<p>I am planning to take the GRE this year to start applying for grad schools but I am having trouble studying for it. I am afraid of the verbal section so I want to learn how to study for it and what materials to study with. Although the math section is not as intimidating as the verbal, I would like to go over some few strategies and so forth as well. </p>
<p>I am planning to apply for an M.ARCH degree and </p>
<p>which GRE books or materials helped improve vocabulary skills, strategy skills, and so forth for both Verbal and Math?</p>
<p>I have not taken the GRE yet, but in all of my practice tests I consistently get all of the reading comprehension right. The reason for this is that I read scholarly articles for comprehension and ask myself questions having to do with the content of the article. </p>
<p>As for the vocabulary, I have not perfected it yet, but I am well on my way there as I am getting most of the vocab questions correct on my practice tests now. For this, I recommend freerice's vocabulary test. You can study for the GRE and donate rice at the same time! </p>
<p>I bought the Kaplan book and I haven't really used it yet -- I think it was somewhat of a waste of money (for verbal, anyway). Download the ETS GRE Powerprep off the ETS website and take the tests. The two practice tests on the program are computer adaptive, so they change each time you take them! It also lets you see average GRE scores by GPA, undergrad field, and graduate field. </p>
<p>I'm also using GRE's diagnostic services. I take quizzes there and the website shows me my weak points and strategies I can use to improve ($13.95).</p>
<p>I haven't started my math review itinerary that I've set up for myself, but basically, go to the GRE website and go over the GRE math Practice: <a href="http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/GRE/pdf/GREmathPractice.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/GRE/pdf/GREmathPractice.pdf</a> . At the end of each section, you can practice what you just learned. If you consistently get questions wrong, make practice sets with these questions and do them daily until you get them right. Practice math for about a 1/2 hour to 1 hour everyday until you start getting the hang of things. The more you practice, the better your chances of improving your score. If you do this without fail for a month, then you will see a significant improvement in your score.</p>
<p>Although Quant is less intimidating at first glance, you also need a much higher score on Quant than you need on Verbal in order to be competitive scores-wise. A 'good' Quant score generally entails getting at least a 760.</p>
<p>Just don't screw it up and you'll be fine. The GRE won't get you into a top school. You just need to match their average scores (which honestly isn't very difficult) then use that extra time you had set aside for studying for the GRE doing something more useful. It's all about time management, my friend...</p>
<p>But on second thought, if you are having trouble matching the average score, maybe you should do some extra studying. But if you need to do extra studying for the GRE then you can count on not getting into that top school anyway.</p>
<p>The way I see it is: the students who get into the top 10 programs have good GRE scores, but this has nothing to do with why they were admitted in the first place. It is just a correlation - good applicants tend to have high GRE scores. Good applicants are people with good research skills who have a lot of experience in the field and who have good letters of recommendation from well-known faculty... I doubt they are very worried about the GRE when they are applying.</p>
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But if you need to do extra studying for the GRE then you can count on not getting into that top school anyway.
