Your never-ending hours of all-nighters, studying, reviews, writing essays, and visiting the library have finally paid off. You have earned your diploma and are enthusiastic about entering the world of graduate school.
Have you noticed that studying seems to be a part of our life? It is indeed far from over.
If you want to get to graduate school, you must pass the GRE or Graduate Record Examination. It is your stepping stone to earn that master’s degree you have been dreaming about. Thus, you must prepare well and plan smart to ace the GRE successfully.
The exam has three sections: writing, quantitative reasoning or mathematical comprehension, and verbal comprehension or reading comprehension. The scoring for writing is from 0 to 6, which increases by half point.
Both the quantitative reasoning and verbal comprehension are scored between 130 and 170, which increases by 1 point.
What is a Good Score?
A good score would depend on what program you want to be part of. The average GRE score for test-takers is 152 for quantitative reasoning and 150 for verbal comprehension.
Take note that every score has two components, namely a scaled score and a percentile rank. Percentile ranks are more valuable than scaled scores. It indicates how you scored compared to other examinees.
DigitalVaults shows a table of the corresponding percentiles that you may get:
| 6.0 | 99 |
| 5.5 | 98 |
| 5.0 | 93 |
| 4.5 | 82 |
| 4.0 | 59 |
| 3.5 | 42 |
| 3.0 | 17 |
| 2.5 | 7 |
| 2.0 | 2 |
| 1.5 | 1 |
| 1.0 | <1 |
Being able to answer a few more questions correctly can help you pass and even top the test.
GRE Preparation Tips to Get High Scores
You must be aware that GRE is quite lengthy and tedious. Nevertheless, you must bear in mind that this test may have a huge impact on your future career, especially if you want to be in the corporate world.
However, you do not need to worry. We have asked several GRE test-takers on what approaches and preparations they made to pass the exam. We combined their answers and carefully came up with an action plan to help you prepare for the big day.
Here are some tips that can help you ace your GRE test:
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Study Harder and Smarter
If you have been studying hard but not smart, then it is time to stop that habit. You should study harder and smarter instead!
Know your learning styles and patterns. Some individuals effectively learn when they jot things down. Others will learn way faster if they hear the information.
You may need to trace your learning history and study habits during your college days. Analyze them and determine your strengths to know what works best for you.
Formulate a study plan and focus on your weakest areas. Set a schedule and religiously stick to it. By doing so, you will likely earn better results quickly. You might even achieve your target score. This is a battle that you need to be prepared for!
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Use the Study Tools that Match Your Learning Style
Invest in learning materials that are perfect for your learning style. If you learn better when writing information, then buy a good quality notebook and pen. You can even buy colorful pens if visuals help you retain the topic more efficiently.
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Never Ever Cram
Cramming is highly discouraged when preparing for the GRE. If you are used to cramming before, please do not do it for the GRE.
If you review a day or couple of days before the exam for eight hours a day, you will just have a burnout. You will likely get a lower score. You can no longer remember all the information you have been digesting.
Give yourself and your brain enough time to relax before the test.
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Do lots of Practice Tests
An examinee shared her secret in passing the test. She religiously studied for three months. She also claimed to have been allotting a whole Saturday every week to take two practice quizzes continuously. This routine was believed to have enhanced her test-taking stamina and helped her to score high.
Another test taker divulged that she studied for two weeks straight and passed. However, she wished she could have done more.
Meanwhile, another passer admitted to having been answering online tests and reading the discussions of the items he got wrong.
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Use the Elimination Bethod and be Mindful of the Time
Train your mind to work on items using the elimination method. Eliminate the choices that you think are incorrect or do not make sense. Be mindful of the time in answering the questions.
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Believe You Can Pass the test!
It will help if you believe in yourself. Have faith that you can pass the test. Whatever the mind can perceive, it can usually achieve!
Have the right mental state. Think positive!
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Visit the Test Center before the Exam Day
Visit the test center the day before the test. This will help you condition your mind that this is your testing place. Make yourself at ease with the location. Take deep breaths and clear your mind.
Did High Scorers Take the Test Once?
A Magoosh survey found out that more than 65% of students got their target scores on their first take.
A first-time taker and passer believed that knowing your most productive time for learning is your edge of passing the GRE.
Unfortunately, one in every four examinees take the exam more than once, says the nonprofit entity that administers the GRE called the Educational Testing Service.
Interesting related article: “What is e-Learning?“