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GRE. What is the GRE?. Graduate Record Exam A standardized test that is an admissions requirement for many graduate schools Available at about 700 test centers in more than 160 countries In most areas, it is a computer-based test Recently revised in 2011
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What is the GRE? • Graduate Record Exam • A standardized test that is an admissions requirement for many graduate schools • Available at about 700 test centers in more than 160 countries • In most areas, it is a computer-based test • Recently revised in 2011 • Enabled editing/changing of answers, skipping questions, and on-screen calculator
What are you being tested in? • 3 Sections: • Verbal Reasoning • Quantitative Reasoning • Analytical Writing
Section 1: Verbal Reasoning • Assesses your ability to : • analyze and evaluate written material and synthesize information you obtain from it • One half requires you to read passages and answer questions on those passages • The other half requires you to read, interpret, and complete existing sentences, groups of sentences, or paragraphs
Section 1: Verbal Reasoning Continued… • 3 types of questions: • Reading Comprehension • Reading a passage and answering questions about it • Test contains 10 passages with 1-6 questions for each passage • Answers are mostly multiple choice. Some you will choose multiple correct answers and some you will select a sentence from the passage. • Text Completion • Contains passages with words or short phrases omitted (1-3 blanks) • Information in the passage is used to choose the correct answer • Answers are multiple choice • Sentence Equivalence • Questions contain single sentences with one blank • You will be asked to select 2 answers that both fit into the sentence • Answers are multiple choice
Section 2: Quantitative Reasoning • Assesses your: • basic mathematical skills • understanding of elementary mathematical concepts • ability to reason quantitatively and to model and solve problems with quantitative methods • Content: • Arithmetic • Algebra • Geometry • Data Analysis • Content is generally no higher than a second course in algebra; it does not include trigonometry, calculus, or other higher-level mathematics. • An on-screen calculator is provided for this section of the GRE
Section 2: Quantitative Reasoning Continued… • 4 types of questions: • Quantitative Comparison • Compare two variables A or B • Answer choices are: A is greater, B is greater, quantities are equal, or relationship cannot be determined • Multiple Choice – select one • Multiple Choice – select one or more • Numeric Entry • These questions require you to type in your answer
Section 3: Analytical Writing • Assesses your ability to : • articulate and support complex ideas, • construct and evaluate arguments • sustain a focused and coherent discussion • Contains two separately timed “tasks” • issue task • argument task
Section 3: Analytical Writing Continued… • Issue task • Purpose is to test your critical thinking and persuasive writing • You will be given an issue with specific instructions • You will have to take a position with the issue and present an argument (addressing what the instructions ask) for why you support that position • Argument Task • Purpose is to test your ability to understand, analyze and evaluate arguments • You will be given an argument and be forced to consider the logical soundness of the argument by examining the line of reasoning and the evidence it presents • There will be specific instructions to follow when writing your response
Order of Sections & Time Allowed • Overall time is about three hours and 45 minutes • There are six sections with a 10-minute break following the third section • The Analytical Writing section will always be first, while the other five sections may appear in any order.
Time Allowed ¹An unidentified un-scored section may be included and may appear in any order after the Analytical Writing section. It is not counted as part of your score. ²An identified research section that is not scored may be included, and it is always at the end of the test.
Deadlines • http://www.aavmc.org/data/files/vmcas/test_chart_2012.pdf • For each school within the AAVMC • MCAT can substitute for the GRE for some schools • Listed on this link
Explanation of Scores Three scores are reported for the GRE: If no questions are answered for a specific measure (e.g., Verbal Reasoning), then you will receive a No Score (NS) for that measure.
Explanation of Scores • Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning • score reflects the number of questions answered correctly • Analytical Writing section • Each essay receives a score from two trained readers • If the two assigned scores differ by more than one point, a third reader decides the final score • Overall score is the average of the ratings given to the two essays.
How do I get my score? • Computer-based Test • Official scores are sent to you and the score recipients you designate about 10 – 15 days after your test date. • Paper-based Test • Official scores are sent to you and the score recipients you designate within six weeks after your test date. • You can also view your scores online free of charge.
Department Evaluations of Scores • How a department or admissions committee evaluates GRE scores varies: • use them as cutoffs to eliminate applicants • use them as criteria for research assistantships and other forms of funding • look at to GRE scores to offset weak GPAs • admissions committees will overlook poor GRE scores if applicants demonstrate significant strengths in other areas.
MSU and the GRE • GRE scores are due by October 1. • There is normally a 3-4 week reporting time after taking the exam, so taking the test no later than August 15th is recommended. • Average scores of those accepted to the Class of 2015 were 460-590 on the Verbal and Quantitative sections, and 4.5 on the Analytical Writing section. • No minimum score required.
Places to Practice • Practice Questions: • Kaplan • http://www.kaptest.com/GRE/Home/index.html • Usually have workshops • Publish guides for the test • Courses anywhere from $500-$2200 with financial aid option • ETS • http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare?WT.ac=rx46 • Offers a variety of free and low-cost tools from practice questions to what to expect on test day and tips for each section • Barron’s • http://barronstestprep.com/gre/gre-online-practice-tests.php?gclid=CKiJx9vIiq8CFUhl7Aodmm0aCA • Publish guides for the test • Limited help online for free • Access to online practice tests and solutions for $69 • http://www.greguide.com/gre-practice-tests.html • Has practice problems for the new GRE • Also has practice problems for the old test if you want to compare them
Dates • The GRE is given year-round at computer-based test centers in most locations around the world. • Appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. • You can take the GRE (computer-based and paper-based) only once every 60 days, and no more than five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period. • Cost – $160.00
Locations of Testing • In Mississippi: • Hattiesburg – 7574 • University of Southern MississippiWalker Science Bldg. Rm 217University Testing Center • Jackson – 3600 • Prometric Testing Center • Meridian - STN13965A • Meridian Community College (No GRE)Webb Hall • Mississippi State – 7546 • Mississippi State University Rice Hall • Oxford – 7753 • University of MississippiUniversity Avenue at Grove Loop • Tupelo – 3603 • Prometric Testing Center
Tips • Analytical Writing • Budget your time wisely • Allow a few extra moments at the end of each time to look for obvious errors. • Quantitative Reasoning: • Quantitative Comparison • Become familiar with the answer choices. • Avoid unnecessary computations • Plug in numbers. • Multiple Choice: • Use the fact that the answer is there • For questions that require approximations, scan the answer choices to see how close an approximation is needed • Numeric Entry: • Make sure you answer the question that is asked. • Make sure you round your answer when asked to • Examine your answer to see if it is reasonable with respect to the information given.
Verbal Reasoning: • Reading comprehension: • distinguishing between minor and major points • summarizing a passage • drawing conclusions from the information provided • analyzing a text and reaching conclusions about it • Identifying strengths and weaknesses of a position • Text completion • understanding the structure of a text in terms of how the parts relate to one another • identifying the author's assumptions and perspective • developing and considering alternative explanations • Sentence Equivalence • understanding the meaning of individual words and sentences • understanding the meaning of paragraphs and larger bodies of text • developing and considering alternative explanations