote: »

Don't pay attention to that stupid GRE Elf... the thing that adjusts your questions based on how well you answered the last one. It will really mess you up.

Yea, don't get your mind into "this question is easier than the last... I must be getting shit wrong!" because it's the test makers' opinions of what is hard and easy. I know this though, if you see Standard Deviations (which are easy as hell) you're doing like good in math (like 650 range).

EggyToast

Buy a book like a Kaplan book (go to a bookstore and check them out, don't just order blind on amazon), and focus on learning the "tricks." Things like figuring out triangle side lengths, geometry rules, and combinations are just remembering the trick. Those WILL be on the test, as that's a lot of what the math section is.

For the reading section, go over the comparison and synonym/antonym stuff. You don't need to memorize what each $5 word means, you need to memorize what each of those words is most equivalent to. Like, is it a "positive" or a "negative" in overall meaning. The comprehension parts and other reading parts of the test hinge on understanding the vocabulary, and you're flat out not going to remember each possible word in the english language. However, knowing how different words relate to more common words is really the key.

For the writing section, spend a lot of time reading example 6-point essays, and compare to lower-point essays. Take them apart and see what it is that makes them different. The writing section is all about good grammar/sentence construction as well as coherent arguments and normal writing style. They'll give you a couple things to write about and you have to usually argue for or against -- neither way is right, but pick the side you feel most comfortable writing for. Then justify it and explain why the other side is incorrect. They're not looking for how you feel, they're looking for logic and rhetoric.

Tomanta

Good advice here so far. I used a Kaplan book when I took my GRE fall of '03. I also had a practice test book that I didn't use that much (and can't remember what it was). I did pretty well on the test, but would always recommend more prep than I had.

If you are good at math, you won't need much prep for that part of the test. The reading section is definitely the more difficult, and a big chunk of that is vocabulary. To study for that I made flash cards for every word listed in the back of my study guide that I wasn't 100% sure I knew already. Several times a day I'd grab a stack of these and go through them, setting aside any cards I felt like I really knew. Unfortunately, I've long forgotten a lot of the vocab but there's a solid chunk I still remember and was always excited to hear one of the words on TV - usually in Joss Whedon's work .

Pants Man

i agree with everything mentioned here (especially the kaplan book stuff, those things are great), but also keep in mind that your raw score isn't as important as the percentile that you're in. in addition, the math, verbal, and writing sections of the test have different standards as to what is a good score.

for instance, i got a 580 on the math, a 590 on the verbal, and a 5.0 (out of 6) on the writing section.

on paper, those scores look pretty similar. but as far as percentile goes, i was in the 42nd percentile in math (!), the 83rd in verbal, and 71st in writing.

i didn't particularly give a shit about the math section, since i'm a history major who hasn't taken any real math since my junior year of high school, and was testing to get into a M.Ed program for social studies (which i did). but i did study pretty hard for the verbal section, and i would second the flashcards thing. if you've got a pretty large vocabulary to begin with, you should be fine. if not, just study study study. kapaln gives you a LOT of good study material.

Kewop Decam

the best way to prepare for boring as reading sections is to go to nytimes.com and read the articles you know damn well you'd NEVER read. Help me learn to keep focused through the most boring shit.