I'm taking my Graduate Record Exam (the General Test only) this coming August 1st. I downloaded all the study materials and I'm looking over them all religiously, but I thought I'd ask the many wonderful people at GAF if they have any personal experience taking it. How is the test laid out? What are the time requirements?
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GREs?
- Thread starter Tarazet
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I found it very similar to the SATs, except the Computer Adaptive Test is something you have to get used to. You can't go back to change previous answers (as I recall). If you notice questions getting harder, that means you're answering the previous questions correctly.
I'd take many, many practice tests so you know how to pace yourself. I don't recall the exact time limits, but it's all spelled out in your preparation materials. I can't say it enough! Practice, practice, practice.
I'd take many, many practice tests so you know how to pace yourself. I don't recall the exact time limits, but it's all spelled out in your preparation materials. I can't say it enough! Practice, practice, practice.
BigGreenMat
Member
Two pieces of advice.
Get all the math tricks down pat and automatic!!! You need to be able to just fire out answers quick. In the math it is all about doing things fast otherwise you will NOT finish.
VOCAB VOCAB VOCAB! You better have a vast array of vocabulary you know and an even greater array words that you have an idea of. Words are what you need to know.
With that being said don't over study and pray you get a beneficial wordset because you could be incredibly talented with a huge vocabulary and crap out because you get a word set that seems to avoid any words that you know.
Get all the math tricks down pat and automatic!!! You need to be able to just fire out answers quick. In the math it is all about doing things fast otherwise you will NOT finish.
VOCAB VOCAB VOCAB! You better have a vast array of vocabulary you know and an even greater array words that you have an idea of. Words are what you need to know.
With that being said don't over study and pray you get a beneficial wordset because you could be incredibly talented with a huge vocabulary and crap out because you get a word set that seems to avoid any words that you know.
I absolutely bombed the GRE - my math score in particular was pretty damn poor considering I'm an engineering student, but I've never been good at these "game" math questions which are pretty much all that's found on the GRE.
I also really disliked the computer-based way the test was given. Not really the way it adapted, but more the actual computer. It apparently is standardized at 640x480, and I'm sure the monitor I was using was running at like 60Hz. It was really hard on my eyes and I had a massive headache by about halfway through the test.
In any case, I got accepted where I wanted with a Research Assistantship so I guess my horrid performance on it wasn't the end of me.
I also really disliked the computer-based way the test was given. Not really the way it adapted, but more the actual computer. It apparently is standardized at 640x480, and I'm sure the monitor I was using was running at like 60Hz. It was really hard on my eyes and I had a massive headache by about halfway through the test.
In any case, I got accepted where I wanted with a Research Assistantship so I guess my horrid performance on it wasn't the end of me.
sonarrat said:
I don't remember the specifics because I took the exam 6 years ago but it reminded me of the SAT a lot when I took it. If you did well on the SAT expect to do as well or better when you take the exam. For my Economics program they only looked at your Math and the Analytical scores so I pretty much used the Verbal section as a break and didn't really care much about it. Maybe the program you are looking at only cares about a specific section of the exam so look into that as well.
I don't really have a lot of advice for studying. I did a couple of practice questions in some book I got at Barnes and Noble and I did well. I was always pretty good at math though so it wasn't the hardest exam in the world. This was balanced out by me totally choking and bombing the LSAT though.
The best part of the exam is you get your score back right away. It was a little weird takingit on the computer too, but I got over it pretty quickly.
Bluecondor
Member
I took it 15 years ago, and it was brutal. I used to refer to it as "the SAT on steroids."
It is very similar to the SAT, but, the content has been racheted up several levels.
The thing is though - if you are good at standardized tests - there's nothing on the GRE that is really going to shock you.
In my case, I have never done well on such tests, so it all comes down to whether or not I know the material. Like a previous poster said, you've got to have the math and vocab down on this test.
It is very similar to the SAT, but, the content has been racheted up several levels.
The thing is though - if you are good at standardized tests - there's nothing on the GRE that is really going to shock you.
In my case, I have never done well on such tests, so it all comes down to whether or not I know the material. Like a previous poster said, you've got to have the math and vocab down on this test.
evilromero
Member
It's not that bad. One thing to consider is that the questions get much easier if you start fucking up. That can really mess with your mind. Because then you think, "did I really get so many wrong that I deserve this easy one?"
But really, as long as you memorize as many words and definitions as possible and practice writing a few argument essays (following the critieria outlined in a study guide) then you'll be fine.
But really, as long as you memorize as many words and definitions as possible and practice writing a few argument essays (following the critieria outlined in a study guide) then you'll be fine.
Aruarian Reflection
Chauffeur de la gdlk
I've never actually taken a real GRE (taking MCAT next year though), but when I was in high school, I studied for SAT using some GRE material. If I remember correctly, it wasn't too bad, just work on your vocab 
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