The Graduate Record Examination, or GRE, is important in the graduate or business school application process. The GRE is a multiple-choice, computer-based, standardized exam often required for admission to graduate and graduate business programs (MBA) globally. Additionally, many law schools in the United States will accept a GRE score for admission. It measures your command of basic arithmetic, algebra, geometry, data analysis, and college-level vocabulary. More importantly, it measures your ability to analyze and evaluate written material, think critically, and solve problems.
The GRE is developed and administered by testmaker ETS to provide graduate, business, and law schools with common measures for comparing applicants’ qualifications and preparedness for graduate-level academic work. Admissions committees look at your GRE score, academic record, and supporting materials to assess your readiness for the rigors of graduate academic study.
Information about the GRE General Test:
There are three sections of the GRE test. A short brief about these sections is elaborated below:
1. Overview of the Verbal Reasoning Measure: The Verbal Reasoning measure of the GRE General Test assesses your ability to analyze and evaluate written material and synthesize information obtained from it, analyze relationships among parts of sentences, and recognize relationships among words and concepts. The Verbal Reasoning measure contains three questions: Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence.
a) Reading Comprehension: Reading Comprehension questions are designed to test a wide range of abilities required to read and understand the kinds of prose commonly encountered in graduate school. reading and understanding a text requires far more than a passive understanding of the words and sentences it contains; it requires active engagement with the text, asking questions, formulating and evaluating hypotheses, and reflecting on the relationship of the particular text to other texts and information. Each Reading Comprehension question is based on a passage ranging from one paragraph to several paragraphs. The test contains approximately ten passages, most of which are one paragraph long and only one or two of which are several paragraphs long. Passages are drawn from the physical sciences, biological sciences, social sciences, business, arts and humanities, and everyday topics. They are based on material found in books and academic and nonacademic periodicals. Typically, about half of the questions on the test will be based on passages, and the number of questions based on a given passage can range from one to six. Questions can cover any topics listed above, from the meaning of a particular word to assessing evidence that might support or weaken points made in the passage. Many, but not all, of the questions are standard multiple-choice questions, in which you are required to select a single correct answer; others ask you to select multiple correct answers; and still, others ask you to select a sentence from the passage.
b)Text Completion: Skilled readers do not simply absorb the information presented on the page; instead, they maintain a constant attitude of interpretation and evaluation, reasoning from what they have read so far to create a picture of the whole and revise it as they go. Text Completion questions test this ability by omitting crucial words from short passages and asking the test taker to use the remaining information in the passage as a basis for selecting words or short phrases to fill the blanks and create a coherent, meaningful whole.
Question Structure
• Passage composed of one to five sentences
• One to three blanks
• Three answer choices per blank (five answer choices in the case of a single blank)
• The answer choices for different blanks function independently; i.e., selecting one answer choice for one blank does not affect what answer choices you can select for another blank
• Single correct answer, consisting of one choice for each blank; no credit for partially correct answers
c) Sentence Equivalence: Like Text Completion questions, Sentence Equivalence questions test the ability to conclude how a passage should be completed based on partial information, but to a greater extent, they focus on the meaning of the completed whole. Sentence Equivalence questions consist of a single sentence with just one blank, and they ask you to find two choices that lead to a complete, coherent sentence while producing sentences that mean the same thing.
Question Structure
• Consists of a single sentence, one blank, and six answer choices
• Requires you to select two answer choices; no credit for partially correct answers.
2. Overview of the Quantitative Reasoning Measure: The Quantitative Reasoning measure of the GRE General Test assesses your
• Basic mathematical skills
• Understanding of elementary mathematical concepts
• Ability to reason quantitatively and model and solve problems using quantitative methods. Some Quantitative Reasoning questions are posed in real-life settings, while others are posed in purely mathematical settings. Many questions are "word problems," which must be translated and modeled mathematically. The four content areas below assess the skills, concepts, and abilities
• Arithmetic topics include properties and types of integers, such as divisibility, factorization, prime numbers, remainders and odd and even integers; arithmetic operations, exponents and roots; and concepts such as estimation, percent, ratio, rate, absolute value, the number line, decimal representation and sequences of numbers.
• Algebra topics include operations with exponents; factoring and simplifying algebraic expressions; relations, functions, equations, and inequalities; solving linear and quadratic equations and inequalities; solving simultaneous equations and inequalities; setting up equations to solve word problems; and coordinate geometry, including graphs of functions, equations, and inequalities, intercepts and slopes of lines.
