GRE or Graduate Record Examination is a standardized test for different graduate schools based in the USA, Canada, and some other countries. It is one of the oldest standardized tests still in existence today, being founded back in 1936 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
GRE is important as it acts as a measure of an applicant’s preparedness for graduate school. It also acts as an indicator of the potential for success in grad school. Studies have directly linked GRE scores with the prospective GPA in grad school. As a result, it has become a key instrument in the enrollment of any local and foreign student.
What is GRE?
As mentioned above, GRE is a form of standardized test. Many universities require a GRE score in addition to graduate-level achievement and ECAs. Depending on Universities, GRE carries significant weight in the overall profile of the candidate.
The assessment is divided into several sections. The overall marking depends on the individual performance in each part. There is a verbal section, a quantitative section, and an analytical writing section. GRE doesn’t necessarily guarantee admission into prospective post-graduate programs. But a good mark puts a candidate in the upper consideration bracket.
Best Online Resources for GRE Preparation
Since there are three distinct test modules. The resources are also outlined under each subhead.
Verbal Section
The verbal section comprises reading comprehension, use of vocabulary, and critical reasoning. The scoring typically ranges from 130 to 170 for this section. There are about 20 questions in each verbal section with a time limit of 30 minutes.
The verbal section depends on the practice of the test taker. It is not about problem-solving skills, rather understanding and expressing. The Princeton Review has several practice modules for the verbal section. It also comes with explanations for each of the modules. A test taker can easily identify the mistakes as well as learn new techniques from them.
Varsity Tutors also have a host of test material for the verbal section. The tests are completely free and the test taker can evaluate their performance in real-time.
The Manhattan Review has a comprehensive list of vocabulary exclusively prepared for the GRE test takers. Paid books like Word Smart 5th Edition ensure an overall complete preparation for the vocabs.
ETS has a paid mock test for the verbal section under their PowerPrep program. Want an in-depth overview of the verbal section? Head over to Prep Scholar as their blogs take a deep dive into everything GRE.
Quantitative Section
Similar to the verbal section, the quantitative section comprises marking between 130 to 170. There are about 20 questions in each quantitative section. There is an allocated time of 35 minutes for each section. The quantitative section focuses mostly on high school-level mathematics as well as critical reasoning. Just like the listening section, the key to success in the quantitative part is practice. It is more about honing mathematical skills with practice rather than memorization.
GRE online free resources
Online free resources for studying GRE exam
QS Leap offers a comprehensive guideline to the entire preparation process of GRE. The mathematics part has some critical sub-divisions. There are multiple choices, comparisons, and critical comparisons. Each of these makes up for the total quantitative part. Test Guide has a great list of practice tests for each of these individual marking sets.
In addition to these, ETS also has several GRE practice modules for the quantitative part. Need a rundown on what to study for the math part? ETS also has a math overview pdf file which is a go-to solution for everything related to quantitative analysis. For a more in-depth chapter-wise review, head over to Khan Academy. They have detailed guidelines regarding shortcuts and easy-to-solve quantitative problems.
Analytical Writing Section
Lastly, there is the analytical writing section. It is divided into two parts, the issue task, and the argument task. The entire writing section is marked on a scale of 0 to 6 on a half-point increment basis.
The issue task is a 30 minutes test of essay writing on a particular topic. It is like any other generic essay without any type of critical reasoning.
Things become a bit more complex with the argument task. Here a test taker will be given a series of arguments that leads to a conclusion. After that, the test taker will have 30 minutes to perform a critical analysis of the argument. Here the test doesn’t seek personal opinion. Rather it focuses on the ability of the test taker to find faults in the argument and how it can be made better.
The ETS website outlines the pool of issues for the issue task. Magoosh has an in-depth analysis of the difference and how to approach each of the writing sections. The test taker will also find useful tips about writing style, what to include, and what not. Manhattan Review also outlines the basics of analytical writing. The comprehensive guide will help the test taker understand the process of finding flaws in arguments and how to showcase them.
The ETS website also has a great selection of sample essays. A test taker can easily get an idea about how to structure the writing response.
Experimental Section
The experimental section doesn’t directly count towards the final mark. Rather it is an experimental process for future module inclusions by the ETS. For a computer-generated GRE, a test taker cannot tell which is the experimental section. As a result, it is important to approach each of the sections with utmost care. For paper-based GRE, the experimental section is usually at the end in a designated heading.
GRE has been the standard when it comes to graduate school admission. It has almost become synonymous with entrance for post-graduation in the US and Canada. Even though GRE isn’t a mandatory requirement in most countries, it is a must for some of the most sought-after universities in the world. As a result, it becomes increasingly important to ace the test. Each of the test sections requires critical thinking and aptitude. All of which can be gained through more and more practice.
Source: United News of Bangladesh