GRE
GRE Preparation: Free Online Resources for Study, Mock Tests, and Guidelines
GRE or Graduate Record Examination is a standardized test for different graduate schools based in the USA, Canada, and some other countries. It is one of the oldest standardized tests still in existence today, being founded back in 1936 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
GRE is important as it acts as a measure of an applicant’s preparedness for graduate school. It also acts as an indicator of the potential for success in grad school. Studies have directly linked GRE scores with the prospective GPA in grad school. As a result, it has become a key instrument in the enrollment of any local and foreign student.
What is GRE?
As mentioned above, GRE is a form of standardized test. Many universities require a GRE score in addition to graduate-level achievement and ECAs. Depending on Universities, GRE carries significant weight in the overall profile of the candidate.
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The assessment is divided into several sections. The overall marking depends on the individual performance in each part. There is a verbal section, a quantitative section, and an analytical writing section. GRE doesn’t necessarily guarantee admission into prospective post-graduate programs. But a good mark puts a candidate in the upper consideration bracket.
Best Online Resources for GRE Preparation
Since there are three distinct test modules. The resources are also outlined under each subhead.
Verbal Section
The verbal section comprises reading comprehension, use of vocabulary, and critical reasoning. The scoring typically ranges from 130 to 170 for this section. There are about 20 questions in each verbal section with a time limit of 30 minutes.
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The verbal section depends on the practice of the test taker. It is not about problem-solving skills, rather understanding and expressing. The Princeton Review has several practice modules for the verbal section. It also comes with explanations for each of the modules. A test taker can easily identify the mistakes as well as learn new techniques from them.
Varsity Tutors also have a host of test material for the verbal section. The tests are completely free and the test taker can evaluate their performance in real-time.
The Manhattan Review has a comprehensive list of vocabulary exclusively prepared for the GRE test takers. Paid books like Word Smart 5th Edition ensure an overall complete preparation for the vocabs.
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ETS has a paid mock test for the verbal section under their PowerPrep program. Want an in-depth overview of the verbal section? Head over to Prep Scholar as their blogs take a deep dive into everything GRE.
Quantitative Section
Similar to the verbal section, the quantitative section comprises marking between 130 to 170. There are about 20 questions in each quantitative section. There is an allocated time of 35 minutes for each section. The quantitative section focuses mostly on high school-level mathematics as well as critical reasoning. Just like the listening section, the key to success in the quantitative part is practice. It is more about honing mathematical skills with practice rather than memorization.
3 years ago