• Geometry topics include parallel and perpendicular lines, circles, triangles — including isosceles, equilateral and 30°-60°-90° triangles — quadrilaterals, other polygons, congruent and similar figures, three-dimensional figures, area, perimeter, volume, the Pythagorean theorem and angle measurement in degrees. The ability to construct proofs is not tested.
• Data analysis topics include basic descriptive statistics, such as mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation, interquartile range, quartiles, and percentiles; interpretation of data in tables and graphs, such as line graphs, bar graphs, circle graphs, boxplots, scatterplots and frequency distributions; elementary probability, such as probabilities of compound events and independent events; conditional probability; random variables and probability distributions, including normal distributions; and counting methods, such as combinations, permutations and Venn diagrams. These topics are typically taught in high school algebra or introductory statistics courses. Inferential statistics is not tested.
The content in these areas includes high school mathematics and statistics at a level generally no higher than a second course in algebra; it does not include trigonometry, calculus, or other higher-level mathematics.
3. Overview of the Analytical Writing Measure: assesses your critical thinking and analytical writing skills by assessing your ability to:
- articulate and support complex ideas
- construct arguments
- sustain a focused and coherent discussion
It doesn’t assess specific content knowledge.
The Analytical Writing measure consists of a 30-minute “Analyze an Issue” task. This task presents an opinion on an issue and instructions on responding. You must evaluate the issue, consider its complexities, and develop an argument with reasons and examples to support your views.
You’ll use a basic word processor developed by ETS to type your essay responses. The word processor contains the following functionalities: insert text, delete text, cut and paste, and undo the previous action. Tools such as spellchecker and grammar checker are not available.
Resources Required
1. GRE Website
2. Powerprep two timed tests accessible for FREE online on the GRE Website
3. Three ETS OFFICIAL guides
4. Manhattan 8 Strategy Guides
5. Manhattan 5lb book
6. Magoosh Vocabulary Mobile App or website
7. GRE maths basic foundations
Strategy for GRE Preparation Guide
1. You should have a passport to appear in the GRE if you don’t have to get one. (Random time required, not a formal GRE task.)
2. Register your account on the GRE website: make sure you enter the correct NAME AS PER PASSPORT, what to enter in the first name, middle and last, to leave the middle or last as empty, etc. 100% according to what you have in the passport as given name and surname. Try to put the first two as first name and the last as surname, leaving a middle name blank. The date of birth and other details should also be correct and match your passport; otherwise, you will not be allowed to sit for the GRE. (Random task)
3. Read the full GRE WEBSITE carefully: Read the whole website at least three times, and get to know every minute detail such that you kind of memorize all the details, the time required for each section, how many questions, what a research section, AWA section, and how the sections are scored in GRE, what is meant by easy, medium and hard sections, how scores can be high or low based on maximum correct answers in different sections, what is section adaptive test, what are the percentiles at what scores in quant and verbal, I mean literally you should be 100% sure about any detail about GRE. Use Google for all questions, read Magoosh or Manhattan GRE forums, and numerous articles online to answer such questions. Even then, if something is missed out, inbox me. (6 hours) 3. Make sure you are done with step 2 completely, then Access the two timed free tests on the GRE website. Just access the 1st one and leave the 2nd one for the last days before the test. (Random task)
4. Without taking mock, first do the book “GRE Maths Basic Foundations” (It is primarily for GMAT but very helpful to revise basic maths, especially if you are from non-numerical subjects’ majors). You need to do it from page 1 to end, including max practice questions; whatever seems tough, use the internet always, manually google your topics, and you will find good videos and links. read and make sure you learn them well. (15 Hours)
5. Now take the 1st mock test as an actual test with no distractions in a separate room at home, etc., and don’t forget it will not include the AWA section. If you score more than 290, you are okay until here; if you score less than 290, revisit the book mentioned above and revise it. (3 hours)
6. Register for the GRE test and make payment online. Register for a suitable date, which should be a maximum of 35 days from this date, as you will be done with five days of work before it. Make sure from this day to the test DATE; the gap must not be greater than 35-37 days for those with extremely busy weekdays. You have to work somehow for the GRE.
