01 November 2013

Everything You Should Know About the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)


A GRE test is better known as a Graduate Record Exam. The exam is an admission requirement for graduate schools in the US, and in additional English-speaking countries. Just like an ACT or SAT, this exam is an extensive evaluation of your analytical writing, quantitative reasoning abilities, critical thinking, and verbal reasoning - in the other words, all the skills and abilities developed during the years you spent studying.

GRE Test Overview

A GRE test comprises three key sections: the Analytical Writing section, the Verbal section, and the Quantitative section. Students can take the exam on a computer or on paper. The testing time depends on the version of the exam that you choose, but note that you’ll probably need about three hours to complete all tasks.  

  The Analytical Writing Section

The first portion of the Analytical writing part compels you to read a paragraph on the subject of a general topic and then talk about that issue for 45 minutes. Your capacity to justify your opinions with relevant examples and sound reasoning will influence the way you handle this section. If you take the test on a computer, this part is done through simple word processing software. In places where computer-based testing is unavailable, the candidate will have to write the answer by hand.
Unlike other sections of the GRE exam, the writing part won’t be computer-adaptive. You can utilize a computer to write your answers, but it won’t evaluate or score them. The scores that you obtain for this section are established by real individuals.

  The Verbal Reasoning Section

The verbal reasoning part of the exam entails analogies, reading comprehension questions, sentence completions, as well as antonyms. This portion of the GRE test is meant to evaluate your capacity to shape conclusions from written paragraphs, establish relationships among different sections of sentences, and spot associations between words and concepts.
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 The Math (Quantitative) Section

This part of the GRE test assesses high-school-level math. If you’re out of practice, you should start revising your skills in algebra, data analysis, arithmetic and geometry. This section of the test will evaluate your ability to solve various math problems and examine your capacity to make use of quantitative reasoning. As far as the computer version is concerned, you’ll have to respond to 28 questions in 45 minutes. The paper version includes two 30-minute parts, each with 30 questions.

Preparation – how to take revision notes for your GREs

Just like any other exams, GREs demand preparation. According to paper writing experts at SolidEssay.com, students must not panic as the exams are really not that challenging. If you feel that some subjects are out of your league, make sure to prepare in advance. Revision notes, intense practice, and determination will help you pass GRE exams with flying colors. The following tips on how to revise note for your GRE exams might also be of great assistance:

 Boost vocabulary – you can improve your vocabulary skills by making use of both direct and indirect methods. For the verbal reasoning section, a good vocabulary is extremely important. Prior to trying to pass your GRE exam make use of study guides. Some guides include lists with up to 3,500 words you might have to skim through. It might seem demanding, but it’s an excellent way of boosting your vocabulary.  

 Prioritize revision notes – Finding a suitable strategy to revise for your GRE exam is certainly not that simple; yet, it’s not something impossible to do. For the math (quantitative) section, you can develop an effective system based on graphs and charts. On the other hand, the writing part of the exam can be revised doing practice essays. Practicing is all about mimicking the exact conditions of the GRE exam.   

Active reading – you can always practice your reading skills by turning to active revisions. For example, you can skim through GRE-level materials like the Wall Street Journal or The Economist. 

Students who want to pass their GRE exams should build a plan of action for their study session. The good news is that there are numerous test prep resources, GRE classes, private tutoring, study groups, test prep books, and online tutorials that can help them out. It’s important to settle on study methods that can match your abilities. Maximize results by opting for an appropriate learning style and don’t postpone your revision sessions because you won’t have time to study enough.
Author Bio: Jeff is an expert writer and blogger. He loves to write about education and related topics. He is also writing for a site http://www.solidessay.com which provides academic writing help for high school and college students.

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