Finally took GRE

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Mar 26, 2008

Good job - tough test! Enjoy the rest of your day doing something nice and relaxing!

justme1972 · Mar 26, 2008

I'm curious....HOW bad is the GRE's?

I have flashbacks to the SAT's and I'm really, really concerned about having to take a really important test such as that.

I'll need at least 1000 to get into a graduate program.

itsinthegenes · Mar 26, 2008

I found it ok. The essays came easily. I am a UK citizen, so never had to do a test like it, so was pretty nervous. I took a few practice tests on the GRE website and also got a few books out. I made flash cards for the most common words, and that helped a little. Regarding the maths, I am not great, and as I am 28 it has been a while. I just went through the books and did the questions, memorized some formulas for geometry.

I should probably have done better in the maths, but my partner was in Court yesterday and the day before for a child custody case, and what with the prep for that I had not studied for a week!

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Mar 27, 2008

Congrats to you! The GRE seemed more difficult to me than the NCLEX, or any other standardized test I've taken. Maybe that's because I'm 39, and had to dig some of that math stuff out of the back of my brain, and dust the cobwebs off. I got a 570 verbal/550 quant/5.0 analytical. I'm OK with that, because I needed a combined 1100/4.0.

When I went to test, there were 4 other testers there who were taking it for the 3rd or 4th time, because they couldn't get a combined score over 900. So, feel good about your score, and be glad you don't have to take it again!

I can definitely empathize with the "being able to rest now" sentiment. Good luck to you in getting into your program!