Studying for the GRE

RONJON · Dec 21, 2008

What are some good sites for online practice..etc. Anybody taken it have any tips for what or how to study? I only have a week or two to study for it and I wanna do as well as I can.

ROJNON

dirkmoneyshot · Dec 21, 2008

While I took the GMAT I found that doing as many actual practice tests was key. My wife on the other hand took the GRE to get into her doctoral program just a couple months ago and found working the problems over and over helped her. I don't think your going to be able to do much with 2 weeks to make any significant difference in your score so i would probably work on taking a practice test every day and work a lot of problems. As for sites, I would say i liked 800score.com but that was just me. I know my wife used Kaplan products though-

stinkpelt · Dec 21, 2008

Ya, take as many practice tests as you can. That will at least prepare you for the type of questions that will be on the test so you will know exactly what to expect. I took it back in 01 and did extremely well on the quantative and analytical but only average on the verbal....and my brain was done for the day after taking that test, had to go drink some beer afterwards. Will you be taking the General test or a subject test?

Dad · Dec 21, 2008

Would agree completely with everything said here.

Do TONS of practice questions! Two weeks isn't much time - if yuo had a couple of months or more, I'd recommend Kaplan, too, as dirk said.

cjjrwe · Dec 21, 2008

I took the GMAT and used a study guide (Princeton I think), and the best practice is to do computerized practice exams that closely resemble the actual test, that way you get exposure to the type of questions asked and you learn how the test software operates. I am sure there are numerous programs online, with only two weeks left, practice exam, practice exam, practice exam...good luck.

Swollness1 · Dec 21, 2008

I have taken the GRE. It's not to bad as long as you are familiar with how it works. I studied for a little over a month, and used the book, GRE for Dummies. It actually helped a lot and know some other people who have used it as well.

marbalizer99 · Dec 21, 2008

I never took it, but was considering it. Someone told me that you already will know the stuff you learned in college and not to spend to much time on that. He told me to focus most of my attention to the essays.

dirkmoneyshot · Dec 21, 2008

marbalizer99 said:
I never took it, but was considering it. Someone told me that you already will know the stuff you learned in college and not to spend to much time on that. He told me to focus most of my attention to the essays.

The essays are the easiest part of the whole test and really the section that is looked at least. I don't know if I have it still but there is a format to answer each question where you basically just kind of change the sentences around to fit that paticular scenario. The reason why is because its computer scored and the computer looks for specific things that would be similar to a top paper.

You are correct that the subjects are VERY basic. I believe the math and verbal is something like Jr. High level, HOWEVER just because you took it in Jr. High doesn't mean that you probably remember it all.

Its not unusal for someone to take say the GMAT the first time and only score a 500 but after going back over the problems and learning how the test works to go up 100 pts.

RONJON · Dec 30, 2008

Damn Im getting nervous now! I am taking my final physics class next month and since I have a window between now and the 12th I figured I would study and take it. Now I dont know

On one hand if I dont take it now I wont be able to apply until the following semester...on the other if I rush it and do poor than I am screwed since I hear alot of schools dont throw it out if you retake it but instead take the average...Shit guys I dont know what the hell to do here

RJ

kfrost06 · Dec 30, 2008

RONJON said:
Damn Im getting nervous now! I am taking my final physics class next month and since I have a window between now and the 12th I figured I would study and take it. Now I dont know On one hand if I dont take it now I wont be able to apply until the following semester...on the other if I rush it and do poor than I am screwed since I hear alot of schools dont throw it out if you retake it but instead take the average...Shit guys I dont know what the hell to do here

RJ

Are you taking the subject test?

either way, go for it! Your brain is working good if your currently in school once your out it will seem harder. You are correct about the schools not dropping the lower scores but don't sweat it you'll do good. The general test is not that hard. The subject test if you take that is HARD. I took Chemistry and was the top of my class but after the subject test I felt like an idiot. I assume the physics one is just as hard.

My girlfriend just took her GRE for the second time last week and improved her score alot, she bought vocabulary cards which she claims did wonders for the verbal section.

Good Luck!

RONJON · Dec 30, 2008

kfrost06 said:
Are you taking the subject test?

either way, go for it! Your brain is working good if your currently in school once your out it will seem harder. You are correct about the schools not dropping the lower scores but don't sweat it you'll do good. The general test is not that hard. The subject test if you take that is HARD. I took Chemistry and was the top of my class but after the subject test I felt like an idiot. I assume the physics one is just as hard.

