General Information About the GRE

• An aptitude test used by graduate schools in admission process - regarded as "first order criteria" (along with GPA and letters of recommendation).
• Doctoral programs - 550
• Masters programs - 500
• Should take no later than 3 weeks before school’s application deadline.
• $115 Fall 2002

• Analogies
• must formulate the relationship between the words in the given word pair
• of the possible choices, which pair of words has the closest relationship to that of the given pair
• Antonyms
• which word is most nearly opposite to given word
• reason from a given concept to its opposite

• Sentence Completion
• measure the ability to use various cues provided by syntax and grammar to recognize the overall meaning of a sentence
• does the answer logically and stylistically satisfy meaning

• Reading Comprehension - 6 question types
• main idea or primary purpose of the passage
• information explicitly stated in the passage
• information or ideas implied or suggested by the author
• author’s logic, reasoning, or persuasive techniques
• tone of the passage or the author’s attitude as it is revealed in the language used

• Arithmetic
• addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, powers, percent, absolute value, properties of numbers
• Algebra
• factoring and simplifying algebraic expressions, concepts of relations and functions, equations, inequalities, word problems

• Geometry
• properties associated with parallel lines, circles, triangles, rectangles, area, perimeter, volume, slope, intercepts
• Data Analysis
• descriptive statistics, interpretation of data given in graphs and tables, probability, select appropriate data for answering a question, determine if data provided can answer a question

• Quantitative Comparison
• reason quickly and accurately about the relative sizes of two quantities (A greater, B greater, A and B the same) or perceive that not enough information is available to make such a comparison
• Problem Solving
• test mathematical concepts using standard 5 answer choices

• Analytical Reasoning
• a group of 3-7 related statements or conditions and 3 or more questions that test the understanding of that structure and its implications
• test ability to understand a given structure of relationships (e.g. cause/effect, temporal order) and deduce new information from the relationships given

• Logical Reasoning
• understand, analyze, and evaluate arguments based on a statement or graph or table

• For all tests, often several answers are correct. You must pick the BEST answer.
• Each part is worth between 200 and 800 points in 10 point increments.
• Mean=500 SD=100

• Was your previous test negatively influenced by a rectifiable circumstance (illness, anxiety, lack of sleep, unprepared)?
• Do you believe that you can improve your score?
• Schools will get ALL scores.

• Distributed Practice and Overlearning
• Expect to spend 40-60 hours
• Take practice tests
• identify skills and subject areas you are weak in
• familiarize yourself with the mechanics of test taking
• Make a study routine and stick to it - start several months in advance and spend 1-2 hours per day in preparation
• Resources - books, classes, websites

• Be in peak condition - eat, sleep, exercise, minimize personal problems
• Think positively - don’t think "I never do well on these kinds of tests" or "If I do poorly, I’ll never get into graduate school"/
• Check your admission ticket
• Before exam - locate site and parking and estimate commute time

• Treat it like any other day - progress through normal routine.
• Wear layers.
• Bring 2 pieces of identification and school information to send test scores.
• Try to relax by breathing deeply.
• Focus on each question and don’t worry about past answers or future questions.

• Computer - Adaptive
• 93 questions
• 1.5 min. per question
• 2 hrs. 15 min. total
• See scores when done
• Can’t change answer once confirmed
• All questions equal value
• Paper - Linear
• 186 questions
• < 1 min. per question
• 3 hrs. total
• Up to 4-6 weeks before get scores
• Can change responses
• Questions have different values

• Last general paper test: April 1999
• Sept. - Feb. - 1st 3 weeks of the month
• Mar-Aug - 1st 2 weeks of the month
• Can take every 60 days
• Selection of questions not made in advance, rather while examinee takes test
• 1st question - medium difficulty

• Difficulty level of preceding questions
• Whether those questions were answered correctly or incorrectly
• Coverage of specific content
• Required variety of question types

• Total number of questions answered
• Number of questions answered correctly
• Difficulty level of questions answered
• Two people who complete test and have same number of correct responses - person who answers more difficult questions generally receives higher score

• Mathematical Reasoning - not until ?
• Writing - Fall 1999
• Present your views: 45 minutes
• Analysis of an argument: 30 minutes
• All topics prepublished (over 100)
• Computer selects 2 - examinee writes on 1
• Write responses on paper or type them on the computer
• Score 0-6 in half point increments (based on level of thinking and writing) - 2 graders (3rd if difference by more than 1)
• NOT assessing specific content knowledge
• No "right" answer or single best way to respond
• Will not get score instantaneously

• In an essay, explore the implications of the statement below. Develop your perspective on the idea or ideas expressed in the statement, supporting it with reasons and/or examples drawn from areas such as your academic studies, your readings, and your own observations.

• In any field of endeavor - the sciences, the humanities, the social sciences, industry, or other area - it is not the attainment of a goal that matters, but rather the ideas and discoveries that are encountered on the way to the goal.
• Most national issues are actually international issues. For example, the polluted rain that destroys the lakes and forests of one country often has its origins in another country very far away. The best way to deal with such global issues is through a world organization in which the majority of nations would force a nation to stop polluting or else face severe international consequences.

• 6 - Outstanding - presents a cogent, well-articulated discussion of the issue and demonstrates mastery of the elements of effective writing.
• explores ideas and develops a position on the issue with insightful reasons and/or persuasive examples
• sustains a well-focused, well-organized discussion of the subject
• expresses ideas with language that is clear and precise
• varies sentence structure and vocabulary appropriate to the subject
• demonstrates superior facility with the conventions of standard written English but may have minor flaws

• For this task, you will read a brief argument and then discuss how well reasoned you find the argument. Note that you are not being asked whether you agree or disagree with the position stated. Instead, in your discussion, be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument.
• You can also discuss what, if anything, would make the argument more sound or persuasive or would help you to better evaluate its conclusions.

• Emergency-room statistics show that 75 percent of those people who were injured in roller-skating accidents were not wearing any protective gear or reflective equipment at the time of the accident. These statistics indicate that, by investing in high-quality protective gear and reflective equipment, roller-skaters will greatly reduce their risk of being severely injured in a roller-skating accident.

• 6 - Outstanding - Presents a cogent, well-articulated critique of the argument and demonstrates mastery of the elements of effective writing.
• Clearly identifies and insightfully analyzes important features of the argument
• develops ideas cogently, organizes them logically, and connects them smoothly with clear transitions
• effectively supports the main points of the critique
• demonstrates superior control of language, including diction and syntactic variety
• demonstrates superior facility with the conventions of standard written English but may have minor flaws

• Think critically about a complex issue or argument
• Present and develop their views about the issue and possibly their analysis of the argument
• Sustain a well-focused, coherent discussion appropriate for an interdisciplinary audience of university faculty
• Use vocabulary and sentences that express ideas effectively
• Use appropriately the conventions (grammar, usage, mechanics) of standard written English

• 220 questions
• Should take as late as possible to get in as many classes as possible (either October or December)
• Not all schools require this test
• Still in paper and pencil format

• Content
• Experimental (43%) - subtest score - Learning, memory, language, sensation, perception, physiology, comparative, etc.
• Social (43%) - subtest score - Clinical, abnormal, developmental, personality, social
• General (14%) - History, applied, measurement, research design, statistics

• All questions are of equal value.
• Raw score = number correct minus 1/4 times the number incorrect
• Converted to scaled score
• Review introduction to psychology text.
• Review of practice tests