The Graduate Record Examination or GRE is a standardized test that is an
admissions requirement for many graduate schools in English speaking
countries. It is created and administered by the Educational Testing Service
and is similar in format and content to the SAT. GRE General Test
Format
Unlike the SAT, the GRE is a computer-based test. It is a computer-adaptive
test: while the number of questions in any given section is fixed, the
difficulty and scoring value of those questions varies according to the
previous responses provided by the test-taker. Rather than having a fixed
point value, questions of varied difficulty are used in order to 'zero in'
on the level of question that represents the upper bound of the test-taker's
ability. Because of the way in which the score value changes over the course
of the test, early questions are much more important in determining the
final score than those that appear near the end of a section. Questions
cannot be skipped or returned to.
The General Test consists of three graded sections and one research or
experimental section that is not included in the reported score.
Multiple-choice response sections are graded on a scale of 200-800, in 10
point increments. The writing section is graded on a scale of 0-6, in half-
point increments. Sections may appear in any order on the test, with the
exception of the Analytic Writing section, which always appears first.
One graded multiple-choice section is always a verbal section, consisting of
analogies, antonyms, and reading comprehension passages. This section
primarily tests vocabulary, and average scores in this section are
substantially lower than those in the quantitative section.
The quantitative section, the other multiple-choice section, consists of
problem solving and quantitative comparison questions that test high-school
level math, including algebra and basic geometry. The problems in this
section must be solved without a calculator. Average scores on the
quantitative section are generally higher than those on the verbal section,
though the material may present a challenge for students who have not
studied mathematics since high school.
The analytical writing section requires the testee to write two short
essays: one presenting their perspective on a statement, and the other
analyzing and pointing out flaws in an argument. Each essay is scored by at
least two readers on a six-point holistic scale. If the two scores are
within one point, the average of the scores is taken. If the two scores
differ by more than a point, a third reader examines the response.
Use in admissions
Many graduate schools in English-speaking countries (especially in the
U.S.A.) require GRE test results as part of the application procedure. The
GRE test is a standardized test intended to measure the abilities of all
graduates in tasks of general academic nature, regardless of their fields of
specialization. The GRE is supposed to measure the extent to which
undergraduate education has developed an individual's verbal and
quantitative skills in abstract thinking.
Unlike other standardized admissions tests (such as the SAT, LSAT, and
MCAT), the use and weighting of GRE scores varies considerably not only
school by school, but department by department and program by program.
Programs in liberal arts topics may only consider the applicant's verbal
score to be of interest, while math and science programs may only consider
quantitative ability. However, since most applicants to math, science, or
engineering graduate programs all have high quantitative scores, the verbal
score can become a deciding factor in even these programs. Some schools use
the GRE in admissions decisions, but not in funding decisions; others use
the GRE for the selection of scholarship and fellowship candidates, but not
for admissions. In some cases, the GRE may be a general requirement for
graduate admissions imposed by the university, while particular departments
may not consider the scores at all. Most graduate schools provide
information to potential applicants about how the GRE is considered in
admissions and funding decisions, and about the average scores of previously
admitted students.
In general, schools do not place a great deal of weight on the analytical
writing section. Most programs that involve significant expository writing
require the submission of a prepared writing sample that is considered more
useful in determining writing ability. However, the writing scores of
foreign students are sometimes given more scrutiny and are used as an
indicator of overall comfort with and mastery of conversational English.
GRE Subject Tests
In addition to the General Test, there are also eight GRE Subject Tests
testing knowledge in the specific areas of Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular
Biology, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Literature in English,
Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. At one point there was also a GRE
Engineering exam, but as most engineering graduate schools did not require
the exam (many felt it was far too broad) it was discontinued as of April
1st 2001. [1] Subject tests typically have 70-200 multiple-choice questions
that must be answered in 170 minutes. When an applicable subject test exists
for an area of study, scores for that particular test are typically given
greater weight than those for the General Test. However, the departments at
some universities may not require applicants to take their field's subject
test. For example, the English test mostly includes questions regarding
canonical British and American literature; as English studies has expanded
to include more study of female and minority writers, some departments have
deemed that the subject test is outdated and not an efficient predicter of
graduate success, and therefore do not require it of applicants. In other
fields, however, this is not the case, as the tests might represent things
that a superlative graduate should know.
More about
GRE Test Prep:
Preparation
A variety of resources are available for those wishing to prepare for the
GRE. Upon registration, ETS provides preparation software called PowerPrep
which contains two practice tests of retired questions, as well as further
practice questions and review material. ETS does not license their past
questions to any other company, making them the only source for official
retired material.
Independent preparation material can be found in the form of books and
courses from Kaplan, Princeton Review, and Barrons. Barrons is generally
considered to be the strongest for vocabulary review because it contains a
comprehensive 3,500 word list from previous exams[citation needed]. A
recently developed method of improving vocabulary are cell-phone based
applications such AppliMobile.
Testing locations
While the subject tests are held at many undergraduate institutions, the
general test is only held at test centers (due to the computer-based
format). Students in major cities in the US, or those attending large US
universities, will usually find a nearby test center, while those in more
isolated areas may have to travel a few hours to an urban location. Many
industrialized countries also have test centers, but at times test-takers
must cross country borders (see GRE website for details).
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