Introduction to the GRE General Test: Overview, Tests Offered, and Scoring

1. INTRODUCTION TO THE GRE GENERAL TESTMargaret Krantz Hanover College Career Center Director

2. GRE Testing Program(Scores last 5 years)Subject Tests(Paper and pencil, offered 3 times/year) • Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology • Biology • Chemistry • Computer Science • Literature in English • Mathematics • Physics • Psychology

3. GRE Subject Test Scores (Achievement Tests) Possible Score Range: 200 – 990 • Actual score ranges vary by test subject. See the ETS website for score distributions for your subject area.

4. Subject Test Registration Test Date • 10/15/11 • 11/12/11 • 4/21/12 Registration Deadline* • 9/9/11 • 10/7/11 • 3/16/12 *Note this is a receipt date; allow 7 days for US mailed financial aid discount vouchers.

5. Revised GRE (General test only) $160 Verbal, Quantitative, Analytical Writing Aptitude TestOffered on computer 6 days/weekLimit once per 60 days, 5 times/year.

6. Revised GRE: Scoring Analytical Writing: • Score range: 0 – 6 • Mean: 4.1 Verbal and Quantitative Sections: • Score Range: 130 – 170 • Verbal Mean: 150 • Quantitative Mean: 150

7. Sample Score Report

8. Registering for the GRE • Call the test center directly • On-line • US mail General test: $160 Subject test: $140 4 reports free; $23 for each additional.

9. THE COMPUTER-ADAPTIVE GRE GENERAL TEST

10. Revised GRE: Adaptivity • There will be 2 verbal reasoning sections and 2 quantitative sections. • Within a section, you can skip, mark, return. • You cannot return to past sections. • Difficulty of second section will be adjusted to your ability.

11. A possible representation of new computer adaptivity Mean ability / difficulty Section 1, questions 1-20 Section 2, 1-20

12. Mean ability / difficulty Section 1, questions 1-20 Section 2, 1-20

13. Mean ability / difficulty Section 1, questions 1-20 Section 2, 1-20

14. Mean ability / difficulty Section 1, questions 1-20 Section 2, 1-20

15. Mean ability / difficulty Section 1, questions 1-20 Section 2, 1-20

16. Mean ability / difficulty Section 1, questions 1-20 Section 2, 1-20

17. OVERVIEW OF THE DAY

18. Test Centers or Universities • Computer stations, • Other tests going on, • Security measures, • Honesty statement in cursive • Demographic information, • Numbered scratch paper, • Clocks on computer.

19. Revised GRE: Analytical Writing “Present your Perspective on an Issue” • one essay topic. • 30 minutes to write your essay. “Analyze an Argument” • 30 minutes to critique a one-paragraph argument. Read and follow instructions! No spell or grammar check provided.

20. How the AWM is Scored • Each essay scored by 2 trained readers. • 6-point holistic scale. • Scores from the two readings averaged. • Scores on the two essays averaged and rounded up to the nearest half-point. • A single score is reported for the section. • Scoring guides and topic pool at www.ets.org/gre.

21. Breaks • There will be a 10 minute break after section 3, and optional one minute breaks between other sections.

22. Standardized Sections:Verbal ReasoningQuantitative Reasoning

23. Revised Verbal Reasoning You will have 2 sections (adaptive at the section level) 30 minutes, 20 questions: • Sentence equivalence • Text completion • Reading comprehension (budget your time!) • All question types for all difficulty levels.

24. Revised VR: Sentence Equivalence

25. Revised VR: Text Completion

26. Revised VR: Reading Comprehension

27. Revised VR: Reading Comprehension

28. Revised VR: Reading Comprehension

29. Preparing for the Verbal Measure

30. www.ets.org/gre

31. Revised Quantitative Reasoning You will have 2 sections (adaptive at the section level) 35 minutes, 20 questions: More real-life scenarios and data interpretation Key knowledge areas: • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, probability and statistics

32. Revised QR: Quantitative Comparison

33. Revised QR: Quantitative Comparison

34. Revised QR: Problem Solving

35. Revised QR: Numeric Entry

36. Revised QR: Choose 1 or more

37. Preparing for the Quantitative Measure

38. www.ets.org/gre

40. Experimental Question Section • Additional section with questions in development • Experimental section may fall first, second or third • Treat all sections as if they count: you can’t tell which is which!

41. Keeping Your Scores • The test is geared toward your highest level of difficulty, so you can’t judge accurately how you did! • In general, if you finish the test, keep your scores.

42. GRE Prep Timeline • Take the practice test to identify your approximate beginning level, • Find target scores on PowerPrep, • Study areas that need improvement, • Practice to increase speed.

43. Score Release Dates

44. Grad School Application Timeline • Find application deadlines for your targeted programs, • Subtract one month to determine your “working” deadline, • Subtract two more months to request letters of recommendation, • Take GRE at least two – three months before published deadlines, • Mail in applications, and arrange for transcripts, to arrive by “working” deadline.

45. GRE Bottom Line:Preparation pays off!!