1. It’s not so black and white * Antonyms are something you may not have seen before
As if the analogies weren’t bad enough, the GRE also has questions about antonyms. And unlike analogies, which were on the SAT until 2005, antonyms haven’t been around for quite a while, so you may never have seen an antonyms question before. The antonyms section, as you may have guessed, will test your vocabulary by asking you to choose which word or phrase best encapsulates the opposite meaning of the given word or phrase. It sounds simple enough, but it’s not that spicy and alabaster. Trust us. To be successful in antonym questions, you will have to practice / review them and study your …
2. V for vocabulary * Study your vocabulary!
Indeed, a vast vocabulary is a vital virtue that vouches for victory over virtually any valuation of verbal virtuosity. Although the vicissitudes of vitality grant us a veritable vichyssoise of verbiage, invariably, several stained glass windows of the vernacular language disappear from view, leaping on even the most vigilant avant-gardes. To overcome this irritating vulnerability, a verifiable verisimilitude: through a vigorous barrage of verbal food, voila! – vindication of this voracious violation of the will.
3. Practice makes … Well, you know The importance of practice tests
There are no disclosures here. However, it is important to note that the GRE is a computer adaptive test (CAT). You can ask as many practice questions as you like, but no number of practice questions in a book will accurately emulate the experience of taking a computerized exam. Rats Fortunately, ETS is generous enough to offer CAT internships on their website (ets.org). Start with the book and get used to the questions; then when you’re ready for the real thing, download the CATs and practice at home on your computer. Standardized tests always test the same concepts; the only things that change are the wording and the numbers. The better you know the format and the questions, the more confident you will be in reality.
4. Circles, Triangles, and Squares – OMG! Math 101
Some of you, after your four years of college (plus many years in the real world), can probably triple integrations in your sleep. Hyperbolic differential equations? Please, that’s easy. If you can do that, you can probably handle the basic mathematical reasoning required for the GRE. However, those of you who did not major in engineering in college will still have to grapple with the math section of the GRE. Math is not difficult, but for many of you, it will have been many years since you saw a math problem. Do not panic! It is not very different from the SAT. Do some practice problems to gauge your level and then decide on a course of action. If a walk down memory lane is enough to grease the wheels of math, good for you; if not, consider the help of a professional!
5. Time is of the essence Start preparation early
Four years of college has made you (hopefully) a smarter and better thinker, but how long has it been since your last standardized test? When was the last time you had to sit down and answer four hours of questions on topics you (probably) couldn’t care less about? When was the last time you had to go from reading comprehension to math to writing in the same amount of time? Don’t underestimate the GRE! Knowing that you could have done better is the worst feeling you have ever had.
* An extra note, just for you!
In August 2011, the ETS will introduce the new (and improved?) GRE. Once these changes are implemented, vocabulary will be less emphasized and critical reading will be more important. Those of you who take the exam before and around August 2011 may want to think about what format you would prefer to take.