<p>Hi. I'm a sophomore and trying to find some reading materials on the GRE Biochemistry, and so far... there is nothing. Does the Princeton Review really not even publish a book on the Biochem GRE? Or Kaplan? That seems ridiculous. All I have are some descriptions by ETS themselves over what's on the biochem, but I was looking for a lot more (like on the other subject tests, where there are guide-books/practice books for them).
Worst of all, there are guide-books for the Biology one, but not the Biochem/Cell/Molecular.
Can anyone who has taken it or is going to take it weigh in on how they studied and what they used to structure that study? (I'm aware that I should learn from textbooks, but I would like a tighter stucture to my study-time as well). Any good recommendations?
Thanks for the help everyone.</p>
<p>I took the Biology test and used the guidebooks you mentioned, as well as a Schaum's Outline for college-level biology. I was surprised by how much I learned about organismal biology and ecology from an outline that's intended for college freshmen. Schaum's publishes a biochemistry outline too - why not go to Border's and take a look at it? Even if that's not adequate preparation, I'd bet that all of the material will be on the test.</p>
<p>You'll need to study from textbooks to round out your knowledge. The best for GRE Biochemistry are MBOC ("Big Alberts"), Stryer, and Griffiths, and old versions are available for all of them on PubMed (PubMed</a> Books). Note that you have to search for something within the book in order to access any of the content. There is a forum for that subject test (GRE</a> Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology - TestMagic Forums) where you can hear other people's study habits and learn where to find the 1994 exam, which I think is the only "old" biochem exam still circulating.</p>
<p>I'd also like to point out that the biology GRE is much, much easier. Unless you are going into biochemistry research specifically, you might be better off with the biology test. Not only is it easier to score well on, it's also easier to study for, because the material's not boring as balls. :D That's why I took the biology GRE, even though I had a cell/molecular background and my school doesn't offer classes in plant biology or ecology. Even most biochemistry programs would accept biology GRE scores. Just a thought.</p>
<p>There is this one website that sells 5 different ebooks for GRE Subject Biochem/Cell/Molbio - <a href="http://www.grebio.com%5B/url%5D">http://www.grebio.com</a></p>
<p>In my experience, the practice tests they sell are very good for the prep.
The summary ebook is also good, but it definitely does not replace studying for the books... mostly it is useful for reviewing and "cramming" just before the exam.</p>
<p>Good luck on the exam, btw.</p>
<p>Mena</p>
<p>When I wrote mine I bought:
GRE Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Test: The Best Test Preparation"
Thomas E. Smith</p>
<p>and a ebook set including 2 full-length practice exams with answers, a strategy book, and 50 bonus questions, from grebiochemistry.org</p>
<p>Both items were ~$20 each.</p>
<p>I found the practice exams from grebiochemistry to be EXTREMELY useful. I encountered so many similar questions on the exam, and it really helped me since they were pretty hard questions and took a while to interpret, but took no time for me since I'd seen them already.</p>
<p>The review book was good too, but I used it not so much to review/learn the actual topics, but to just make sure that I wasn't missing on any of the topics. (and for that purpose it really helped). For general review/learning of the topics that will be tested, it is best to go over the topics list and read every chapter in the three books (the cell, biochemistry, and genetics) that talks about it.</p>
<p>Oh, and I disagree on whether the GRE bio is "easier" than the biochemistry or not. Your choice of which test you should write depends on your undergraduate major, not your intended graduate major. The purpose of the subject test is to almost "prove" that your undergraduate degree taught you what it was supposed to, and this is usually important for admissions if you come from a non-top10 school. I did my major in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, so it made perfect sense for me to take the biochemistry exam; I would have been dumbfounded by the biology exam.</p>
<p>Neuro, I sat the exam recently and studied off my molecular cell biology text book by Lodish, for practice I did the paper exam they mailed you after you register. I feel that only 30% of the exam requires critical thinking/data interpretation, so if you get used to that you are set. The other 70% are basically know your detail types.</p>
<p>what if you're a math major? i'm aiming for biophysics/systems biology programs. what gre test do you take for that? plus, when do you take it?</p>
<p>MolSys, from what I understand most schools will consider Biology or Biochemistry as appropriate. Regarding the timing I personally think the best time to take it is at the beginning of your senior year (i.e. October). Because some of the upper year courses is useful for developing critical thinking and data interpretation needed for the test.</p>
<p>MolSysBio, PhD-Bound is right. Don't take the math exam. You need to use the GRE subject exam to prove that you have a good background in biology because you didn't major in it. Either bio test would work.</p>
<p>if youre going for biophysics/systems bio you can also take the physics exam. My friends who are doing biophysics next year all took the physics GRE.</p>
<p>i suppose in that case then i can take the math gre?</p>
<p>You've already proven that you can handle the math for a computational biology program by getting good grades in your major (hopefully :)). A biophysics program needs to know that you're also strong in biology and physics. Good grades in a few physics/bio courses here and there is not sufficient evidence of that. Therefore, I strongly recommend that you take either the physics (tougher) or biology/biochem tests to demonstrate your aptitude. Keep in mind that you are competing for admission against people who majored in biophysics and systems bio and thus are clearly prepared for graduate work in that area. You certainly can take the math GRE, but you won't be demonstrating the versatility of your education.</p>
<p>i suppose i could take the bio/biochem gre. thanks for the advice!</p>
<p>You should check with the programs, obviously, as some will request certain tests, while others will let you pick. </p>
<p>But if they give you a choice, keeping in mind what snowcapk is saying, take the test that you feel you'll do the best on. :)</p>