1. GRE General Facts And Self-defense Tips

2. Registration and General Information How do I register for the GRE? –Call: 1 – 800 – GRE – CALL –Register on-line at www.gre.org How often can I take the GRE? –Once per calendar month How much does it cost to take the GRE? –$130 ($40 reschedule fee) How long are GRE scores valid? –5 years When will I see my test score? –Immediately When will schools receive my scores? –Approximately 2 weeks after you take the test When should I take the test? –???

3. GRE data and statistics What is the scale for the GRE? –200 – 800 Math and Verbal How does the raw score relate to the scaled score? –It no longer directly relates to the scaled score…the test is Computer Adaptive. What is the average score on the GRE? –About 1000 Where is the 90 th percentile? –About 650 per section What is a good GRE score?

4. Low-Cost Test Preparation Materials PowerPrep Software www.gre.org - FREE Scoring for Analytical Writing www.scoreitnow.org - $10 GRE – Practicing to take the General Test, 10 th Edition - $18

5. Verbal Section – 30 questions, 30 minutes Analogies Sentence Completion Reading Comprehension Antonyms Math Section – 28 questions, 45 minutes Quantitative Comparison Standard Multiple Choice Analytical Writing Section – 2 prompts, 45 & 30 minutes Test Content:

6. The GRE is a computer-based test Fewer questions than paper-and-pencil test Skipping questions is not allowed Current question based on past performance

7. Test-taking Tips

8. Quantitative Comparison:

9. Simplify complicated expressions: Column A Column B Answer: C

10. Column A Column B Answer: C Try to derive one side or the other from extra information:

11. Column A Column B Answer: D   Plug in numbers for variables:

12. Column A Column B =  Answer: D Plug in numbers for variables:

13. x y 12 undefined Answer: E Reciprocal: 2

14. Always look for ways to combine equations: Add: + _____ ___ + Answer: B

15. Answer: C Column A Column B Subtract: - (_____) __- Combine equations:

16. + + Answer: B

17. Geometry

18. The strategy: Draw a diagram Translate the information into equations Solve the equations

19. Example: A rectangle has a width equal to half its length. If the area of the rectangle is 50 square inches, what is the width of the rectangle?

20. Draw a diagram: Translate the information into equations: Solve the equations:

21. Sometimes there will be more than one way to draw a diagram. In quantitative comparison items that lack a diagram, the whole point of the item may simply be to recognize different ways of representing the given information.

22. Example: Pg. 200, #14: Column A Column B This could be K:… or this could be K: 3 44 33 4 Answer: D

23. Many items come with diagrams. But unless told otherwise, one may not assume that the diagrams are drawn to scale. Again, especially with quantitative comparison items, keeping in mind other diagrams consistent with the given information is crucial.

24. Example: Pg. 241, #4: Column A Column B xx yy xx yy Answer: D This could be the triangle … … or this could be the triangle.

25. Use the diagram and any additional information from the item to gain clues about which equations to use. If some of the angles of a triangle are labeled, facts involving angle measures are probably relevant. If some of the sides of a triangle are labeled, facts involving side lengths are probably relevant.

26. Examples: 12 20 A 25° x°x° Here sides are labeled … … so facts involving side lengths are relevant. Here angles are labeled … … so facts involving angle measures are relevant.

27. Pg. 123, #6: Column AColumn B Answer: C

28. Pg. 269, #27: Answer: D Big triangle: Little triangle:

29. Pg. 204, #26: Answer: C 3-4-5 triangle

30. Look for key words in the item that suggest equations to use: area circumference perimeter

31. Example: Pg. 229, #19: Translate: Answer: A

32. Verbal Items

33. Identify parts of speech Check for similarities/differences Form a connection sentence Answer: B Analogy items require one to select the pair of words related in a way most similar to that of given pair of words:

34. Sentence completion items require one to choose the word or pair of words that best completes the given sentence Pay attention to similarity/contrast clues Answer: E

35. Reading Comprehension: “according to” vs. “inference” or “suggests”

36. A more than B => B less than A Answer: D “According to”: answer is a paraphrase of statement from passage.

37. Answer: B “suggests”: answer will go beyond what is stated, usually by exploiting structural details.

38. Final Tips: Practice with PowerPrep software (GRE.org) Use only real GRE questions when you study Improving vocabulary is the key to verbal success Very few math skills are used; emphasis is on problem-solving ability