The GRE test

The GRE test

          The GRE test is the starting point of all your efforts to go to the USA.

When is it conducted?

          Since it is a computer based test it is conducted throughout the year.

When must I apply?

          Apply for the test about 2 months before you plan to take the test. Even though you can apply even a month before the test, months like jnue/july/august/sept are generally crowded. In addition, it puts a deadline which gets you working seriously.

How do I prepare?

          Start by learning the word lists. This constitutes 50% of your work. Do the 50 wordlists in Barrons once while at the same time making flash cards. After you finish this start taking section by section tests. Do not take complete tests at this stage(why? try to improve section by section first... otherwise you might get disappointed with you total score). At this point do the paper based tests(why? they are abundant and you might want to save the CBT's for before the exam). Take a few quants sections now, but do the anals and verbal sections for the most part.

          About 2 months before the test start taking the CBT's. Start by taking individual sections(Kaplan's, REA, powerprep etc are good places to start). Interspersed with these section by section tests take up full length tests when you feel you are free for 3 hours at a stretch. Reserve the power prep full length tests for a week before the test(take the 1st test a week before the test and the 2nd test 4 days before the test). Stop studying 1 or 2 days before the test(why? the GRE is an aptitude test and anything you study now is probably not going to be of much use in getting extra marks).

What should I aim for?

          2400 obviously!!! (but for the realists among us aim for 90 percentile in each of the three sections(anals ~ 730 ; verbal ~ 640 ; quants ~ 780) )  .

How to tackle the exam?

          You get 3 sections + a test section(that's not evaluated). Since you don't know which the test section is going to be answer all sections well. In essence, the verbal section is a test of your knowledge (where your hard work learning the wordlists pays off), quants is a test of your diligence (only careless mistakes can make you muff this section) and anals is a test of your speed (anyone if given enough time can get all anals questions right... you have to answer 35 ques in 1 hour).

          The GRE pattern uses an adaptive algorithm to calculate your marks. What this means is that earlier queastions get more weight that later questions. The general funda is answer the first 10 question as carefully as possible (don't overdo it... i know of people who took so much time for the questions at the beginning that they had too many questions(>10) for the last 5 mins). Try adjusting the time for which you work in the CBT's.

          Don't get tense if something goes wrong during the exam. I know of one person in my batch whose computer went on the blink 3 times during the test. The test will always resume from where you left off and they will give you an addtional 2 minutes for the delay.

To cancel or not to cancel?

          After the test you get to cancel your exam.If you do so your exam just evaporates into thin air(There's no proof that you ever took the test except for the 6000 odd rupees that is missing from your purse). It's up to you to decide whether you want to do this or not.

Why take it early?

          Take it around june. The reason for doing this are many:

1. no college pressures... you are in your hols.

2. you get time to rewrite in case you do badly.

3. you can apply early.

          However don't take it so early that you have'nt enough time o prepare for it.

 The GRE is the 2nd most important criterion(after your CGPA) for admission so make no mistake about it... this is BIG!

A word of advice:

          Early practice tests scores may be disappointing. Keep practicing, the scores always gets better.         (A thumb rule for finding out your likely score is your power prep mark plus or minus 100 ).