Tips to Improve Your GRE Scores

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a test for graduate hopefuls who want to continue their education. The GRE is required for most graduate programs in the United States. The purpose of the exam is to test the undergraduate for proficiency in basic college level math and English. Each university has different score requirements, but these scores determine the likelihood of being accepted. Higher scores provide the student with a stronger application for acceptance into graduate school.
Overview of the GRE
The GRE is comprised of three sections - verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing. Each section is multiple choice except for analytical writing. The highest possible score on the GRE is 1600 points. The total score is divided by two, providing a possible 800 points for verbal and 800 points for quantitative analysis. The industry in which you wish to study will decide the importance of each score. For instance, science graduate schools weigh quantitative (math) scores more heavily. Although the importance of scores varies for different colleges, a score of 1000 is considered average. A minimum of four weeks of study is recommended.
You cannot have any notes, calculators, or even your own pencils when entering the examination room. Scrap paper is provided by the testing center along with two sharpened pencils. The GRE is offered all year, so you can take it at any time. The GRE is administered at colleges or local learning facilities. You are required to take the GRE at a certified location for scores to be considered valid. Your scores are displayed immediately after the exam, but official results are mailed within ten days to your home and the universities at which you've chosen to apply.
The GRE Verbal Section
The verbal section tests three areas of English - sentence completion, antonym identification, and analogy analysis. The exam is 30 questions, and you have a maximum of 30 minutes to complete the test. The best way to improve verbal scores is to purchase vocabulary flashcards. Amazon.com sells a GRE Vocabulary Flashcard Book w/CD-ROM of 500 words with definitions, examples, and antonyms listed on the card. Every day, take 20 cards from the stack and learn them. On subsequent days, take 20 more flashcards, learn them, and review the previous words already studied. This creates an overlap of repeated reminders for word definitions, creating a strong familiarity of words. On the day of the test, read through the flashcards once more. Just knowing definitions is not sufficient for the GRE. Make sure you understand antonyms associated with the words and can work with analogies.
The GRE Quantitative Section
The quantitative section is the math part of the exam. The quantitative section is 30 questions that must be completed within 45 minutes. These questions cover graph analysis, basic and intermediate algebra, and basic geometry. Although most people fear the quantitative section, the math is very basic in comparison to advanced calculations.
Studying for the math section is the most time consuming. The key to good quantitative scores is taking plenty of practice exams. Amazon.com sells books that contain practice questions, practice tests, and expert advise. If there is a practice problem you don't understand, review the answer and make note of the solution. Focus on other math problems that are similar to the calculations that give you trouble. This type of studying strengthens your knowledge of a particular type of calculation. Start with easier questions and practice harder problems as the exam date gets closer.
The GRE exam questions are dynamically loaded depending on the previous question's difficulty. When you get an answer correct, the GRE displays a harder question, so it's important to understand harder problems for better scoring. Practice exams are organized so easier questions are at the beginning and the harder questions are at the end. This simulates the actual GRE exam.
Although these tips seem simple, they are the key to a good GRE score. In addition to these tips, sleep a full eight hours before the exam and eat breakfast. Food allows the brain to concentrate, which gives you the ability to answer questions more accurately. Try not to study the day before the exam to lower anxiety and nervousness. Dedicated studying, healthy eating, and mental preparation are all elements of a higher GRE score.
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