Chapter 22

Ten Key Facts about the GRE

In This Chapter

Highlighting important points relevant to taking the GRE

Setting yourself straight about what the GRE does and doesn’t test

You’ve probably heard horror stories from your friends about the GRE. Rumors abound, growing wilder with each telling: “You have to know calculus!” (Absolutely not true.) “It’s an open-book test this year!” (You wish!) “You get to use an on-screen calculator!” (Actually, this one is true.)

As a GRE-prep instructor, I field questions all the time from students trying to get a sense of what to expect on the test. This chapter reveals several key facts you need to know when prepping for the exam and heading into the testing center.

You May Return to Previous Questions in the Same Section

The GRE allows you to return to previous questions in any given section as long as you haven’t moved on to the next section, which wasn’t true with earlier versions of the GRE. One effective strategy is to plow through a section from beginning to end answering all the easy questions first and then go back through and tackle the difficult questions at the end.

You can flag questions for review by clicking the Mark for Review button at the top of the screen. You can also visit a review screen at any time during the section by clicking the Review button (also at the top of the screen). At a glance, the review screen shows you which questions are unanswered and which are marked for review. From there, you can jump directly to any question. Practice navigating through the questions and review screen with the Powerprep software provided by ETS at www.ets.org and with the practice tests included with the Premier edition of this book so that you’re familiar with this feature on test day.

The GRE Doesn’t Penalize for Guessing

To discourage examinees from making wild guesses, some standardized tests deduct points for wrong answers. The GRE doesn’t do this. Questions answered incorrectly count exactly the same as questions left unanswered, so you’re better off guessing than skipping.

By going through the chapters, practice questions, and practice tests included in this book, you dramatically reduce the chances of having to guess on the GRE. Make sure to spend extra time on the areas you need more help with — closing the gaps is the most important thing you can do to prepare for the GRE.

The GRE Uses a Percentile-Based Scoring System

The GRE is a competitive test. Immediately after you complete the test, you receive an estimated percentile ranking based on the test-takers’ scores from the previous year.

The number of GRE test-takers worldwide increases each year. More test-takers mean more graduate-school applicants, which makes admissions more competitive. This means that scoring as well as you can on the GRE is more important than ever.

Find out what the acceptable GRE score range is for admissions and scholarships at the schools you’re applying to and ask whether that range is expected to change.

Practice Makes All the Difference

Although you may not be able to dress-rehearse the entire test-taking experience, practicing the test makes the actual test-taking experience feel more familiar and reduces the element of surprise. Take advantage of the practice tests included in this book — and on the CD if you purchased the Premier edition. Also, the practice software ETS provides has the exact feel of the actual GRE, so make it something you know well. Write the practice essays, too, making the entire experience as familiar as a day at the office (flip to Part IV for more on essay writing).

Reviewing your practice tests also helps you discover a lot of silly mistakes that can lead to wrong answers. Making these mistakes in practice is okay. Knowing you’re prone to these mistakes decreases your chances of making the same types of mistakes in the actual test.

A good sense of familiarity and knowing what to expect truly boosts your confidence on test day. I require a five-practice-test minimum from my students, and getting them to do each of the tests is like pulling teeth. But I also track their progress and always see a marked improvement from one practice test to the next. At what point on the improvement curve do you want to be when you take the actual GRE?

You Must Study for the GRE

Though stories of unprepared folks scoring dramatically high are out there, incidents of unprepared folks bombing and having to retake the GRE are far more common. I’d put my money on an average Joe or Josephine who’s well prepared over a budding Einstein going in cold — every time. So be prepared. This book is your best resource and includes all the study materials you need.

The GRE Is Different from the SAT

You’re not the same person you were in high school. You’ve matured, acquired better study habits, and suddenly come to the shocking realization that you’re in charge of your own destiny. Maybe you didn’t study much for the SAT, figuring that you could always get into some college, somewhere, regardless of your score. You were probably right. But getting into graduate school isn’t as easy, and the GRE is much more difficult than the SAT.

As you mature, you tend to become more serious, so approach the GRE with a more mature, serious mindset. Doing so allows you to leverage the power of your improved study habits and concentration to better prepare yourself for the test.

The GRE Also Measures Your Stamina and Performance under Pressure

The GRE measures a number of things besides your math and verbal aptitude. It measures your ability to prepare, your stamina, and your performance under pressure. Many people are quite capable of solving math problems with all the time in the world, but only those who have honed their skills through practice can come up with the right answers when the timer is ticking.

The good news: You can build or strengthen all the skills that the GRE measures.

Other Than the Math, the General GRE Is Subject-Neutral

You’re a high-school and college graduate. Everything on the GRE is stuff you’ve seen before. In other words, the material is subject-neutral (not requiring specialized knowledge).

The GRE is required for entrance into graduate programs ranging from Construction Management to Physician Assistant to Master of Social Work. Regardless of your background, current major, or area of study, you can ace the GRE.

You Can Practice the GRE on Your Own Computer

The only way to experience the real GRE is to take it. However, you can simulate the test-taking experience on your own computer and get as close to a real-life experience as possible. After you’ve studied and acquainted yourself with the different question types, practice on your own computer. If you purchased the GRE For Dummies, Premier 7th Edition, you have an accompanying CD that includes two practice tests. Take these sample tests to get comfortable with the format.

Set aside a good chunk of time, pop the CD into your computer, and take one of the tests to make the test-taking experience as familiar and comfortable as possible. If you live alone or have a room in your house or apartment insulated from the usual hustle and bustle, that’s perfect. Otherwise, consider taking the test in a library or other quiet place.

If you didn’t buy the Premier edition or you want additional practice, you can download the practice software provided by ETS. Go to www.ets.org/gre, click the link that takes you to the Revised General Test, scroll down to find and download the Powerprep software, install it on your computer, and then take one of the sample tests.

You Can’t Bring Anything into the Testing Center

I once saw a photo of a confiscated plastic water bottle with math formulas printed on the inside of the label. Though you may not go to such lengths, the testing center staff wants to ensure zero opportunities of cheating on the GRE. Because of this, you can’t take anything in with you — not even a wristwatch. You can store food and water in a locker, but be prepared to empty your pockets and be fingerprinted upon entering the actual testing area.

Don’t store any GRE books in the locker. If the proctors suspect you of checking the books during your breaks, you may not be allowed to finish the test.