The GRE – 5 Great Tips for Success

1. It’s not so black and white* Antonyms are something you may not have seen before
As if the analogies weren’t bad enough, the GRE also has antonym questions. And unlike analogies, which were on the SAT until 2005, antonyms haven’t been around for quite some time, so you may never have seen an antonyms question before. The antonyms section, as you may have guessed, will test your vocabulary by asking you to choose which word or phrase best encapsulates the opposite meaning of the given word or phrase. It sounds simple enough, but it’s not quite as elegant and alabaster. Trust us. To be successful at the antonyms questions, you will need to practice/review them and study your…

2. V for Vocabulary* Study your vocabulary!
Indeed, a large vocabulary is a vital virtue that promises victory over virtually any assessment of verbal virtuosity. Although the vicissitudes of vitality grant us a veritable vichyssoise of verbiage, invariably various vicissitudes of the vernacular disappear from sight, leaping at even the most vigilant of avant-gardes. To overcome this vexatious vulnerability, a verifiable verisimilitude: through a vigorous volley of verbal supplies, voila! — vindication of this voracious violation of the will.

3. Practice makes… well, you know The importance of practice tests
There are no disclosures here. However, it is important to note that the GRE is a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT). You can ask as many practice questions as you like, but no amount of practice questions from a book will accurately emulate the experience of taking a computerized test. rats Fortunately, ETS is generous enough to offer practice CATs on its website (ets.org). Start with the book and get used to the questions; Then when you’re ready for the real thing, download CATs and practice at home on your computer. Standardized tests always test the same concepts; the only things that change are the wording and the numbers. The better you know the format and the questions, the more sure you will be of the real thing.

4. Circles, Triangles, and Squares — oh my! math 101
Some of you, after your four years of college (plus any years spent in the real world), can probably do triple integrations in your sleep. hyperbolic differential equations? Please, that’s easy. If you can do that, you can probably handle the basic mathematical reasoning required for the GRE. However, those of you who didn’t major in engineering in college will still have to deal with the math section of the GRE. Math isn’t hard, but for many of you, it will be many years since you’ve seen a math problem. Don’t panic! It is not very different from the SAT. Do a few practice problems to gauge your level, and then decide on a course of action. If a stroll down memory lane is enough to grease the wheels of mathematics, good for you; if not, consider professional help!

5. Time is of the essence Start preparation early
Four years of college have made you (hopefully) a better and smarter thinker, but how long has it been since your last standardized test? When was the last time you had to sit down and answer four hours of questions on topics you (probably) couldn’t care less about? When was the last time you had to switch from reading comprehension to math to writing in the same amount of time? Don’t underestimate the GRE! Knowing that you could have done better is the worst feeling there is.

*An extra note, just for you!
In August 2011, the ETS will introduce the new (and improved?) GRE. Once these changes are implemented, vocabulary will be less emphasized and critical reading will be more important. Those of you who took the test before and around August 2011 may want to think about what format you would prefer to take!

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