My girlfriend just took her GRE for the second time last week and improved her score alot, she bought vocabulary cards which she claims did wonders for the verbal section.

Good Luck!

Mine is just the General as I am going to Physical Therapy School...problem is i havent looked over anything AT ALL!!!...and I havent taken a grammer or lit or algebra class in a few years bro. Any more advice on it..i appreciate anything or any advice you guys have for me

maldorf · Dec 31, 2008

I would recommen buying a book that has sample tests in it. That is what I did, and I do feel that it helps. It mostly gets you used to the test format and how to use your time most efficiently. You arent going to learn anything you dont already know in a few weeks, but you can study how to take the test. I found the logic section to be tough, I ended up running out of time and not finishing all of the questions. Do keep in mind that you are penalized for wrong answers, so in some cases its better not to answer. Im pretty sure the test is that way, but its been over 15 years since I took it so you might want to check on that. I took it 2x and did much better the second time around. Score improved a lot.

RONJON · Dec 31, 2008

maldorf said:
I would recommen buying a book that has sample tests in it. That is what I did, and I do feel that it helps. It mostly gets you used to the test format and how to use your time most efficiently. You arent going to learn anything you dont already know in a few weeks, but you can study how to take the test. I found the logic section to be tough, I ended up running out of time and not finishing all of the questions. Do keep in mind that you are penalized for wrong answers, so in some cases its better not to answer. Im pretty sure the test is that way, but its been over 15 years since I took it so you might want to check on that. I took it 2x and did much better the second time around. Score improved a lot.

Yeah i figured what the hell ill go ahead and cram and take it and if I do bad..oh well ill retake it..BUT NOW i hear that they take the AVERAGE!!!

sdbeef · Dec 31, 2008

I teach at a university. Its up to each university how they look at GRE's,...average, most recent, highest score, its pretty much not known. They get all scores from the past five years. Some people take it and then just think no harm if I just cancel it at the end if I dont think i did well, but the university sees all cancellations also, but not the score. The practice computer based practice tests are pretty reliable in terms of predicting how well youll do, so with these you should have a good idea. Good luck

RONJON · Dec 31, 2008

sdbeef said:
I teach at a university. Its up to each university how they look at GRE's,...average, most recent, highest score, its pretty much not known. They get all scores from the past five years. Some people take it and then just think no harm if I just cancel it at the end if I dont think i did well, but the university sees all cancellations also, but not the score. The practice computer based practice tests are pretty reliable in terms of predicting how well youll do, so with these you should have a good idea. Good luck

Any good websites where I could take some reliable practice tests for free bro?

sdbeef · Dec 31, 2008

The most reliable are probably going to come from Princeton review, kaplan, and I think the ETS has a sample test on its site. Search their sites and the tests should be easy to find.

RONJON · Dec 31, 2008

sdbeef said:
The most reliable are probably going to come from Princeton review, kaplan, and I think the ETS has a sample test on its site. Search their sites and the tests should be easy to find.

thanks bro...i actually think i might just cram and take the practice tests and get this shit done...i dont wanna wait any LONGER to get into PT school

sdbeef · Jan 1, 2009

Good luck

MacMan · Jan 2, 2009

I was able to sign up for a class at the University I wanted to attend, which involved taking practice tests in the actual room where the GRE was going to be administered. I think the familiarity with the test environment assists with recall. Kind of a state dependent learning thing.

The most useful part of the practice tests was learning how to manage time. I quickly learned to skip questions I was going to have a hard time answering and come back to them after I answered all the easier questions in the section.

I also learned to guess pretty well. Most multiple choice questions can be reduced to one of two answers pretty quickly. This ups your odds of guessing correctly when you either don't know or don't have enough time to finish.

maldorf · Jan 5, 2009

RONJON said:
thanks bro...i actually think i might just cram and take the practice tests and get this shit done...i dont wanna wait any LONGER to get into PT school

Back when I graduated as an undergrad it was harder to get into PT school than it was medical school. Simply because there werent nearly as many spots open at schools since it wasnt offered at as many colleges. Wondering how it is now. Might want to consider taking the MCAT too, and see how you do. DAMN, I JUST POSTED ON A THIS AND ITS 6 MONTHS OLD. I LOOKED AND HAD REPLIED BACK IN DECEMBER. GOD I HAVE SHIT FOR MEMORY.