Taking GREs in a few days, need insight!

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 17, 2011

Moved to the post-grad forum (vs. the GN forum) to encourage responses.

jcsong · Jul 18, 2011

Hi Nishas22! I am taking my GRE on the 21st also! I would strongly recommend a software called PowerPrep made by ETS (the company writing the GRE). They have 2 computer-based practice tests that you can take plus practice questions. I heard the scores are a pretty accurate reflection of your real score. As for Princeton and other company's prep books, I've heard they might not be accurate, because the question styles differ from the actual ETS tests. I would try to stick to practice questions issued by ETS. You can download PowerPrep here:

http://www.ets.org/gre/general/prepare/powerprep/download/

hope that helps! Good luck on Thursday!

Moogie · Jul 19, 2011

Do as many practice math questions as you can. The math isn't at a terribly high level---I could probably have done it in high school---but when you're out of HS or college math for a while, you forget how to do many of the problems you'll find on the GRE.

I did the computerized practice testing but could not put as much time into studying as I would have liked. Was taking a full course load for my master's program. However, my score was high enough to get accepted into my top choice PhD program.

If I can get through it, so can you! Try to de-stress and relax and good luck to both of you on Thursday!

myelin · Jul 19, 2011

I honestly was so, so nervous but then my score was fine (1350). I studied for about a month. I made sure to memorize all the words on the Barron's list that I didn't know, so that helped me have a strong verbal score. The math section... well, I just focused on trying to learn all the little tricks. I really hate that section because there are things on there I literally never learned in any of my math classes. I took a couple of practice tesst and that's it. Good luck!

Can you use the power prep software or buy a Kaplan book (they give you access to computerized exams) or something? I think you definitely want to take at least one computerized adaptive test before you go in for the real thing.

dedicatedone · Jul 20, 2011

The verbal was definitely the most challenging part for me. Math wasn't too bad...definitely a lot of tricks that the study books point out for you. I too studied and memorized around 300-400 words but it was just my luck that around 3 of them actually made there way on there. Best of luck to you!!! Just take your time and don't get stressed out during the middle of it all, I think that really throws people off their A game.

lissa.the.cocoa · Jul 20, 2011

My score was higher, but that's because I took the PowerPREP test at the beginning of my studying. I wanted to see where I was. If you are using non-ETS materials to study (Princeton Review, Kaplan, Barron's, etc.) I've read that they make their questions deliberately harder than the GRE. Two reasons: then you think you aren't doing as well, and you buy more prep materials or pay for a class; and two, they have a higher score guarantee with their classroom teaching, so if you score lower on the practice than your true potential, you are virtually guaranteed to score more highly on the real test. Not sure how true this is, but in my personal experience using the Kaplan book it was.

Nishas22 · Jul 20, 2011

Hi jcsong!!

Thank you for your reply, I'm so excited (and nervous) to get this test overwith! lol I never thought I'd be saying I'm excited for a test, but I'm trying to use some positive thinking. I downloaded the PowerPrep and it doesn't work, it is super slow on my computer. I'm gonna try it again and take a practice test before the real thing tomorrow morning. Best of luck to you!!! Let me know how it goes, I'd love to share the joyous details of the exam experience haha. Hopefully, I will be able to tell you I surpassed my 1100 goal! =) Good luck, be calm and cool, you can conquer this witch! You studied hard and you're going to do well. (This is my mantra hehe) Thanks again

Nishas22 · Jul 20, 2011

Thanks to everyone for replying! And of course, thank you for your best wishes on my exam, I can use all the luck and prayers I can get! I will most definitely do another practice test today from PowerPrep and just review some math formulas today. It's amazing how much you can forget since high school, it definitely takes alot of time and practice to get better. Waking up at the crack of dawn tomorrow to get to the test center 1 hour early, yes, I'm such a neurotic freak. =) Hope you all have a happy Wednesday! And very glad you all have surpassed this lovely exam.

Nishas22 · Jul 23, 2011

Hello! Just wanted to say thanks again to all u guys who took time out of your precious day to respond. I took the test on the 21st and I did great, got a 1200. I was so ecstatic and kind of in shock. So glad it is over and now I can finally have a life! I can finally breathe you know? :-) Hope you all have a great day!

Moogie · Jul 23, 2011

:ancong!:

Yes, I know how good it feels! I was so glad to have gotten through that miserable exam with a decent score and my sanity intact! Get some well-deserved R & R. Celebrate!

Before I took the blasted test I found an article that disputed the value of the GRE in determining success in graduate school. However, it was a requirement for my top pick so I wasn't going to quibble. Increasingly there are programs that waive the GRE for students who have high undergraduate or graduate GPAs. My second pick for a PhD program waived the GRE for students with grad school GPAs higher than 3.5 (but I got into my first choice so that's moot.)

Best wishes to you in your graduate program. What are your plans? Have you applied to any schools yet?

jcsong · Jul 25, 2011

Congrats! My went pretty well also... except the verbal was #O$(*$&! But I'm glad it's over. We are the last to take the old version of the GRE!