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How GRE Test Is Scored?
Preparing for GRE Test takes dedicated effort and time, but staying informed on how GRE Exam is scored will definitely give an edge for GRE Test taker. I have seen many students preparing for GRE find it bit tough to understand the GRE Test scoring concept. Here’s a question I came across
Question on GRE Scoring :
I just finished giving the first test in the ETS PowerPrep software, and was pleasantly surprised to have a score of 750. But when I was reviewing my mistakes, I was shocked to see that I made 11 mistakes! And the mistakes were pretty evenly spread out through out the section. The mistakes were in Questions: 3,5,9,14,16,18,20,21,24,27,28. We know it is a CAT exam, despite that fact, how did I end up with such a high score
That made me wonder whether PowerPrep is reliable? I have heard people getting 780/790 with 4 mistakes, but still 750 with 11 mistakes looks like a bit too much. But if this is actually the normal scenario, I am more than happy . By the way, my math percentile rank was 84, if it helps by any way. I am hoping that I the reason for this score can be partly explained by the fact that I got 11 of the first 15 correct. Anyone knows how the math is scored in the real exam? I have heard though PowerPrep is a pretty good indicator of the real exam.
GRE Exam – First Few Questions
GRE Test is adaptive and first few questions will have more weight/pointsQuestions that appear in later part of the GRE Exam has less value.All the questions that appear in the exam should have been previously appeared in exam under Experimental Section and based on how students answer that question, points/difficulty level will be assignedGRE questions determined in such way will appear during first few questions and getting few answers wrong will bring down the score for sure.
GRE Score Range – Big Range- In the GRE Exam first few questions will help the system determine which score range the student fit in. For example, if test take get first 6 to 8 questions right, then GRE Test system will assign the range of 700 to 800. So, test takers score will be only above 700.
- Next few questions tries to determine the scores within 700 to 800 range. If GRE test taker gets 2 or 3 questions wrong in first 6 to 8 questions, then the score range of say 650 to 750 will be assigned and following questions will help the system determine the score within 650 to 750.
- It’s my understanding that first question will have value around 700 and getting it right will have next question of 730 in value. If student gets second question then next question will have 720 value. So, first 6 to 8 question will help determine the Big Range in GRE Exam.
Final GRE Score – Within Big Range
One the outer GRE Score range is determined, then rest of question will help determine the sub range of that. For example,if the Outer Range is 700 to 800, then next few questions will have value within 700 to 800. If the GRE test taker gets all the questions right, then next range will be set between 750 to 800.
Providing incorrect answers for one or 2 questions will reduce the range from 700 to 780 or so. But the hard part is to identify what is the value of each question. Best thing GRE test take can do is try to get all the questions right.
In the pattern Final GRE score will be determined. To answert the above students question, he should have got all the high value/weight questions right even though 11 answers were incorrect.
Preparing for GRE Test takes dedicated effort and time, but staying informed on how GRE Exam is scored will definitely give an edge for GRE Test taker. I have seen many students preparing for GRE find it bit tough to understand the GRE Test scoring concept. Here’s a question I came across
I just finished giving the first test in the ETS PowerPrep software, and was pleasantly surprised to have a score of 750. But when I was reviewing my mistakes, I was shocked to see that I made 11 mistakes! And the mistakes were pretty evenly spread out through out the section. The mistakes were in Questions: 3,5,9,14,16,18,20,21,24,27,28. We know it is a CAT exam, despite that fact, how did I end up with such a high score
That made me wonder whether PowerPrep is reliable? I have heard people getting 780/790 with 4 mistakes, but still 750 with 11 mistakes looks like a bit too much. But if this is actually the normal scenario, I am more than happy . By the way, my math percentile rank was 84, if it helps by any way. I am hoping that I the reason for this score can be partly explained by the fact that I got 11 of the first 15 correct. Anyone knows how the math is scored in the real exam? I have heard though PowerPrep is a pretty good indicator of the real exam.
