| Graduate schools require that you to take the GRE | | | | totally throw you off from the correct answer. The |
| exam before applying to graduate school. Graduate | | | | questions at the beginning of the test have more of |
| student who scored high on their GRE tend to have | | | | an affect on your score than the ones at the end. |
| better success in graduate school than those that | | | | This means that you take special care in answering |
| scored lower, which is why graduate schools like to | | | | these questions with the best of your ability because |
| use test scores as part of their admission process. | | | | getting these correct will dramatically improve your |
| First of all, it is important for you to know what will | | | | score. |
| be on the test, so that you know what to expect | | | | #2 Do not leave answers blank. On the GRE you are |
| and can properly prepare for the exam. The GRE | | | | not penalized for wrong answers. You are graded on |
| test is composed of 3 main sections. The first | | | | the number of correct answers. If you do not know |
| section of the GRE is the verbal section. This section | | | | the answer to a question, then use the process of |
| is made up of 30 multiple-choice questions that you | | | | elimination to narrow down the choices given as |
| will have 30 minutes to complete. | | | | much as possible. If you can narrow down the |
| The second section is the quantitative or math | | | | choices to two options, then you now have a 50/50 |
| section, which is designed to measure comprehension | | | | chance of getting the answer correct. |
| in arithmetic, algebra and geometry. You will have 45 | | | | If you do not know the answer and cannot make an |
| minutes to complete 28 questions. | | | | educated guess then randomly fill it in. The odds are |
| The third and final section is the analytical writing | | | | better for you to answer those questions that you |
| section. You will have 45 minutes to complete 2 | | | | cannot figure out at random than it is to leave them |
| essays. | | | | completely blank. |
| Now that you have an idea of what is included on | | | | #3 Manage your time. Since each section of the test |
| the exam, you will need to take the necessary steps | | | | is timed, you will need to be able to manage your |
| to prepare for the exam. Since everyone prepares | | | | time effectively so that you have enough time to |
| for major tests and exams differently, you will need | | | | complete each question on the exam. Don't spend |
| to follow a course of action that will allow you to | | | | too much time on any one question that will cause |
| best prepare for the exam. | | | | you to not have enough time to answer the |
| #1 Make a plan. Whether you need to take a GRE | | | | remaining questions. |
| preparation course or you can study on your own | | | | #4 Check your work. When you have completed a |
| with a GRE practice exam book, choose the way | | | | section and you have time left before the end of |
| that you are going to go about studying for the | | | | that portion of the exam, go back and check your |
| exam. | | | | answers. First, make sure that you have answered all |
| #2 Create a schedule. Set aside a certain amount of | | | | of the questions. Revisit the questions that you were |
| time each day to devote to studying for your exam. | | | | having trouble with and recheck your answer choice |
| Allot yourself enough time in these study sessions to | | | | now that you have a few more minutes to spend on |
| complete the areas that need to be covered in order | | | | it. On a computer-based test you will not be able to |
| to keep you on schedule. | | | | go back and change your answers, so be sure to |
| #3 Practice, practice, and then practice some more. | | | | make an educated guess without spending too much |
| Set up simulated practice test sessions. Use practice | | | | time any on one question. Do not leave it blank |
| tests from books or online. Go back to the areas | | | | because you will not have an opportunity to go back |
| that you still need to work on and review, practice | | | | and fill it in. |
| and study until you have mastered those areas as | | | | Relax, take a deep breath, and prepare for your GRE |
| well. | | | | exam. The material on the GRE is based on |
| So now you know the format of the test, what is | | | | information that you already know. When you are |
| going to be on the test, and how to study for the | | | | studying, you are not really studying to learn new |
| test. Now you need to know what to do while you | | | | material. You are really refreshing your memory and |
| are actually taking the test to totally conquer it. | | | | learning test taking techniques to help improve your |
| #1 Read the questions carefully. Do not rush through | | | | score. By taking the necessary steps to prepare for |
| the exam because you think that you know it like | | | | the exam, you will have everything you need to |
| the back of your hand. Missing just one word can | | | | conquer the GRE. |