<p>We just heard a rumor that it's harder to take the GRE on the computer because you have to deal with the questions one a time and can't skip through harder ones and then go back. What's up with this? Also, do you get your scores right away when you take it on the computer? It's our understanding that the paper based test is only offered on certain dates, just like the SATs. True? Thanks!</p>
<p>"We just heard a rumor that it's harder to take the GRE on the computer because you have to deal with the questions one a time and can't skip through harder ones and then go back. What's up with this?" This is true, but everyone's in the same boat. The paper test is not offered in the U.S. and Canada.</p>
<p>"Also, do you get your scores right away when you take it on the computer?" Yes, right after you're finished, they will ask you if you want to cancel or see your scores. Then you will see your Quantitative and Verbal scores immediately.</p>
<p>"It's our understanding that the paper based test is only offered on certain dates, just like the SATs. True? Thanks!" If your country offers it, the paper test is only offered 3 times a year (October, March, and June).</p>
<p>I took a sample GRE at the Princeton Review an I must say that i was amazed at the low level...seriously...</p>
<p>Is the real test like this sample?</p>
<p>I am not from the USA, but I swear that most of the maths questions come straight from my 10th grade mathsbook...I didn't score perfect of course, since I 'd never seent h test before, hadn't prepared anything and haven't done maths in years (plus one problem had a swirly symbol that i've never seen before...), oh yeah, it was alo midnight and i rushed through the test, had 20 minutes to spare...so...I was amazed to score a 690...i'm supposed to suck at maths...</p>
<p>seriously, the questions on graphs and tables were ridiculously easy, as were those on fractions...</p>
<p>The verbal part was more difficult, especially since I didn't knwo the type of questions and spent a while searching synonyms only later finding out antonyms were needed...i would need vocab training, een though I it's my second language at a near native speaker level. But again, the text questions were ridiculously easy! My high school exam (of a dutch high school, note) was more difficult than those text questions....(we get texts as part of our exam, the other parts being writing and an oral literature examination).</p>
<p>So, i'm guessing i could really crank up those scores with a bit of practice...i'm just wondering how representative these samples are....</p>
<p>Very. The math part is supposed to be that easy; an 800 is only 92nd percentile. I think once you're out of the 700's, you're in the 70's percentile wise.</p>
<p>And yes, the hardest part of the verbal is the vocab.</p>
<p>As the OP, maybe I should post a followup here. Maybe you guys are math guys. My son is the verbal type. He studied a week or so for the GRE, mainly working on the vocab since he didn't hold out much hope for the math section. He did review that just a bit and had his math whiz sis help a little. Still, he hadn't had a math class in seven or eight years.</p>
<p>Results: Verbal--720, which turns out to be 98th or 99th percentile.
Math-- 470 on Math, obviously toward the bottom of the percentiles but since he's into languages, shouldn't matter too much.</p>
<p>He used Barron's "How to Prepare for the GRE Test," and says it was helpful. Some of the words he studied in it actually came up on the test.</p>
<p>I heard that the questions also get harder or easier depending on how you did on the previous questions. Anyways, I'll probably end up giving the GRE my first try near the end of this year.</p>
<p>Yeah, it's called the computer adaptive test, so for every question you get right, you get rewarded with harder questions. The better you're doing, the worse you feel. But even then, it's still just SAT math.</p>
<p>The math doesn't even get into calculus, its all just reasoning through simple math (i'm a math major, so I'm a bit biased). Some of it is tricky but never too complicated. They have to gear it toward those who haven't had much math in college.</p>
<p>Example:</p>
<p>Which quantity is greater?</p>
<p>A: (1/2)(56)^(15)
B: (28)(56)^(14)</p>
<p>a) A is greater
b) B is greater
c) They are equal
d) Unable to determine</p>
<p>(Put away that calculator!)</p>
<p>Is the GRE's harder or easier or harder than GMAT'S?</p>
<p>Is the GRE's harder or easier or harder than GMAT'S?</p>
<p>gt06- on a scale of 1 - 10, how difficult is that problem compared to the rest of the math section? I don't mean to brag (I'm just surprised)- I'm in high school and that question is pretty easy.</p>
<p>The GRE isn't bad. The math section is really easy for most people. The verbal section is easy...as long as you have a really good vocabulary. I got a 620 on verbal...and that was the 87th percentile. So, a low verbal score isn't exactly bad. The writing section isn't too bad...but I believe it is the most unfair section. 30 minutes for 1 essay and 45 minutes for another...but you have never seen the topic before...so you need to read the statement, brainstorm, and write a well-structured, beautifully organized essay complete with thesis and conclusion...all in a very limited amount of time. Not everyone can do that. It seems much easier to prepare for the other two sections.</p>
<p>Yes, it's on the computer and you answer one question at a time and it kind of hurts your eyes after a while. You also get your scores right after you finish. You might as well find out sooner than later.</p>
<p>I have heard that the math on the GRE is easier than SAT (GRE I got a 780 86th percentile and I am in History). The Verbal though is supposedly harder (I have 670, 94th Percentile). Consequently a couple of mistakes on the math can really hurt your score and no, there is no calculus.</p>