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<p>This doesn't make sense. Lots of people with lots of research experience and good analytical skills still do poorly on the GRE due to bad test-taking skills, early mistakes, lack of prep, etc.</p>
<p>I am sure you didn't mean to come off as arrogant Mitmitten, but that comment was a bit offensive. You should absolutely prepare for the GRE as it tests your ability to take the GRE. It is full of basic algebra and geometry that you probably haven't seen in years. Why should you penalize yourself for lack of effort.</p>
<p>I used Barron's GRE study book and it really wasn't that great. I don't know what to say about which material to use.</p>
<p>i agree with belevitt. the GRE doesn't test your knowledge, it tests how well you take the GRE. that merits at least some prep time. i'd say that taking an entire course to study for it is extreme, but reading through a book and taking practice tests and familiarizing yourself with strategies can't hurt.</p>
<p>i used the princeton review's guide and old GRE tests published by ETS. they helped me get used to the format of the test and had some good test-taking strategies, especially on the math section.</p>
<p>I had a lot of luck with "The Princeton Review" and the "Official Guide - GRE 10th edition"
The official guide has a bunch of real practice tests from previous years. You can also get an additional practice test off the ETS web site. Be sure to practice the Computerized tests since this will be what you actually take. You can get these from the ETS web site as well. When you register, you will also get a disc with these practice computerized tests.</p>
<p>I will be going to a PhD program in Electrical Engineering. It is truly strange that my GRE score reflects my vocabulary and ability to do High School math. Perhaps the writing section actually had some value. I don't know. These GRE scores are very important to some schools, so take them seriously. Most top EE schools will list the GRE scores on all sections of the entering class.</p>
<p>Definitely prepare....I found that I forgot how to do long division after one of the Math practice tests....there is no need to get messed up on stupid stuff like that. You can also get your verbal score up substatially by really going after vocabulary words. You could raise your verbel score by up to 50 or 60 points. Practicing the writing after reading the Priceton review prep could easily turn a 4 into a 5....Good luck.</p>
<p>thanks for the help guys. I just want to get get all the materials that best helped them improve their score. I have so far Kaplans book and the ETS one, but I will try to look into the Princeton one. I just want one that helped them the most in the vocabulary section. Like I said, the vocab department will probably be my weakest.</p>
<p>And for mitmitten's comments, I don't take it offensively or anything. I just don't agree with the statement. You're saying that people who get good scores are the ones who are naturally smart? and the ones who WANT to study, who WANT to get a good score, and who WANT to get into good schools can't?</p>
<p>my friend, with will you can do anything in this effing world. even getting a good GRE school.</p>
<p>I read a TON, at least for a college student, probably about 4 hours a day between text and pleasure. But the verbal portion of the GRE is just kind of off the wall…</p>
<p>I didn’t study all that much, and mostly used Barrons. Although I looked over the “how to’s” on the essay portion using the Princeton Review the night before and got a 5.5 on my essays. </p>
<p>Stupid test. Glad it’s over. And that most schools I’m applying to don’t need it anyway.</p>
<p>I liked the Kaplan book that came with practice tests on CD. My girlfriend used Barrons.</p>
<p>I disagree with BrownParent in terms of how to study for the verbal. Many of those words on the GRE lists (expanded from the top 300) are not words that come up in any reading, much less in literature. And I’m an English major. Kaplan’s books had a nice way of learning vocab–they grouped words with similar meanings together so you could associate words instead of learning exact definitions. I thought it was really helpful.</p>
<p>The GRE is so skewed. I’m an English major applying for linguistics programs, and I still did better on the Quantitative than the Verbal. I am so glad it’s over though.</p>
<p>Yeah, the school I really want to go to (UCLA Applied Linguistics and TESL) doesn’t want us to send GRE scores and says they won’t look at them if we do.</p>
<p>I used Barrons and found it quite helpful. However, their practice tests are a bit different qualitatively.The test prep cd that one gets from the ETS after registering for the test, is pretty helpful. The verbal section is a bit off the walls. I didn’t practice any essays and got a 5.5.</p>
<p>Hey everyone I am currently an undergrad student working towards a B.A. in Biology. My GPA is around 3.2. I want to become a biology professor and I am interested in applying to a phD program at UCLA. I haven’t taken my GRE’s yet. Does anyone know how that works?</p>
<p>Myjuly, aif I remember correctly, the next paper based test is October 25. Most students will take the computer-based GRE, however, and you can make an appointment online for the testing center nearest you. You can repeat it up to once a month, although the cost would get staggering pretty quickly.</p>
<p>If you are finishing your junior year, you would do well to take the computer assessment over the summer.</p>
<p>Will those two books along with the ETS tests and powerprep suffice for all my study needs?</p>
<p>Needless to say, I want to obliterate this stupid test. Is there anything else I might find helpful for prep, especially for the verbal section?</p>