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GRE Prep Materials

Do GRE prep materials really make a difference?

Thinking about how to study for the GRE?

If you are taking the GRE, then you have to aim for the best and study well to score as high as you can. The admission committees of graduate schools take one look at the GRE scores of all applicants. The ones with low GRE scores are written off as ineligible candidates for admissions, and the ones with competitive GRE scores are kept in the pool of candidates who are being considered for admissions. In most cases, there are no minimum GRE scores that are required by a university or graduate school for admissions. It is simply a matter of where you stand when seen in comparison with the other candidates who have applied for admissions. Hence, you need to worry about how high you can score in the GRE. This means that you cannot afford to take any chances as far as your preparation for taking the GRE is concerned.

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Your study for the GRE should include the following

Familiarization with the GRE test content
An in-depth understanding of the skills being evaluated by the GRE
Adequate practice on the types of questions that will be asked in the GRE
Self-assessment modules

This makes it undoubtedly clear that you should avail the facility of professional guidance and advice, without which your GRE prep will be incomplete.

Are GRE prep materials imperative?

Yes, it is absolutely necessary to utilize GRE prep materials for your GRE study. These study materials have been specifically designed to assist you in your preparation for taking the GRE. Any random book on the subject areas being tested by the GRE or your high school books will not suffice for your GRE prep. This is because these books will not be able to guide you in your prep for GRE as they have not been written keeping the GRE test format in mind. Therefore, it is important that you study from GRE prep materials when you are studying for the GRE

What is the utility of GRE prep materials?

GRE prep materials have been specifically designed to assist you in preparing for the GRE. This implies that GRE prep materials cover all aspects of your study for the GRE. Most GRE prep materials will offer you all or some of the following features:

Review of the GRE test content
Sample questions and full-length practice tests
Answer explanations
Scoring key for the full-length practice tests
Computerised practice tests which are especially useful if you are taking the computer-based GRE
Description of the GRE test format and the types of questions asked

It is not necessary that a couple of GRE prep materials will be able to meet all your requirements. This is because all GRE prep materials do not cover all aspects of GRE study. For instance, a GRE book may include several sets of practice tests but may not be accompanied by a CD which has a computerized practice test similar to the computer-based GRE that you will be taking. On the other hand, a GRE book with a computerised GRE practice test may not be having details of tips and strategies for scoring high in the GRE. Therefore, you will have to analyze your requirements, assess the utility of GRE prep materials with respect to your requirements and then only select a set of GRE prep materials and invest money in buying them.

What are the available types of GRE prep materials?

There is a wide variety of GRE prep materials readily available in the market. You can get them from local bookstores or from the internet. Some websites like the official website of GRE, www.ets.org offer certain types of GRE prep materials free of cost as well. The types of GRE prep materials that are available can be broadly classified into three main categories.

GRE books

GRE books are by far the most important among all the GRE prep materials that you will ever need for your GRE prep. Websites like www.amazon.com contain an exhaustive list of GRE books that cover various subject areas of the GRE test content. You can search such websites for the most popular books and also go through the reviews of the books given by students who have studied from those books. Most of the popular GRE books contain a comprehensive review of the test content along with numerous sample questions and practice-tests. You should ideally pick up a couple of books that will meet all your requirements, but do not go on a shopping spree and pick up numerous books as you will probably not have the time to go through all of them. Work out a daily study routine and go through the GRE books that you have got. Do not leave any portion of any book untouched. If the books contain certain tips and strategies for tackling the questions that will be asked in the GRE, make sure that you utilize all the tips and strategies when you attempt the sample questions and practice tests.

GRE software

Utilizing GRE software for GRE prep assumes great significance because in all probability, you will be taking the computer-based GRE unless it is not offered at the test centre of your choice, in which case you will have to take the paper-based GRE. GRE software will help you get familiarised with the environment in which you will have to take the actual GRE with computerised practice tests. This is a must; else you will waste valuable time getting acquainted with the keyboard controls on the day of the actual test. Make sure that you download the PowerPrep software from the official website of the GRE. This software is available free of cost and it has been prepared by the same people who administer the actual GRE. Therefore, make sure that you utilize this software and make it an integral part of your set of GRE prep materials.

Flashcards

Flashcards are small hand held cards that are very useful for reviewing important facts, figures and formulae. It is a well known fact that repetition is the best method for memorizing facts and figures. Therefore, you should definitely own one such set of cards and keep them at hand for ready reference or for review in your spare time. You can go over these cards whenever you have time at hand like when you are travelling or you can hand them over to your family and friends and ask them to quiz you. This is a very good method for memorizing important facts and figures which otherwise would have become a very boring task.

Sets of sample questions and practice tests

Apart from GRE books, make sure that you have a good collection of sample questions and practice tests. The initial period of your GRE prep should consist of a review of the test content. As the test date draws closer, you should start concentrating on solving more and more sample questions and start taking timed full-length practice tests so that you improve your time management skills as the GRE is a timed test. Sets of sample questions and practice tests will help you immensely in this stage of your GRE prep.

What to do after collecting the GRE prep materials?

There are two words that best describe what to do after you have collected the GRE prep materials that you need – ‘Use Them’! You cannot expect to do well in the GRE without working out a schedule that is well-planned and is suited to meet your personal requirements. You need to address the issue of preparing for the GRE with a cool frame of mind and work out a fail-safe schedule for studying for the GRE. Dedicated studies and adherence to the study plan worked out by you with ample utilisation of the GRE prep materials that you have collected will ensure your success in the GRE!

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Verbal - 166
Quans - 170
Total - 336

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