1. INTRODUCTION TO THE GRE GENERAL TEST. Margaret Krantz. Hanover College
INTRODUCTION TO THE GRE GENERAL TEST Margaret Krantz Hanover College Career Center Director
I would like to acknowledge the Educational Testing Service for providing, free-of-charge, nearly all of the information in this presentation. Since attending the first of two ETS GRE workshops, in 2005, I have used their “45 minute GRE Overview” PowerPoint program as the basis of my own GRE prep workshops. In the interim, as ETS has made changes to the GRE, I have reflected these in their PowerPoint slides. However, the slides have now evolved to the point that it would be inappropriate to continue using the ETS logo. Lurking beneath these slides an observant reader can still see vestiges of ETS’s work. More overt is my gratitude to ETS.

2. GRE Testing Program $150 (Scores last 5 years) Subject Tests (Paper and pencil, offered 3 times/year)
Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology
Biology
Chemistry
Literature in English
Mathematics
Physics
Psychology
ETS’s notes for this slide:
The General Test has 3 sections: verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing. Examinees receive individual scores on each section. The General Test is a measure of reasoning skills, testing how well examinees can reason with verbal materials or with quantitative materials, and how well they can construct and critique an argument.
In addition to the GT, there are Subject Tests offered in 7 fields (which appear on this slide). The Subject Tests measure content knowledge and skills in particular academic areas.
Because they have different emphases, the two types of tests are often used to complement each other in admissions decisions.

3. GRE Subject Test Scores
(Achievement Tests)
Possible Score Range: 200 – 800
Actual score ranges vary by test subject. See the ETS website for score distributions for your subject area.
Allow 6 weeks for scores to be mailed.
Tests at a Glance.

4. Subject Test Registration
Test Date
9/17/16
10/29/16
4/8/17
Registration Deadline*
8/12/16
9/23/16
3/3/17
*Note this is a receipt date; allow 7 days for US mailed financial aid discount vouchers.
Tests at a Glance preparation booklets for each subject test are available through the ETS website.

5. Revised GRE (General test only) $205
Revised GRE (General test only) $ Verbal, Quantitative, Analytical Writing Aptitude Test Offered on computer 6 days/week Limit once per 21days, 5 times/year.

6. Revised GRE: Scoring Analytical Writing: Score range: 0 – 6 Mean: 4.1
Verbal and Quantitative Sections:
Score Range: 130 – 170
Verbal Mean: 151
Quantitative Mean: 152

7. Registering for the GRE
Registration options:
Call the test center directly
On-line
US mail
General test: $205
Subject test: $150
4 reports free; $27 for each additional.
50% fee reductions:
Request through Financial Aid Office
Allow ETS 4-6 weeks to process
Must register by US Mail

8. THE COMPUTER-ADAPTIVE GRE GENERAL TEST

9. 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.

10. A possible representation of computer adaptivity
Mean
ability / difficulty
Legend
Upper or lower
limit of question
difficulty
ETS considers their test design at this level to be proprietary information, so these slides were adapted from those they provided about the old test, and are my best guess at what computer adaptivity by section could look like.
Level of difficulty
for this question
Demonstrated
ability after
this question
Section 1, questions 1-20
Section 2, 1-20

11. Mean ability / difficulty Section 1, questions 1-20 Section 2, 1-20
The difficulty level of the first standardized section will be drawn from the full range of difficulties. The upper and lower hash marks indicate the range from The mean for both standardized sections is 150.
Section 1, questions 1-20
Section 2, 1-20

12. Mean ability / difficulty Section 1, questions 1-20 Section 2, 1-20
The difficulty level of the first standardized section will be drawn from the full range of difficulties. The Xs represent the level of difficult of each question the computer chooses. Because test takers are able to move back and forth throughout the section, and can leave questions WITHIN the section unanswered and return to them before time expires, the questions are not computer adaptive within the section.
Section 1, questions 1-20
Section 2, 1-20

13. Mean ability / difficulty Section 1, questions 1-20 Section 2, 1-20
The Os here represent the test taker’s demonstrated ability to date.
Section 1, questions 1-20
Section 2, 1-20

14. Mean ability / difficulty Section 1, questions 1-20 Section 2, 1-20
Over the course of the first section, the test taker’s ability emerges, though it won’t probably look this linear.
Section 1, questions 1-20
Section 2, 1-20

15. Mean ability / difficulty Section 1, questions 1-20 Section 2, 1-20
At the end of the first section, a range of upper and lower difficulty level emerges, and the whole second section will be drawn from that range. (Note that the second section will provide a range of question difficulty, not a single level.) Since questions that the test taker knows will always feel easy, and yet may feel difficult to the majority of others, it is unwise to try to guess what range that is.
Section 1, questions 1-20
Section 2, 1-20

16. OVERVIEW OF THE DAY

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

18. 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.

19. 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

20. Breaks
There will be a 10 minute break after section 3, and optional one minute breaks between other sections.

21. Standardized Sections: Verbal Reasoning Quantitative Reasoning

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

23. Revised VR: Sentence Equivalence
Sentence equivalence questions are new to the Revised GRE. Test takers should take care to follow the directions, noting that a pair of words can be synonyms and yet not complete the sentence appropriately, or can make sense in the sentence and yet not have the same meaning. Both conditions must be met. Note also the new answer options, signaled by square boxes, which provide the option of choosing one or more correct answers.