7. Now, start with two things at the same time. Manhattan 1-6 Quant guides and Magoosh app for vocabulary. Do all first 6 out of 8 guides (for Quant) in the same order as they are. Focus on the concepts, rules, and tricks; don’t practice many questions, especially medium and hard ones. Manhattan guides are not a true indicator of how GRE questions are tested. USE these six guides for specialized learning of tested QUANT areas. Spend more time on weak areas, whether geometry, probability, or whatever. Make sure you are good with strong areas. Along with these six guides, you will maintain a register for Magoosh vocab, 25 words with meanings, and one sentence, each written and learned as you did in schools. Don’t go to the next 25 every next day until you have revised the previous 25 by narrating meanings to a friend or sibling, etc. You must finish only 650 EASY and MEDIUM words, not the hard ones. Take a break after every week on Sunday and just revise the already learned words. Start every day by revising all words learned until then. Running ahead is useless if you forget to focus more on revising than learning maximum words. In GRE, contextual understanding is tested, so you don’t need to know the exact words written as meaning in the Magoosh app. Write the meaning, which may be from Google or any other dictionary if you like. (50 Hours)
8. Now complete Manhattan 7 and 8 verbal guides and also with that you will also keep on doing Magoosh words according to the previous point. AWA will also be covered here; try not to score too low. A simple tool: Write as you write in matric essay, Intro, body, and conclusion. The first paragraph should rephrase and highlight what is asked, and the last should summarize and conclude. The body should have a few paras but don’t think you need to write too long to score well. Brevity is the soul of wit. For Analysis of the Argument, you critically analyze its assumptions, weaknesses, correlations, and causations made, BUT you don’t give your own opinions and judgments. Just analyze someone else’s argument that is given in the question for ANALYSIS OF ISSUE. You give your OWN OPINIONS AND JUDGEMENTS as well. In other words, for the ISSUE task, you are one step behind the ARGUMENT task. You are to an argument, while in the ARGUMENT task, someone else has already given an argument on an issue, and you need to analyze the argument only, not the issue in itself critically. (18 Hours)
9. Complete the Manhattan 5lb book. Again, from a Manhattan book, you will not attempt any questions apart from random easy questions here and there and just skim it over with a closer look at concepts, theory, and smart tools. (20 hours)
10. Complete the official general ETS guide, then the quant and verbal guides. Focus on concepts/theory and practice maximum, medium-level, and easy questions, but not all. Focus more on strategy and how questions are solved than solving full books. If you have 6 hours to chop down the GRE, spend the first four sharpening the concepts. (45 Hours)
11. Take the 2nd online ETS GRE website-based test even if you score around 302-305, be sure you will touch 310 on the test days.. (3 Hours)
12. Revise all 650 words from the register; even if you forget a few, that is all OK. Revise the shortcuts, formulas, and smart strategies you wrote in your register while preparing the above resources. (6 Hours)
13. Don’t study at least one day before an exam. Play and enjoy, and sleep well. Target a 9 AM slot for the test, ideally on a Monday if you work or go to university on the other days, so Monday can be a great day to take the test.
14. Before the test, during preparation days, calculate the time you should spend on each question, etc. Take DIGITAL WATCH with you and note down on your rough sheet the exact time when you actually press the START TEST button.
15. Don’t overthink. Go with 1st instinct. Many GRE questions can be solved by eliminating wrong options, and also, don’t forget all questions within a section carry equal marks regardless of their difficulty level. Use rough work and onscreen calculator wisely and to good effect.
16. Take the test and share the results with me. You are good to go for Fulbright, direct admissions, other similar pursuits, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to prepare for the GRE?
Around four weeks to 20 weeks.
How much GRE score is required for Harvard?
Generally, the highest possible GRE Harvard score is 340, and the lowest is 260. According to this, any score above 300 or 300 will qualify as a good score to meet Harvard GRE requirements.
What GPA is required for the GRE?
For highly viable programs, you need more than a 3.5 GPA.
What is the lowest GRE score accepted?
Average GRE scores would range anywhere from 280 to 300. And, since 260 is the minimum GRE score, anything below 260 will not guarantee you admission to the university of your choice.
How long is the GRE?
About 3 hours and 45 minutes.
Conclusion
The provided GRE preparation guide offers a structured and thorough approach to preparing for the GRE. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the test format, mastering key concepts, and strategically managing time during the exam. By following these steps and dedicating focused effort to each aspect of GRE preparation, test-takers can enhance their readiness and increase their chances of achieving a competitive graduate or business school admission score.