|
HERE YOU'LL LEARN not only how to prepare for the GRE but, just as important, how not to prepare for the test. First you'll review some DON'Ts, and then you'll review some DOs. Heed this sage advice — or you might end up with mediocre GRE scores and a pile of rejection letters from your top-choice graduate programs.
DON'T be too confident about your test-taking prowess. Perhaps your college GPA approached 4.0, or perhaps you "aced" the SAT back in high school. Even if so, don't assume that you can stroll into the GRE testing center and crush the competition. Think again. Be forewarned: There are many test-smart candidates out there who are taking the GRE very, very seriously. And so should you.
DON'T focus on particular testing areas at the expense of others. In gearing up for the GRE some test-takers will focus on strengths at the expense of weaknesses, while others will hammer away at their weak areas while neglecting their strong areas. Both approaches are dangerous. Remember: Your GRE Quantitative and Verbal scores are based based not only on how many questions you answer correctly and their difficulty level, but also on the range of question types and specific abilities covered by those questions. Be equally diligent in preparing for all sections of the exam. Also keep in mind that each school (and department) has its own methodology for weighing your various GRE scores. Keep your options open by performing your best on every section and every question type within each section.
DON'T Obsess over troublesome practice test questions It's one thing to review a practice-test question that you've answered incorrectly to find out if you erred in your reasoning and to learn from that error. But it's quite another to dwell on one or two particular questions that you either "take issue with" or still don't "get" after a few reflective minutes. Get a second opinion, and then if you're sure it's the publisher who is in error rather than you, by all means alert the editors (they'll appreciate it), and then move on. Obsessing over any particular practice question (which, by the way, won't appear on your actual GRE) is, in a word, counterproductive.
DON'T obsess about scores. Perhaps you have a particular school and program in mind as your first choice, and you think that you need a particular GRE score to gain admission to that school. Setting a goal for your GRE scores is understandable. But try not to concern yourself as much with your scores as with what you can constructively do between now and exam day to improve your performance.
DON'T overprepare for the GRE. Preparing for the GRE is a bit like training for an athletic event. You need to familiarize yourself with the event, learn to be comfortable with it, and build up your endurance. At some point — hopefully around exam day — your motivation, interest, and performance will peak. Sure, it takes some time and effort to get comfortable with the exam, to correct poor test-taking habits, to develop an instinct for recognizing wrong-answer choices and to find your optimal pace. But there's a point beyond which additional study and practice confer little or no additional benefit. Don't drag out the process by starting several months in advance or by postponing the exam to give yourself more time than you really need for preparation.
DO be realistic in your expectations. You'd love "perfect" GRE scores, wouldn't you? And in theory, your capable of attaining them. But in reality, you're constrained by your innate abilities. Accept your limitations. With conscientious study and practice, you'll perform as well as you can reasonably expect. Also, be realistic about the benefits you can expect from my Web site or from any GRE book or course. There's only so much that you can do in 24 hours — or even 240 hours — to boost your GRE score.
DO take the GRE essays seriously. The evaluation process for GRE Analytical Writing (the two essays) is inherently somewhat subjective, and the admissions committees are well aware of this fact. But does this mean that admissions officials disregard GRE Analytical Writing scores, and so you shouldn't take the GRE essays seriously? Not at all. Look at it this way: The highest-ranked grad school you can get into is one at which you're a borderline candidate, right? And it's borderline candidates who are going to receive closest scrutiny — and that means a close look at GRE Analytical Writing scores. Enough said?
DO take practice tests with the goal of building up endurance. Do NOT underestimate the role that endurance plays on the GRE. Half the battle is just making it through the 3½ hour ordeal with your wits intact. Condition yourself by taking at least two full-length sample tests straight through, with only a few short breaks.
DO take the real GRE once just for practice — as a dress rehearsal — if possible. If you have time and can afford it, you should register for and take the real GRE once as a dress rehearsal — just to get comfortable with the testing environment. You'll get some of those butterflies out of your system, and if you're like most test-takers you'll be far more relaxed the second time around. In fact, ETS statistics show that among repeaters, more than 90% improve their score the second time around. Those are great odds!
DO take the GRE early to allow yourself the option of retaking it. Most graduate schools admit new students for the fall term only. Although application deadlines vary widely among the schools, if you plan to take the GRE no later than December 15th prior to matriculation, you'll be sure to meet any school's application deadline. Ideally, you should take the GRE early enough so that you can take the exam a second time if necessary and still meet application deadlines. In any event, take the GRE at a time when you're not distracted by other pressures at your workplace or at school.NOTE: If you want to repeat the exam, the testing service requires that you wait until the next calendar month; so plan accordingly to avoid the time squeeze!
DO wait until after you've taken certain undergraduate courses to take the GRE. The intellectual abilities measured by the GRE are developed to a great extent during your four years of college. So if you're still in school, wait at least until the late in your junior year to allow for further intellectual development — and higher GRE scores. In any event, consider postponing the GRE until you've taken the following courses:- Critical thinking and logic (for the "Analyze an Argument" writing task)
- English composition (for GRE Sentence Completions and Analytical Writing)
- Courses in the humanities and social sciences (for GRE Reading Comprehension, Analogies and Antonyms (the latter two gauge your vocabulary directly), and for the "Present Your Perspective on an Issue" writing task)
- Refresher courses in basic algebra and geometry (for GRE Quantitative questions)
|
|
|
