All about the GRE exam and how to successfully tackle it – 1

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The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a computer based test usually required for entry into most graduate engineering institutions. There are two types of GRE test, the general and the subject test. The GRE® General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills that are not related to any specific field of study.  The GRE, like most tests is based on psychometrics, the peculiar science concerned with creating standardized tests.  This means that the same concepts are tested over and over and the scores create a bell curve, whereby a group of test takers will do very well, some poorly,  while the overwhelming majority will be somewhere in the middle. This article attempts to highlight several important facts about the test and provides you with tips on how to successfully tackle the test and be one of the ones who do very well.

How the GRE is scored

The analytical writing section is scored on a scale of 0-6 in half-point increase.  The Verbal and Quantitative sections each yield a scaled score within a range of 200 and 800.  However, you do not receive the exact score, you only get a percentile rank, which places your performance relative to those of a large sample population of other  GRE takers.

How to study effectively

Just like any other test out there, you can only pass the GRE if you have sufficiently studied and are adequately prepared for the test. For first time test takers, it is advisable that you buy a book which will provide you with further insight into the test and also provide you with sample problems. Depending on the amount of time you have before the test, it would also be a good idea to handle an entire (web-based) test and get the feel for how the real thing will be.

Most Useful Study Guides and Materials

Kaplan New GRE Vocabulary Flashcards	The Official Guide to the GRE revised General Test	GRE The Official Guide to the Revised General Test with CD-ROM, Second Edition	GRE For Dummies, Premier 7th Edition, with CD

How the GRE is structured

First, it is a good idea to realize how the GRE is structured. The GRE general exam consists of three scored sections, each with different times allocated for completion

Section	Time	Questions
Verbal Reasoning	30 minutes	30 multiple-choice
Quantitative Reasoning	45 minutes	28 multiple-choice
Analytical writing	75 Minutes	2 Essay Prompts

As described below, each of the different sections have their own unique rules and strategies. The list below details each of the sections and also provides tips on how to successfully tackle each of these sections.

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