She works with an IT major. Normally she doesn't speak much but when she speaks, I bet she can make you speechless. Total nerd and travel buff Tuba can be seen passionately doing gyms, Netflix or sharing experiences through excellent blogs. If not then you can find her learning something new. Yes, She knows 4 languages – English, Hindi, Marathi, and German.
Latest posts by Tuba Mansoor
(see all)In the
first part, I provided you with some general information on the GRE exam and the resources. In this section, I will provide you with some tips to ace the exam while providing you with details regarding the exam.
Tips and tricks for the GRE quantitative section
You will definitely have two quantitative sections. You may
receive a third experimental section. There will be 20 questions per section
and you will have 35 minutes per section.
For me, the problem was that I made silly mistakes when it came to the quantitive section. For example, copying down the wrong digits on my rough page etc. The key was practice. Because when I solved questions, I realized the type of mistakes that I tended to mistake, so I knew what to avoid.
Magoosh had a lot of questions with video explanations so that helped. So, for quantitive, I would definitely suggest Magoosh. Better to concentrate on sections like probability and permutation & combination which could get really tricky.
Tips and tricks for the GRE verbal section
The key thing to remember here is that the same set of words are repeated again and again. So, one must commit the most commonly occurring GRE words to memory. Remember that ETS does not have an infinite list of words that they use. Chances are that the words that you will learn through the use of the resources discussed earlier, will be sufficient. As humans, we tend to forget the meaning of the words. Learning a few words and remembering them is better than learning all the words and not remembering any of them.
Tips and Tricks for the GRE Analytical section
The questions for this section appear from the list of
topics already mentioned on the GRE website. So, every day I picked up one topic for the Analyze an issue and for the Analyze an argument tasks and roughly jotted down the points related to those topics. Then I would scour the internet for those topics and read essays written by others. This helped me expand my views on different topics.
For the Analyze an issue topic, I would suggest trying to include both pros and cons and then tying all the points together in conclusion. I believe that wider and lengthier your views, the better it is.
For analyze an argument topic, try including one paragraph
for each point that you wish to make.
More tips and tricks for the GRE section
When it comes to Gre preparation Magoosh is my all time favorite. The best thing would be to buy their subscription when they have some holiday sale going on. During such times, you will find their prices are highly slashed. I believe if you email them, they will provide you with some kind of discount coupon code. Use this
link to get 10$ off.
Also, research a lot. You will find a lot of tips and tricks on the internet. People writing about their experiences helps a lot.
Search for free or paid practice exams like
Kaplan,
Princeton or
Manhattan. GRE is a long exam. One needs to practice sitting for such long exams. These tests will usually not include the extra experimental section. So, one needs to account for that.
Booking an exam slot for the GRE exam
Book your exam slot well in advance. Seats tend to get filled
up once August starts.
Before booking an exam center, weigh its pros and cons. Read its reviews on the internet.
Be careful while selecting a time slot. Think about whether you will be able to reach there on time comfortably. Do not be haste while choosing your exam centers and exam timings.
Booking the exam is fairly simple. You will need your passport while booking. Just create an ETS account, fill in the details, choose a slot and register for the test. If possible, take out a hard copy of the registration details. A debit card or a credit card will work for the payment, but I believe your debit card needs to be enabled for international transactions (specifically if you are from India).
Appearing for the GRE exam
Google about the test centers in your area. Make sure you reach much before your stipulated time. Use google maps and estimate the time you will need to reach your destination. Carry a printout of your registration and your original passport. Remember that without your passport, you won’t be able to appear for the test. Carry something to eat. GRE is a long exam, you will need it. Also, carry some water.
My test was scheduled to begin at 10, but it started way later than that. Initially, they asked us for the registration copy and passport and asked us to sit in a room. From there we were asked to sit at some particular desks. During the 10-minute section break, we had to sign out and go out of the room. I had some snacks and came back. I don’t think the 10-minute rule is strict.
You will receive your quantitative and qualitative scores once you end the exam. Your analytical scores will come in the following week.
Once you are done with your exam, you will be asked to input the names of four colleges where you would like your scores to be sent. Later if you need to send the scores to more colleges, you will need to send it an additional cost of $27 per recipient. Better to decide your colleges beforehand and save some bucks.
This sums up my experience with GRE exam. If you have any further questions, feel free to write to me.
Check out how I scored 117 in TOEFL
here.
If you are planning to pursue a masters course in the USA, check out my step to step guide for the same
here.
Good Luck!
You may like these too...
