Graduate Record Exam

Dr. Michael RadisHoward UniversityPresented at University of Texas at El Paso September 21, 2004

Verbal Section---4 Types of Questions

30 Questions in 30 Minute Antonyms Find the answer that is most nearly opposite the

word in question Some questions require a fine distinction between words

BANAL Faithful Arresting Inclined Forced Elaborate CORRECT ANSWER (Elaborate)

Antonyms

Some questions may require you to find second meanings of words; Example: “depress” can mean to “press down” or

to “make sad” Predilection

Unwillingness to choose Desire to please Ambiguity Stereotype Propensity to dislike CORRECT ANSWER—Propensity to dislike

Analogies

Tests your ability to see:

A relationship in a pair of words

To understand the ideas expressed in the relationship

To recognize a similar relationship in the answer choice

Analogies Hints 1. Before you look at the answer choices,

state to yourself the precise relationship between the 2 words in the question Tree is to Forest as:

A tree is a part of a forest

You will be looking for a relationship that is a part to a whole

Analogies Hints 2. After you have noted the relationship in the

question then look at the answer choices for the same relationship:

Finger is to hand A finger is a part of a hand

Analogies

Always compare the relationship between the pairs They must always be in the same direction

The first term is to the second term (in the question) as the first term is to the second term in the answer

Pediatrics: ChildrenDermatology: SkinPathology: MedicineMeteorology: ForecastsNeurology: PsychologistsEcology: Environmentalists

Correct Answer: Dermatology: Skin

Sentence Completion

Require you to grasp the meaning of a sentence and supply the appropriate word (or words) to fill in the blanks

Read each sentence to get the overall meaning

Mentally provide your own answer Find the answer choice that is closest to your

answer

Sentence Completion

REMEMBER There is almost always a part of the sentence to

help you figure out relationships: Words like: and, moreover, also, but, although, however,

therefore

Take out the “extra words that do not contribute to the structure

After making your choice reread the sentence to make certain that it makes sense.

Sentence Completion

Heavily perfumed white flowers, such as gardenias, were favorites with collectors in the eighteenth century, when _________ was valued much more highly than today.

Heavily perfumed white white flowers, such as gardenias, such as gardenias, were favorites with collectors in the eighteenth with collectors in the eighteenth century, century, when ____ was valued much more highly much more highly than it is today.than it is today.

Scent Beauty Elegance Color Variety Correct Answer: Scent

Reading Comprehension

You will get two of these:One will be in a technical area and the

other in a social science or humanities area You are not required to have knowledge of

the subject matter—Only what is stated in the passage What does the author say about _____ What is the main point What does the passage imply What is the style or tone or attitude of the author

Reading Comprehension

Every fifth line is numbered so that you can quickly refer back if the question is about a specific line:

“According to the passage, the role of the flow restriction (lines 16 and 17) in a heat pump is to….”

Reading Comprehension

To Prepare Read Newspapers, Magazines etc. on line

Practice scrolling down to read longer articles

In the Reading PassagesContent is irrelevant

Vocabulary is important

GRE- Quantitative Test

Three types of Questions28 Questions- 45 Minutes

Regular Multiple Choice- Stand alone questions with five answer choices

Quantitative Comparisons- two quantities are compared with 4 answer choices

Data interpretation- a 5 choice question referring to a display of data; these questions appear in sets of two consecutive questions from the same data display

Mathematical Content Level

Standard High School Mathematics Not normally beyond precalculus

No trigonometry

No Calculus

No College level math

What is covered?

Arithmetic:

Elementary operations, Percent, Properties of integers Counting Methods

What is covered?

Algebra Algebraic expressions and manipulations Solving Equations and Inequalities Functions and Graphs Setting up and solving word problems with

algebra

What is covered?

Geometry Elementary geometric figures and concepts- lines,

circles, polygons, area, perimeter, volume, Pythagorean Theorem, coordinate geometry

The ability to construct geometric proofs is not required

Figures drawn on the test are not to scale

What is covered?

Data Analysis Basic descriptive statistics:

Mean

Median

Standard Deviation

Interpretation of Graphs of data

These are drawn to scale

Elementary Probability

Quantitative Comparison Questions Always have the same answer choices in the

same order Quantity in Column A is greater

Quantity in Column B is greater

Two Quantities are equal

Relationship cannot be determined from the information given

General Hints- Quantitative

Read Carefully- don’t overlook something or misread the question

The answer is always there Reread the question to make sure that you

have answered the question that was asked Remember you cannot skip a question- if you

get stuck make an educated guess so that you can go on to the next question

GRE- Writing Assignment

Two Analytical Writing Tasks

45 Minute--- “Present Your Perspective on An Issue”

30 Minute--- “ Analyze an Argument”

Topics

You will be given a choice between two “Issue” topics. Each states an opinion on an issue of broad

interest and asks you to discuss the issue from any perspectives that you wish.

As long as you provide relevant examples and reasons to explain and support your views.

Sample Issue Topic and Directions Directions:

Present your perspective on the issue below using relevant reasons and/or examples to support your views

Issue Topic “In our time, specialists of all kinds are highly

over-rated. We need more generalists—people who can provide broad perspectives.”

Topics

You will not be given a choice in the “Argument” essay.

You will be given an argument to analyze It is your task to analyze how well an argument

was thought out and well reasoned it is. You need to consider the logical soundness of the

argument rather than whether or not you agree with it.

Sample Argument Topic and Directions Directions:

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument

TopicHospital statistics regarding people who go to the emergency

room after roller-skating accidents indicate the need for more protective equipment. Within this group of people, 75% of those who had accidents in streets or parking lots were not wearing any protective clothing (helmets, knee pads etc.) or any light reflecting materials (clip on lights, glow in the dark wrist pads etc.) Clearly these statistics indicate that by investing in high-quality protective gear and reflective equipment, roller skaters will greatly reduce their risk of being severely injured in an accident.”

Scoring

Readers take into consideration the time constraints and consider the writing a first draft- spelling and grammar (unless extremely poor) are not given as much weight as organization and content.

Readers are all college and university faculty experienced in writing and writing intensive courses.

Each essay is judged as a whole

Scoring

6 Point Scale 6- Cogent, Well Articulated, Demonstrates a

mastery of effective writing 5- Develops a well developed analysis of the

complexities of the issues and strong control of the elements of effective writing

4- Competent analysis of the issue and adequate control of the elements of writing

3- Some competence in its analysis of the issue and control of the elements of writing but is clearly flawed

Scoring

2- Serious Weakness in analytical writing

1- Fundamental deficiencies in analytical writing skills

0- Off topic, in a foreign language, merely copies the topic, consists of only keystroke characters, illegible, blank or nonverbal

Structure of Test

Although your will only be scored on three sections: Verbal, Quantitative, Writing You will be given 4 tests.

You may get a second one of any of these This is a section in which ETS can test out

the validity of questions: You do not know which section is the one on

which you are not scored so you must try your best on all tests

Structure of Test

At one point the computer will ask if you want a break.

If you take one be certain to return to your station on time The computer will start the next test and the

timing whether you are there or not

Structure of Test

Don’t get hung up and waste a lot of time on a question

You must answer a minimum number of questions in each section in order to receive any score Anything below the minimum number of questions

attempted (whether correct or incorrect) will result in a No Score and the section will not be counted.

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