Overview of the GRE

As we have all come to learn, standardized tests seem to be an inevitable part of the admissions process as we climb from one phase of education to the next. Having braved the standardized tests for an undergraduate education, it seems almost unfair that graduate schools should continue torturing students in this fashion. Sadly they do, and so we include this article in hopes of providing an overview of the most common graduate school test, the GRE. There is also information on www.GradSchools.com on the other common graduate school tests. (GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, TOEFL)

We will focus on the GRE General Test for the purposes of this article, but be aware that there are also a number of specialized subject tests (Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Literature in English, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology), which may or may not be required or suggested by the programs to which you are applying. Always be careful to know which tests you need to take.

Overview of the GRE

The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test is a multiple-choice admission test for applicants to graduate schools. The GRE is a computer-adaptive test (CAT), and consists of three scored sections:
* Two essays to be written on the computer: Analysis of an Argument and Analysis of an Issue (introduced in October 2002)
* One 45-minute, 28-question Math section: Problem Solving and Quantitative Comparison
* One 30-minute, 30-question Verbal section: Sentence Completions, Antonyms, Analogies, and Reading Comprehension
In addition, there may be a marketing survey, or one or two experimental sections, which can be Verbal or Quantitative.

It is important to understand what a CAT is and how it works. A CAT is a computer-adaptive test, whose software calculates your score based on the number of questions you answer correctly, the difficulty of the questions you answer, and the number of questions you complete. When you take the GRE CAT, you'll begin each section with a medium-level question and a score of 500. If you answer the question correctly, the computer will raise your score and give you a harder question. If you answer the question incorrectly, your score will decrease and you'll be given an easier question. The process repeats for each question in the section, to arrive at your final score for that section.

Each of the multiple-choice sections is scored on a scale of 200 to 800. The average scores for the GRE are about 470 for Verbal and 570 for Quantitative. The Analytical Writing section is scored on a scale of 0 to 6.

Many students want to know how important the GRE will be in determining their entrance into the school of their choice. It really depends on the school. Some schools view them as a necessary but minor part of the process while other schools place a much heavier emphasis on the scores. You can probably determine this by talking to the schools themselves and studying their admissions requirements. Either way, however, it is important to keep in mind that your scores are a major factor in determining eligibility for financial aid.

Preparing for the GRE

Prepare? Perhaps you are thinking that having gone through a barrage of standardized tests in your past and having completed a college education there should be no need to prepare. The answer is yes and no. First, it always is helpful to have practiced and know the form of a test before walking in the door so you spend less time deciphering directions and format and more time answering questions. Second, there are likely to be some questions (particularly in the math section) that look rather alien unless you are prepared. Most of us learned our basic Algebra and Geometry somewhere along the line, probably in high school. Sadly, some if not much of that information seems to have trickled out of our brains as we crammed them with other information in more recent years. As one test taker put it, "If you know Calculus but forgot fractions - you are in trouble!"

One good source to prepare for the GRE is www.gre.org . They have a variety of programs available either FREE or for a small sum that will not only allow you to practice the types of questions you will experience on the GRE, but also provide opportunities to write essays and submit them for actual scoring and feedback so that you can improve your scores.

If you are looking for some more advanced help, you can access a number of on-line test prep services. They generally offer various levels of test preparation including regular classes, online classes, and private tutoring that will help you to improve your test taking skills and prepare you for everything you will face on the GRE.

There are countless other resources available on the topic. Any bookstore you walk into should have several books available with practice exams and tips and advice for test takers. Do not be overwhelmed, but do take the time to prepare yourself so that you know what to expect going into the test.

In all your preparations it is important to remember to leave yourself enough time before your application deadlines so that you can study and take the GRE and allow time (up to four weeks) for the scores to arrive. While it would be unreasonable to expect testing to be fun, at least if you have taken time to prepare you should feel satisfied that you have worked hard and will do well on your test. Good luck!


Gradschools.com