24. Revised VR: Sentence Equivalence
Sentence equivalence questions are new to the Revised GRE. Test takers should take care to follow the directions, noting that a pair of words can be synonyms and yet not complete the sentence appropriately, or can make sense in the sentence and yet not have the same meaning. Both conditions must be met. Note also the new answer options, signaled by square boxes, which provide the option of choosing one or more correct answers.

25. Revised VR: Sentence Equivalence
Sentence equivalence questions are new to the Revised GRE. Test takers should take care to follow the directions, noting that a pair of words can be synonyms and yet not complete the sentence appropriately, or can make sense in the sentence and yet not have the same meaning. Both conditions must be met. Note also the new answer options, signaled by square boxes, which provide the option of choosing one or more correct answers.

26. Revised VR: Text Completion
Also new are Text Completion questions that require the test taker to select each correct answer separately. There is no partial credit.

27. Revised VR: Text Completion
Also new are Text Completion questions that require the test taker to select each correct answer separately. There is no partial credit.

28. Revised VR: Reading Comprehension
Ovals indicate that there is only one correct answer. Since the standardized portions of the GRE are now adaptive by section, test takers can move between multi-part questions like the Reading Comprehension passages. They should be sure to save time to read the questions!

29. Revised VR: Reading Comprehension
The Revised GRE will have a greater percentage of Reading Comprehension questions. The old test had 8 questions in 30 minutes (1 long passage; 2 short). They will now be adding paragraph-long short passages with 1-2 questions (but haven’t specified exactly how many RC questions there will be in a 20 minute section).
Again, square boxes allow one or more correct answers. ETS’s research indicates that test takers are less likely to select all answers, even when it would be correct to do so.

30. Revised VR: Reading Comprehension
Another new feature of the Revised test is the requirement to highlight a sentence in the Reading Comprehension questions, which is done by clicking anywhere within the sentence.

31. Preparing for the Verbal Measure

32.
New PowerPrep software offers only one full-length practice test, which can be taken in a timed format or as individual questions.

33.
is an entertaining way to quiz yourself on vocabulary words for free while donating grain to the UN’s World Food Programme.

34. Revised Quantitative Reasoning
You 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

35. Revised QR: Quantitative Comparison
There are three types of questions in the quantitative section, which can cover the range of quantitative concepts. In the Quantitative Comparison style of question, the answer options are always the same four choices. This example is a geometry question…

36. Revised QR: Quantitative Comparison
…while this question covers algebra.

37. Revised QR: Problem Solving
The second type of Quantitative Reasoning question is “Problem Solving”. If the multiple choice answers are numerical, they will be listed in order. A time-saving strategy might be to solve for the third answer; if it is incorrect, two others will have been eliminated as well.
The Revised GRE provides an on-screen calculator. ETS recommends that students only use the tool when precision is required; in many cases an estimate is all that is necessary to choose the correct answer, and will save time. Note also the “transfer display” button at the bottom of the calculator. While convenient and helpful in reducing clerical errors, the button can lead to its own mistakes. Test takers should read the directions to see in what form an answer is to be entered. For example, if rounding or fractions are called for, the calculator’s decimals will be incorrect even if equivalent!

38. Revised QR: Numeric Entry
New to the Revised GRE are Numerical Entry questions that require the test taker to calculate the answer and enter it on the keyboard rather than selecting from multiple choice.

39. Revised QR: Choose 1 or more
Again, squares indicate that there may be one or more correct answers.

40. Preparing for the Quantitative Measure

41.
PowerPrep software offers “Math Review,” a free printable tutorial booklet that covers all the quantitative concepts that will be covered on the GRE.

42. To use the Math Review, students can scan the Table of Contents topics, and if they seem familiar, skip to the exercises at the end of each section, focusing their studying on those areas in which they were weak.

43. 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!

44. “ScoreSelect” Score Reports
At end of GRE, given option to “report” or “cancel” scores - before seeing them!
“Report”: See VR and QR scores; select “most recent” or “all” scores for each of your 4 free score reports.
If you later choose to purchase more reports, you will be given the choice of “most recent,” “all” or “any.”
You will not be allowed to choose specific section scores to mix and match.

45. 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.

46. How Much Prep Time? It depends on:
how much you would like to improve,
your baseline score,
the score you’re shooting for,
how much time you have to study,
how quickly you can learn new skills, and
how well you tend to perform on standardized tests.

47. Grad School Application Timeline
Find application deadlines for your targeted programs,
Subtract one month from the earliest 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.

48. Relaxation Exercises
Practice deep, slow, measured breathing; count your breaths, pausing two seconds between them.
Lean your head back and smile at the ceiling for a few seconds.
Watch Amy Cuddy’s TED talk on Power Poses; use one before the test and during breaks.
Imagine a river; each question is separate, and is gone forever when it’s done.
Copyright © Educational Testing Service, All rights reserved.

49. GRE Bottom Line: Preparation pays off!!