GRE EXAM REVIEW

GRE Exam Review
The GRE is the test that’s been taken by millions and millions of college graduates hoping to go on to graduate school over the past several decades. The name stands for Graduate Record Examination, but most people simply call it the GRE for short. The test is given at Thompson Prometric testing centers all over America, and also may be taken at many colleges and universities. As of late 2006, the cost to take the GRE general test is $130. (There are also GRE Subject tests in various subjects, but the information here is about the general GRE exam.) The test is a three-part exam, consisting of a writing part, a quantitative reasoning test, and a verbal reasoning portion. The writing portion is scored from 0 to 6, while the other two parts of the test are each scored on a scale between 200 and 800. The average scores for all people who take the GRE are 470 on the verbal reasoning test, and 570 on the quantitative reasoning test.

The test is taken on a computer, and not with the traditional pencil and paper. It’s also computer adaptive, which means that different people will see different questions, based on their responses to the first few questions, and then subsequent questions. A person who gets questions right will see harder questions, while a person who flunks some questions will get easier ones, in order to determine their level of knowledge. It’s important to focus hard and do well on early questions, as this can lead to a much higher score than answering later questions correctly. And keep in mind that the GRE test is a timed test-on the writing portion, you’ll have 45 minutes to write your first essay analyzing an issue, and 30 minutes to write your second one, in which you analyze an argument. On the quantitative portion of the GRE, you’ll have 45 minutes to answer 28 questions on quantitative comparisons and problem solving. You’ll have 30 minutes to answer 30 questions on the verbal test, which cover language and grammar, reading comprehension, sentence formation, etc. Don’t take the GRE for granted-it’s a difficult and challenging test which can have a huge impact, either positive or negative, on your future goals and career. A good study guide and prep materials are mandatory for any person contemplating taking the GRE in the near future.