subject: Beat The Clock Of A Gre Test With A Prep Course That Fits You Best [print this page] Enrolling in a Graduate Record Examination preparation course is a great way to familiarise yourself with the somewhat gruelling time pressure test where you will only have approximately one minute for each question. Regardless of whether youre taking the General Test which measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and critical thinking and analytical writing skills or the Subject Tests which measures undergraduate achievement in eight specific fields of study, a prep course can ready you up to ace the test to successfully enter the Masters or PhD program of your choice.
Here are some tips on how to maximise your preparation for the test with a suitable prep course:
Start early! The high-pressure, fast-paced format of the test will really take some getting used to, so if youve been banking on last minute revisions for your previous assessments, its probably not going to work this time round. Starting at least six months before D-day is a good idea to give yourself ample revision time.
If your schedule doesnt permit this, you might want to consider taking two GRE prep courses to get more help in getting ready for the assessment. Otherwise, if you have more time to study on your own, one might suffice.
Find a prep course that suits your schedule and learning style. This could be a course with a prep school or one that is offered online. While some prefer the convenience, flexibility and independence of online learning, others might favour the old school style of attending classes. An added benefit of this is the physical presence of a teacher to help you along and the possibility of customising your study plan. A good and experienced teacher will be able to impart personalised tips, strategies and tricks to ace the test, and might have access to past year papers for your practice. Do take note that not all teachers who score above 95 percentile for the GRE test may be able to teach well.
That said, some online courses do provide opportunities for interaction with your coach so you are not totally on your own. However, the flexibility of an online course might deter you from studying steadily and consistently. Overall, find a school with a positive and encouraging environment that will motivate you to do well!
Ask around friends and colleagues whove sat for the GRE test for a recommended course and school. You may also want to find out how they prepared for the test, and whether they found it to be sufficient in equipping them for it.
Complement your course with prep books, or thoroughly go through the materials and maximise the learning resources provided from your prep course. These materials should familiarise you with the test style, structure, instructions and the marking criteria, which can be complicated.
If youve decided to enrol in a prep course, make full advantage of it. Allocate some time when you are home to look through what happened during your last lesson and find out if you have any queries that you didnt think of then. Take note of these questions and ensure that you bring them up during the next class.
