GRE Preparation
Many academic programs require a graduate program entrance exam prior to considering students for the Master’s programs. I had the painful experience of having to tackle the GRE today and have concluded it near impossible to fully prepare for the curve balls the computer threw repeatedly my way.
To prepare myself for what I expected to be a doozy, and correct I was, I purchased 2 GRE preparation books from the local book store. The books covered the basics of the test, some sample questions for each of the 3 major sections – verbal, quantitative, and writing – and then some hints and tips for scoring high marks.
I found the books helpful, one more than the other, more so for the hints and tips than any practice question. If antonyms and unfamiliar vocabulary words were not enough challenge to throw at this 2000 English grad, then I had the torture of revisiting algebra, calculus, and – eeks – geometry, one of my least favorite subjects. Let’s just say it was mind boggling with all these x, y, z, and more variables across planes and finding means, areas, percentages and – well, yikes!
Then came test day. The center was cold, the staff was friendly, and the computer stations were pretty stilted. I was not allowed water or snacks and if you had to leave your seat for a break the clock keep ticking unless it was a designated break. They are also sticklers for making certain you bring nothing into the test tasking area; each time I reentered the test taking area I was asked to pull my pant pockets out to prove I was not transporting in some additional item.
The test is allotted a 4 hour window for completion and I soaked up most of this time. I felt most confident about the writing portion, a section in which you are asked to write 2 essays. I suppose this would make perfect sense given my English degree. I studied hardest for the verbal section and, as I expected, found the math section the most challenging.
At the conclusion of the testing, you are allowed to decide if you want your scores or not. If you do, there is no backing out and, from what I understood, the scores are recorded. I scored higher on the math than the verbal, but happily for me, I met the requirements the Communications Studies counselor told me they seek for grad program applicants. I will have to wait an additional 2-3 weeks to see how well I aced the writing section.
In conclusion, get a good study guide for the test, but do not stress too hard. There is no way to really predict what types of questions you will receive and there is no perfect way to prepare. Brush up on vocabulary, all advanced math concepts, and writing skills and you should squeak by.
Source: AssociatedContent
