INTRODUCTION TO THE GRE GENERAL TEST

Margaret KrantzHanover CollegeCareer Center Director

GRE Testing Program(Scores last 5 years) Subject Tests(Paper and pencil, offered 3 times/year)

• Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology

• Biology• Chemistry• Computer Science

• Literature in English• Mathematics• Physics• Psychology

GRE Subject Test Scores(Achievement Tests)

Possible Score Range: 200 – 990

Actual score ranges vary by test subject. See the ETS website for score distributions for your subject area.

Subject Test RegistrationTest Date 10/15/11 11/12/11 4/21/12

Registration Deadline* 9/9/11 10/7/11 3/16/12

*Note this is a receipt date; allow 7 days for US mailed financial aid discount vouchers.

Revised GRE (General test only)

$160 (Save 50% between 8/1 and 9/30)

Verbal, Quantitative, Analytical Writing

Aptitude Test Offered on computer 6 days/week

Limit once per 60 days, 5 times/year.

Revised GRE: Scoring

Analytical Writing: Score range: 0 – 6 Mean: 4.1

Verbal and Quantitative Sections: Score Range: 130 – 170 Verbal Mean: 150 Quantitative Mean: 150

Sample Score Report

Registering for the GRE Call the test center directly On-line US mailGeneral test: $160 Subject test: $1404 reports free; $23 for each additional.

THE COMPUTER-ADAPTIVE GRE GENERAL TEST

Revised GRE: Adaptivity There will be 2 verbal reasoning

sections and 2 quantitative sections. Within a section, you can skip, mark,

return. You cannot return to past sections. Difficulty of second section will be

adjusted to your ability.

Section 1, questions 1-20

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A possible representation of new computer adaptivity

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OVERVIEW OF THE DAY

Test Centers or Universities Computer stations, Other tests going on, Security measures, Honesty statement in cursive Demographic information, Numbered scratch paper, Clocks on computer.

Revised GRE: Analytical Writing“Present your Perspective on an

Issue” one essay topic. 30 minutes to write your essay. “Analyze an Argument” 30 minutes to critique a one-paragraph

argument.

Read and follow instructions!No spell or grammar check provided.

How the AWM is Scored Each essay scored by 2 trained readers. 6-point holistic scale. Scores from the two readings averaged. Scores on the two essays averaged and

rounded up to the nearest half-point. A single score is reported for the section. Scoring guides and topic pool at

www.ets.org/gre.

Breaks There will be a 10 minute break

after section 3, and optional one minute breaks between other sections.

Standardized Sections:Verbal ReasoningQuantitative Reasoning

Revised Verbal ReasoningYou will have 2 sections (adaptive at thesection level) 30 minutes, 20 questions: Sentence equivalence Text completion Reading comprehension (budget your time!) All question types for all difficulty levels.

Revised VR: Sentence Equivalence

Revised VR: Text Completion

Revised VR: Reading Comprehension

Revised VR: Reading Comprehension

Revised VR: Reading Comprehension

Preparing for the Verbal Measure

www.ets.org/gre

Revised Quantitative ReasoningYou will have 2 sections (adaptive at

the section level) 35 minutes, 20 questions:

More real-life scenarios and data interpretation

Key knowledge areas: arithmetic, algebra, geometry,

probability and statistics

Revised QR: Quantitative Comparison

Revised QR: Quantitative Comparison

Revised QR: Problem Solving

Revised QR: Numeric Entry

Revised QR: Choose 1 or more

Preparing for the Quantitative Measure

www.ets.org/gre

Experimental Question Section Additional section with questions in

development Experimental section may fall first,

second or third Treat all sections as if they count:

you can’t tell which is which!

Keeping Your Scores The test is geared toward your highest

level of difficulty, so you can’t judge accurately how you did!

In general, if you finish the test, keep your scores.

GRE Prep Timeline Take the practice test to identify your

approximate beginning level, Find target scores on PowerPrep, Study areas that need improvement, Practice to increase speed.

Grad School Application Timeline Find application deadlines for your targeted

programs, Subtract one month to determine your

“working” deadline, Subtract two more months to request letters

of recommendation, Take GRE at least two – three months before

published deadlines, Mail in applications, and arrange for

transcripts, to arrive by “working” deadline.

GRE Bottom Line:

Preparation pays off!!