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How I Prepared for GRE Exam (3 Steps)

HSB — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:58:09 +0000

3 Step GRE Exam study plan – Written by Sameer

Raw Skills : Know Where do you stand?
GRE Exam Preparation
GRE Sample – Practice, Practice and More Practice

Raw Skills – Know Where do you stand?

It is important to clear the misconception from within. You should have been exposed to English thats good but may not be enough to crack the GRE test. You must know what your current level of skills (Verbal, quantitative and Analytical writing).

You need to find where you stand and prepare your GRE Exam study plan accordingly. Hence, give Practice test. Infact there are Diagnostic Mock GRE tests on websites like Kaplan. Get registered for free and attempt Diagnostic test nnd Diagnose your performance.

Actual – GRE Exam Preparation

Get your resources from 2-3 different good resources. Joining an Coaching center is ok, but not compulsory. There are good resources online. Some of them are below at the end of this writeup.

GRE Practice Exams and Practice

Taking GRE Exam practice tests is the most important step in preparation. Practice and Diagnosis go hand in hand [ How to Improve GRE Exam Score] . Just writing series of mock exams won’t help unless you sit after each exam and diagnose how did you get a question wrong.

You must know your own pitfalls and avoid them in exam. There could be some sections that you do well. You need not worry much about them. Also, there could be questions you think you did well but you get them wrong. This is the point of contemplation. How you fell into the trap for a question? answer yourself.

Day before the Exam

Please note this, Prior to Exam Day:

Prepare well in advance to select your Graduate schools. Remember the correct Details of University,School,Department and Course names.
When you are finished with your exam, GRE test sofware prompts you to select the University, Name, School names (in some cases), Department name and Course name the test centre.

Useful GRE Exam Preparation sites

number2.com – create an account and do practice (only meanings Q’s are unlimited and other Q’s are limited- good to bulid ur vocab and test ur vocab )
gre-verbal.blogspot.com : has a good collection of gre words aggregated monthly..they say these are Q’s from exam for that month… I have not verified the claim. they are pretty useful
visualthesaurus.com : its the website . Its gives a good visual experience relating a jargon of words differentiating its shades.. you got to register here to use it fully, although a trail is available for limited use.
dictionary.reference.com : this was my dark horse. I used this for looking up every new word along with synonyms and antonyms..It also gives the words usage and history.
syvum.com/gre : instant test and results on set of 10 Q’s
800score.com/gre-index.html : i dont remeber if this was a paid site..just explore this as well.
freshersworld.com : it has GRE preparations material
koolkareers.com/gre : it also has GRE preparation material

If you have any comments and questions, leave a comment to this article. Sameer is going to write series of articles about this experience.

If you like the article, Re-Tweet this article by clicking on the Green Re-Tweet button on the right side.

Guest Article By – Sameer, I’m doing Master’s student in Cleveland state univ. I have completed Bachelors in Computers from Osmania and 3 years with Infosys. Back then, when i was applying to schools I found the blog very informative and I would like to share my experience to other Happy Schools Blog Readers

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How I Prepared for GRE Exam (3 Steps)

Study Tips: How I Scored 770 in GMAT

HSB — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:07:12 +0000

GMAT – 770 – (lengthy article, but if you are serious about getting high score in GMAT, its a MUST read) You can use the tips listed by Slingfox for GRE Exam preparation too.

Except as noted below, the quant section turned out to be largely in line with my expectations. Very early on, I had a string of 8 questions of which 7 were data sufficiency! Halfway through the quant section I was running about 5 minutes ahead of pace. Nonetheless, as the section went on I started falling behind and had to guess on the last question, which was not conceptually difficult, but was mathematically time consuming so I ran out of time.

Verbal, on the other hand, was harder than I expected. I must have spent 7-8 minutes staring at the first two reading comprehension question I got. The hard reading comprehension passage put me behind pace at the 30% mark so I started to speed up, trying to earn back time by doing the SC and CR questions as efficiently as possible. By the 66% mark I was a full ten minutes ahead of pace, so I started to slow down and stared at difficult questions for an inordinate amount of time.

You can read the detailed GMAT Exam preparation at GMAT Club Forum

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Study Tips: How I Scored 770 in GMAT

Average GRE Scores – North Carolina State University

HSB — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:29:06 +0000

Previously we have posted Average GRE Scores for few universities in 2 parts

Average GRE Scores – Part 1
Average GRE Exam Scores – Part 2

In today’s editions you can see the Average GRE Scores for North Carolina State University (NCSU). NC State is one of top ranked Engineering program in America. Its located near in Research Triangle Park. Duke University, UNC, Chapel Hill and NCSU forms a triangle.

