Preparing for the GREPreparing for the GRE

Dr. Nancy AlvaradoDr. Nancy Alvarado

Understand the TestUnderstand the Test

They will send you information They will send you information when you register for the test:when you register for the test: CD with POWERPREP softwareCD with POWERPREP software Practice General Test booklet Practice General Test booklet

(paper-based version)(paper-based version) You can also download these You can also download these

materials from their website:materials from their website: http://ftp.ets.org/pub/gre/PPGRE31.exehttp://ftp.ets.org/pub/gre/PPGRE31.exe http://ftp.ets.org/pub/gre/14614.pdfhttp://ftp.ets.org/pub/gre/14614.pdf

Computer-Adaptive TestingComputer-Adaptive Testing

The old way -- everyone does all the The old way -- everyone does all the questions, both hard and easy.questions, both hard and easy. Time-consuming and fatiguing for Time-consuming and fatiguing for

students.students. Hard to measure scores accurately.Hard to measure scores accurately. Constant need to write and test new Constant need to write and test new

questions.questions. The new way -- scores are estimated The new way -- scores are estimated

from a sample of performance.from a sample of performance. The test is “customized” for each The test is “customized” for each

person.person.

How It WorksHow It Works

The computer continuously The computer continuously monitors your performance and monitors your performance and adjusts difficulty of questions.adjusts difficulty of questions.

The computer starts with a The computer starts with a moderately hard question.moderately hard question. You get an easy one next if you You get an easy one next if you

miss it.miss it. You get a harder one next if you You get a harder one next if you

are correct.are correct.

Second ChancesSecond Chances

If you are nervous and miss the If you are nervous and miss the first questions, the computer will first questions, the computer will still give you harder ones later.still give you harder ones later. It is possible to increase your It is possible to increase your

score even if you miss the first few score even if you miss the first few questions.questions.

The computer also MUST The computer also MUST sample all question types and a sample all question types and a range of content.range of content.

How Are Scores Calculated?How Are Scores Calculated?

Each question has a difficulty Each question has a difficulty level associated with it.level associated with it.

The computer estimates what The computer estimates what score someone would get who score someone would get who was able to answer the same was able to answer the same questions you did.questions you did.

The computer “zeroes in” on the The computer “zeroes in” on the level of difficulty where you “fit” level of difficulty where you “fit” most precisely.most precisely.

Strategies for Computer Strategies for Computer TestingTesting

You can’t go back and change You can’t go back and change your answers, so be careful.your answers, so be careful.

You must answer every You must answer every question, even if you must question, even if you must guess.guess. No “penalty” for guessing.No “penalty” for guessing.

Using time effectively will get Using time effectively will get you a higher score.you a higher score.

Three Ways to Improve Three Ways to Improve Your ScoresYour Scores

Become familiar with the test Become familiar with the test format and with using the format and with using the computer, so you don’t waste computer, so you don’t waste time with the mechanics.time with the mechanics.

Do the practice questions to Do the practice questions to develop the skills needed to develop the skills needed to answer questions quickly.answer questions quickly.

Learn to guess well.Learn to guess well.

Building Your VocabularyBuilding Your Vocabulary

Does it help to memorize word Does it help to memorize word lists?lists?

We remember by extracting the We remember by extracting the meaning of a word, then forming meaning of a word, then forming an association between it and an association between it and our existing knowledge.our existing knowledge.

Intensive study may cause Intensive study may cause “interference” – the definitions “interference” – the definitions will run together.will run together.

How to StudyHow to Study

Spaced study is better than Spaced study is better than “massed” study – don’t try to “massed” study – don’t try to cram.cram.

Relate new words to existing Relate new words to existing knowledge:knowledge: Use them in sentences.Use them in sentences.

Study words in context – read Study words in context – read literature:literature: www.gutenberg.netwww.gutenberg.net

How to PracticeHow to Practice

Take the practice tests under timed Take the practice tests under timed conditions, just as you will take the conditions, just as you will take the real test.real test.

Repetition is important – each time Repetition is important – each time you do it you will be faster.you do it you will be faster. It doesn’t matter whether you have seen It doesn’t matter whether you have seen

the questions before.the questions before. Feedback is essential – check your Feedback is essential – check your

answers and correct mistakes.answers and correct mistakes.

Better GuessingBetter Guessing

We learn words in context and We learn words in context and rarely know precise definitions.rarely know precise definitions.

