subject: Find Out The Importance Of A Gre Study Guide [print this page] Are you planning on going to graduate school? If so, you will have to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) to be considered by some schools. Many colleges give GRE scores a lot of consideration when deciding who to accept into graduate programs. This motivates many prospective graduate students to invest in a helpful GRE study guide.
The Educational Testing Service (ETS) creates the GRE and controls its administration. It is offered on computer when possible, though a paper version can be used as a backup. One section is written, the other three are multiple choice. There is a pool of questions that contains many more than are used on the test, so there are many versions of the test with little repetition.
You may need to take one or more of the Subject Tests in addition to the main GRE. There are eight of them. Each one focuses on a specific subject. Admission to a specific program may require Subject Tests. This article doesn't cover Subject Test preparation.
The GRE is based on very general measures of verbal and numerical logic, practical analysis, and analytical writing. ETS argues that because of this, it is not useful to prep or coach individuals in preparation for the test. Some offer the counter argument that the test format is so rigid that people can benefit from practice tests in the same format.
ETS provides the PowerPrep software package for those who are signed up to take the GRE. This preparation software includes practice questions and review material. The questions are retired from previous GRE versions. It can project the score you will receive on the actual GRE.
Study guides for the GRE are available, some of them for no charge. They take a number of different approaches to preparation for the GRE. Some of them offer practice questions or entire tests. Others review the basic knowledge that is tested by the GRE and provide suggestions for how to analyze and solve GRE questions. Some provide practical advice on approaches for writing the essays for the analytical writing section.
GRE preparation classes are available. These provide preparation in a classroom environment. The cost will generally be higher than other approaches, but they do provide for discussion and face to face question and answer. Some of them even have practice tests on computers much like the GRE experience.
So, how should you prepare for the GRE? Should you do any preparation? There is no set answer to this question. Some, including ETS, say that preparation has little value. Obviously, there are many who disagree. This is one of those questions that you have to work out for yourself.