Average GRE Scores

Scores below are listed in following order ( GRE Verbal + GRE Quantitative + Analytical ) for North Carolina State University.

Computer Science – 469 + 704 + 4.2
Chemical Engineering – 485 + 727 + 4.3
Electrical Engineering – 461 + 728 + 4.1
Biological Sciences – 491 + 632 + 4.4
Civil Engineering – 457 + 702 + 4.2
Mechanical Engineering – 467 + 723 + 4.2
English Language – 589 + 552 + 4.9

Interesting thing to observer in above Average GRE Scores is how English Language Graduate students scores in GRE Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical writing. It’s very clear that someone with English background can out score Engineering Students in GRE Verbal by over 100 to 120 points, but scores in Maths reflect the lack of their good mathematical skills. More info about other programs from NCSU site.

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Average GRE Scores – North Carolina State University

Yale University – GRE Verbal Score and Grad School Admission

HSB — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:46:12 +0000

Thanks to Cal for posting this useful information as comment on Average GRE Scores about Yale University Admission and importance of GRE Scores in admission decision process

My adviser at Yale University tells me that in the humanities, to be in contention, you have to have at least a 650 verbal. After you hit that threshold it doesn’t matter too much, but this will get you in the door. Another professor of mine said that he has seen a few applicants of people who he really wanted to admit, but their verbal scores were 620 or so, and they just couldn’t do it.

The GRE matters as a threshold, but after that the rest of your application becomes much more important (in the humanities).

Some universities will consider students with GRE Score 620, if you have good academic scores and other factors. But in Ivy League colleges, that’s how the students are evaluated and admitted to the programs. If you are planning to attend Ivy League colleges, you better have very good academic profile.

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Yale University – GRE Verbal Score and Grad School Admission

How to Reschedule GRE Exam Outside USA

HSB — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:53:19 +0000

Follow the steps listed below to reschedule GRE test. In previous article explained why you should postpone GRE Exam. Also, rescheduling will be much cheaper than retaking GRE exam, if your actual GRE Score is very less than what you expected GRE Score.

How to Reschedule GRE Test

Follow the steps below to reschedule Computer Based GRE Test outside USA.

You must reschedule your GRE test no later than three full days before your GRE test date. For example if your test is on Friday, you should reschedule before on or before Monday. You will receive a refund equivalent to half of the original test fee if you reschedule GRE
If you cancel after Monday (no later than three full days prior to your test date) there will be no-refund.
Computer-based test takers: Call 1-443-751-4820, 1-800-GRE-CALL (1-800-473-2255) or the appropriate Regional Registration Center.
Mailed requests must be received no later than three full days prior to your scheduled test date.
The GRE reschedule fee is $50.
You cannot transfer to the next testing year.

GRE Regional Registration Center – India

To Register and Reschedule for GRE

Call: 91-11-2651-1649/26531442 (New Delhi, India)
Fax: 91-11-26529741/26523266

You can refer to GRE Website or GRE Bulletin for more detailed and upto date information.

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How to Reschedule GRE Exam Outside USA

I’m Serious, Postpone Your GRE Exam

HSB — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:49:31 +0000

You will understand why you need to postpone your GRE Exam date after you read this article. It will be a bold decision to postpone your GRE Exam, but it’s definitely worth doing that.

Postpone GRE Exam Date

Read this article GRE Exam Score Predictions article and it will help you estimate how much score you can get in actual GRE Test. If you look at students taking GRE Exam, chances of them scoring 100 points or more than GRE PowerPrep practice test is very unlikely.

If your average GRE Score in Power Prep is 980, you are most likely going to score less than 1000 in actual GRE Exam. If you are going to take the exam expecting to score 1300, its simply not possible.

If you have high expectations, but if your practice tests are not reflecting scores, seriously postpone GRE Exam. But, if you think you are ready to invest money to retake GRE if you score less, then you can go on with your first GRE exam attempt. If you are going to take GRE Exam second time, you will get questions like this by Shilpa

If I take GRE exam for the 2nd time, will I have to pay the whole fees or will there be any concession for writing 2nd time?

And what if I score lesser in 2nd attempt? Which marks will be considered?

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I’m Serious, Postpone Your GRE Exam

GRE Vocabulary Practice

HSB — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:44:32 +0000

Getting high GRE Verbal Score depends on your GRE Vocabulary and time spent on GRE vocabulary practice. If you have high vocabulary, then it will be fairly easy to get high score in GRE Verbal section.