Much of our “understanding,” Much of our “understanding,” just like much of our “memory” is just like much of our “memory” is actually plausible inference.actually plausible inference.

When you don’t know the exact When you don’t know the exact meanings, use what you do meanings, use what you do know to eliminate wrong know to eliminate wrong answers.answers.

Look for RelationshipsLook for Relationships

Kinds of relationships among Kinds of relationships among words:words: Same/different, contrastSame/different, contrast Part/whole, kinds, examplesPart/whole, kinds, examples Developmental, first, last, timeDevelopmental, first, last, time Good/bad, evaluative, judgmentGood/bad, evaluative, judgment Size, proximity, spatial relationSize, proximity, spatial relation

Antonyms (Opposites)Antonyms (Opposites)

FALLACY: FALLACY: (A) personal philosophy(A) personal philosophy(B) imaginative idea(B) imaginative idea(C) unconfirmed theory(C) unconfirmed theory(D) tentative opinion(D) tentative opinion(E) valid argument(E) valid argument

Is a fallacy right or wrong, true Is a fallacy right or wrong, true or false?or false?

Which answer most different?Which answer most different?

Another AntonymAnother Antonym

LOQUACIOUS:LOQUACIOUS:(A) tranquil(A) tranquil(B) skeptical(B) skeptical(C) morose(C) morose(D) taciturn(D) taciturn(E) witty(E) witty

Where have you ever heard the Where have you ever heard the word before? Who does it word before? Who does it describe?describe?

Fill-in QuestionsFill-in Questions

There are, as yet, no vegetation types or There are, as yet, no vegetation types or ecosystems whose study has been _____ ecosystems whose study has been _____ to the extent that they no longer _____ to the extent that they no longer _____ ecologists.ecologists.

(A) perfected…hinder(A) perfected…hinder(B) exhausted… interest(B) exhausted… interest(C) prolonged…require(C) prolonged…require(D) prevented…challenge(D) prevented…challenge(E) delayed…benefit(E) delayed…benefit

Another Fill-InAnother Fill-In

It was her view that the country’s It was her view that the country’s problems had been _____ by foreign problems had been _____ by foreign technocrats, so that to invite them to technocrats, so that to invite them to come back would be come back would be counterproductive.counterproductive.(A) foreseen(A) foreseen(B) attacked(B) attacked(C) ascertained(C) ascertained(D) exacerbated(D) exacerbated(E) analyzed(E) analyzed

AnalogiesAnalogies

FRUGAL:MISERLY::FRUGAL:MISERLY::(A) confident : arrogant(A) confident : arrogant(B) courageous : pugnacious(B) courageous : pugnacious(C) famous : aggressive(C) famous : aggressive(D) rash : foolhardy(D) rash : foolhardy(E) quiet : timid(E) quiet : timid

Determine the relationship in the Determine the relationship in the first pair, then look for it in the first pair, then look for it in the other pairs.other pairs.

Another AnalogyAnother Analogy

STYGIAN:DARK ::STYGIAN:DARK ::(A) abysmal : low(A) abysmal : low(B) cogent : contentious(B) cogent : contentious(C) fortuitous : accidental(C) fortuitous : accidental(D) reckless : threatening(D) reckless : threatening(E) cataclysmic : doomed(E) cataclysmic : doomed

http://www.infoplease.com/dictionary/Stygianhttp://www.infoplease.com/dictionary/Stygian

Reading ComprehensionReading Comprehension

Two strategies:Two strategies: Read carefully the first time.Read carefully the first time. Skim, then go back and look for Skim, then go back and look for

the answers.the answers. Try both and see which works Try both and see which works

best for you.best for you. Consider the length of the Consider the length of the

passage.passage.

Notice the StructureNotice the Structure

Certain words indicate the Certain words indicate the relationships among ideas:relationships among ideas: Why (question)Why (question) However (contradicts)However (contradicts) Moreover (emphasize & extend)Moreover (emphasize & extend) For example (gives evidence)For example (gives evidence) But (gives exception or problem)But (gives exception or problem) In short (summary)In short (summary) Thus (conclusion)Thus (conclusion)

Keep it SimpleKeep it Simple

Don’t “over think” the questions.Don’t “over think” the questions. If a fact isn’t stated in the If a fact isn’t stated in the

question, don’t assume it.question, don’t assume it. Don’t answer from your own Don’t answer from your own

knowledge – rely on what is in the knowledge – rely on what is in the question itself.question itself.

The most straightforward The most straightforward answer is most likely to be right.answer is most likely to be right.