1. Your basic intelligence (in Quanti and Reading Comprehension)
2. Your speed of responding (that's why the time limit is kept...and so, many of you who are practicing for the GRE must be finding difficult)
3. How well you perform under pressure? And also I used Barrons and Kaplan tests and bigbook. All these material are no longer useful as ets had tremendously increased the difficulty level of questions especially the quans and the reading comprehension questions.
If you are pretty clear in the above things then a good GRE score is not that difficult.
First and foremost suggestion:
Don't get tensed up. Remain cool and calm. Sometimes the only difference between a good score and a bad score is your mental strength. Just chill. No worries, no tension. Talk to yourself. Tell yourself that you can do it. If you win over your tension, then GRE is a piece of cake leading to a good GRE score.
Second thing:
Practice is the key to success. Give as many practice tests as possible. Grebible and Powerprep are a must. You can also try out Arco.
Practice tests and the CAT tests in grebible are excellent. The difficulty level is very very high in grebible. That's the reason why I was able to score much in the verbal and in the quans.
If you go without giving practice tests, that too practice tests with difficulty high level of questions. Your chances of good GRE Scores are negligible. You will end up with a average GRE score
The main advantage for me was that I got 4 analogies and 2 sentence completion questions straight from grebible practice tests. These questions were within my fist 10 questions. That boosted my gre score. Thank god else I would have been sitting with computers and doing silly things in my office.
Softwares used:
- Powerprep
- Grebible
- Barrons
- Arco
PowerPrep gives you the exact GRE Score which you will be your GRE Score plus or minus 10 - 20. Your Gre scores from power prep will be an exact replica of your actual GRE score.
I had no time to study for gre as my work is very hard. I used to come home only at 11 or 12 or even 2 in the night. But it was a passion for me to study MS. Initially it was very tough for me to find time for me to prepare for gre. I prepared very slowly for gre. Started with Barron's wordlist. After completing them when I took a diagnostic test, I was shocked at the results. Then one of my friend suggested Gre Vocabulary Bible from grebible. The software was cool.
Some General Tips:
1. Complete the math review in barron's with the exercises and also the one given by ETS.
2. Do math exercises in grebible. I found grebible math to be toughest of all.
3. On the day of test, free yourself from driving to the test center.
Take an auto or better still ask someone to drop you.
Some pople belive that preparing for standardized tests is a waste of time. Others feel that preparation is the key to scoring well. The fact is that even if you are unable to increase your I.Q. anytime in the near future, preparing to take standardized tests is very helpful. At the very least, you will gain valuable test-taking time by familiarizing yourself with the test format and the types of questions you will be asked. Here are some suggestions on how to prepare for specific standardized tests.
For the GRE General Test, the first place you should turn is the testing center itself, ETS. Contact the address above or call their publication phone number 1-800-537-3160 and order their booklet of past GRE General Tests (cost $15.00, 1994. You can also use the one sample test included in their registration package free of charge). Only ETS can give you actual tests used in the past. If you are interested in predicting how you will score on the GRE General Test, it is advisable to use one of these previous tests rather than register and take the current GRE as a "trial run." First of all, this method of testing yourself is less expensive. Secondly, once you take the GRE, your score is kept on file for five years and if you request that your results be sent to a graduate program, all scores from the past five years will be sent. (You can ask that only a GRE General Test Score be sent without a GRE Subject Tests score.) You don't want a poor score on your record if it can be avoided. If you are interested in published guides, there are many available in local book stores. One of the most popular is How tp Prepare for the Graduate Record Exam, published by Baron's Educational Series, Inc. If you are considering a prep-course, contact both of the programs below and ask them to send you more information about what they can do for you. Ask where the nearest training location is to you. Read their brochures carefully and then decide if they offer a significant advantage over your own personal preparation strategy. Sometimes the programs offer a free orientation session to show you exactly what they do. Ask about such sessions and attend them for both courses if possible. Prep courses are generally expensive (approx. $800, 1994) but if you feel that they can help you to increase your score, they might be worth the money.