There are many students who get 750 in GRE Quantitative section, but less than 210 to 250 in GRE Verbal section. It’s not that those test takes didn’t prepare well for GRE Verbal, their vocabulary must be very low. You can definitely get high score with good GRE vocabulary practice.

Building Vocabulary for GRE Exam

Building your vocabulary just for GRE exam is not an easy process. If you plan to take GRE in 6 months time, you might start reading Barron’s GRE Word lists and assume that you can score 500+ in GRE Verbal section.

During practice tests you will realize that scoring 400+ is going to be tough task. Those who score above 500 in GRE Verbal section usually have very good vocabulary built over period of years by reading lots of magazines, books, novels, ..

GRE Vocabulary Practice

Try some creative ways to remember the words and practice to use them in sentences. Everyone has unique way of remembering things. Don’t expect to build your GRE vocabulary within few days or 1 month. It takes time and lot of effort. You can follow which ever method works better

Memorizing words as-is from Barrons ( Not good way)
Use sentences to remember
Associate words
Link images to each word
GRE Flashcards
GRE Words Story
Using word Roots

After you have memorized all ( or majority) the words from Barrons GRE book, you need take lot of practice tests to check if you can use those words to answers questions in GRE Verbal section. During tests, if you know the words and end up selecting incorrect answers, then you have to improve on your GRE Test taking strategies.

Having good GRE vocabulary is one thing and ability to answer questions in GRE test is another. You need to have both the skills to get high GRE Verbal score.

gre test scores

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GRE Vocabulary Practice

GRE Exam Scores – Average GRE Scores – List of Universities

HSB — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:34:50 +0000

If you know the Average GRE scores of accepted students in U.S. Universities and graduate programs, you can compare it with your profile and estimate the probability of your admission. University selection process is tough without all the information, selecting Universities based on GRE Scores alone is not the right approach, but its a place to get started.

Average GRE Scores for Universities

Average GRE scores or minimum GRE scores required for admission or of accepted students is not readily available to all the Universities. It takes some time and effort to find those details. We have collected Average GRE Scores from Various Universities from their website. Some of the Universities are listed below.

GRE Exam Scores

I have started writing about Average GRE Scores for various universities. Here to name a few

Average GRE Scores or Good GRE Scores

Many factors are considered by Graduate School before giving admission to students. So, don’t select universities just based on Average GRE Scores of Admitted students.

For example, if the Average GRE is 1150 for a University, you might have 1250 and still get admission declined. There are so many other factors that are considered along with GRE scores for graduate school admission. Students search if scores they got in GRE in Good GRE score and decent enough to get admission. Any score above 1100 is good, but there are Universities that accept GRE score of 800 too.

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GRE Exam Scores – Average GRE Scores – List of Universities

GRE Study Books

HSB — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:16:37 +0000

You definitely need GRE Study Books to ace the GRE Exam [ Top 9 GRE Test Prep books]. Based on what students are buying from our recommendations, you can find the Top GRE Study Books below

GRE Study Books

Why GRE Study Books

You might be strong in GRE quantitative section, but in GRE Verbal you will be scoring less than 300. Reading GRE Study books specific to GRE Verbal section will help you to improve your exam scores. If you are weak in GRE Reading Comprehension, then read books that has lot of RC practice questions and strategies.

So, in order to improve your scores, you have to buy few GRE Study Books. It’s impossible to get all the GRE exam study materials from just one book. You will need to get few books.

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GRE Study Books

How to Register for GRE Exam – Part 2

HSB — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:47:36 +0000

How to register for GRE Exam article gave an overview of GRE Exam registration process. Few additional items you should be aware of before you register for GRE Exam

GRE Exam Registration

ETS ( Educational Testing Service) conducts GRE Exam
Use ETS GRE website as main source of information
Get complete understanding of what is required to Register for the GRE Test.
Make sure you have all the required documents even before registering the GRE Exam.
While booking GRE Test Dates make sure you give the name as given in your passport.
Don’t register for GRE if you don’t have Surname ( or last name) in the passport.
Add last name in your passport, then register for GRE Exam.
Find out payment options available and use the option ( Credit/Debit Cards, Check, Money Order, Western Union, …) that is convenient to you.
Plan well in advance, so you don’t make any mistakes.
Talk to Regional Registration Center in your country to get additional information on GRE Exam process.

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How to Register for GRE Exam – Part 2