Download 25 Free GRE Practice Tests
Free GRE Practice Tests:
5 Reading Comprehension GRE Practice Test
5 Sentence Completion GRE Practice Tests
5 Analogies GRE Practice Tests
5 Comparison GRE Practice Tests
5 Problem Solving GRE Practice Tests
How to Prepare for the GRE Issue Essay
The issue essay question on the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) will present you with two topics from which to choose. You will have to take a position on one of these topics and defend it. Follow these steps to prepare yourself for the issue essay portion of the gre exam.
1. Step 1
Become familiar with the GRE issue essay pool of topics. This can be found online at the GRE Web site.
2. Step 2
Take your time in selecting the topic on which to write. Make sure to pick the topic you feel strongest about and can most easily defend.
3. Step 3
Write a brief outline of your paragraph topics before writing to help keep you focused. The GRE issue essay is timed so don't spend too much time on this step.
4. Step 4
Write the main body of the GRE issue essay first. Save the introduction and conclusion for the last 15 or 20 minutes during revision time. This will allow you to review your main points for inclusion in the opening and closing paragraphs.
5. Step 5
Use signal words as you write.Including words such as "furthermore" or "in contrast" will make the grader's job easier and reflect better on you as a writer.
Friday, March 26, 2010
GRE Test, GRE Tips And Techniques
Be Aware
By the time you have finished your GRE preparation, you should be aware of the type of questions that will appear in the GRE Test. You should also be aware of how long each section is and the time limits. This will help you pace yourself through the test.
Know the directions for each question
Knowing the directions for the questions beforehand will save you valuable time. But remember the directions for the questions in the GRE Test might be slightly different from the ones in your study material. So always read the instructions but do it quickly.
Don't stick to one question for too long
By the time you have finished your GRE preparation, you should have a good estimate of how much time you can give to a particular question. Don't get stuck on one particular question for too long. This might cause you to lose precious time and miss questions you could have easily done.
Don't Rush
The GRE Test is about optimizing. Finishing the paper first is not what is important. You should devote just the right amount of time to each question. Maximizing your marks in a given period of time is your aim. So don't rush it as that might cost you valuable marks.
The questions at the beginning are the most important
The questions at the beginning affect your score more than those towards the end. Take your time with those questions. It is vital that you get those questions right. Getting these correct will dramatically improve your score.
Selection by Elimination
When you don't know the answers to some questions, try and use the method of elimination. You may have a very good idea of which option cannot be the answer. Eliminate such options. It narrows down your guess to just maybe two options and sometimes down to one.
Don't leave any question
The GRE Test does not penalize you for wrong answers. So never leave any question unanswered.
Be very sure of your answer before proceeding
With the Computer-Adaptive Test (CAT) for GRE, you cannot return to a question once you have attempted it. You cannot leave the difficult questions for later nor can you check your answers towards the end even if you have extra time. So pace yourself properly and be very certain of your answers.
Get adequate rest the night before
Before the test, relax. Research shows a person who is relaxed usually does much better than a person who is tense during an exam. Get enough sleep before the D-Day. Also if your GRE is in the morning, take a light breakfast. A heavy one might make you drowsy.
Do a test drive exactly a week before your test
Getting to the test center on time is vital. In fact you should try and get to the test center 15-30 minutes before time. Taking a test drive to your test center exactly a week before might be a good idea. This will give you a rough idea of the traffic conditions at the time and day of your GRE.
Wear Comfortable Clothes
Wear comfortable clothes to your GRE test center. It might be a good idea to carry a sweater or a jacket, in case you start feeling cold. Also make a check list well in advance of what all you need on the D-day and keep everything ready the night before. One of the things you need is a chronometer. (In case you don't know what that means, start preparing for the GRE vocabulary ;-)
Use the scratch paper the test center provides
You are not allowed to bring any sheets of paper to the GRE test center but are provided scratch paper by the center. You should make effective use of this to make quick notes for yourself or for solving math questions.
And lastly DON'T PANIC
No matter what happens, DON'T PANIC. Keep your cool all the time, even when you don't know the answer. Once you panic, you might even answer the easiest questions wrongly. If you feel yourself getting tense, take a short break, ask for a glass of water, close your eyes, take deep breaths and calm yourself down.