Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with gre and test

GRE Literature as Subject Test HELP!

miss-lapin — Wed, 27 May 2009 15:06:54 -0800

I'm trying to find a prep course for the Literature Subject Test of the GRE (which is not the same as the general GRE) in NYC. While I did well with the verbal section of the GRE, I scored lower than I hoped on the Lit. as Sub. practice tests I took in the fall. I also have test taking anxiety so a course specifically for this test would help with my confidence. It doesn't appear that Kaplan or Princeton Review offer a specialized prep course for this test. Any hints where I might look? Also, while I have several books I am using to help review, other advice on ow to prep is welcome.

Sick: GRE as AskMefi: ???

andoatnp — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:25:30 -0800

I'm getting sick and taking the GRE on Monday. Anything I should be doing between now and then and best medicines for the day of? I've developed a sore throat and very light congestion. I'm taking the GRE in 36 hours. I'm about to go to sleep now (it's 1am where I am) and I'm wondering what might be anything I should do on sunday during the day, and especially the best medicine if I'm having trouble falling asleep Sunday night.

Also, if I'm feeling particularly bad on monday morning, what is the best thing to do? Any special drinks or snacks I should bring with me to the test? Thanks!

High GPA Versus Low GRE

Delfena — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:51:46 -0800

Does a high GPA make up for a low GRE score for grad school admissions? Should I send my scores to schools if they are "recommended" but not required? I'm scheduled to take the GRE in two weeks. I took a Princeton Review study course over the summer, but didn't improve as much as I would have liked. My practice test score is around 1160, but I did receive a 5 (out of 6) on both writing sections. I'm applying to 4 grad schools, and only one of them requires GRE scores. My question is, should I send my scores to the schools that only "recommend" but not require them? If I do, and they end up being low (around my practice score), will my 3.98 GPA and good letters of rec make up for it? Would it look bad if I didn't send in my scores at all? Oh, my field of study is Urban Planning, and the schools I'm applying to are Portland State, NYU, UC Irvine, and the University of British Columbia. (UCI is the one that requires the GRE) Thanks!

Anyone taken computer based GRE?

bilbo baggins — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:40:30 -0800

Anyone taken the GRE computer based General Test? I am computer literate, however having never taken a test on a computer I am kind of freaked out just by the sound of it. Will there still be paper for me to write problems out on? Can I skip a question and come back to it? Has anyone taken the paper based test and the computer base test? If so how do they compare?

What happens if I don't show up for the GREs?

suedehead — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:58:25 -0800

How to solve the GREs-- not the test, but the registration! What happens if I don't show up to the test? I signed up for the GRE for this Saturday. On Monday, I realized that the test narrowly overlaps with another test, and that I should reschedule the test. I tried to reschedule on Tuesday, three full days before the test --- or so I thought. It turns out that "three full days" means "three full days not including the test date or the cancellation date". In other words: I should have canceled five full days before the test.

Now I have a GRE looming ahead of me in the next two days, I can't cancel it, and I'm pretty sure that I'll be 200% more prepared if I take it, oh, next week (I spent most of my time memorizing vocab, not taking practice tests). Here's my question:

1) Is there anyway to cancel/reschedule?
2) If not, what happens if I don't show up? Will not showing up on Saturday mean that I still can't take a GRE again until October? Or since I didn't take the test at all, would it be possible to sign up for another GRE next next week (in September) or so?

I tried to look online and to call, but I was faced with long, long wait times (ten minutes+ just to navigate the phone menus?) and hazy details. I'm hoping someone who has been in a similar situation/knows the details can shed some light on my questions.

Thanks so much!

How to ace the Psychology GRE?

solipsophistocracy — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:24:47 -0800

Can you point me to some good resources to prepare for the GRE Subject Test in Psychology? I found a ton of great resources for the general test online (mostly thanks to AskMe), but am having less luck with the Psychology subject test. I've been told that it's not much more complex than a comprehensive exam for an introductory psych course, but I'd really like to blow it out of the water.

I have the ETS guidebook, and I'm willing to purchase another book or some software if there's something out there that really knocked your socks off, but I'd prefer to find some free resources online.

I'm also interested in any study strategies you might have (but for this test in particular, not just general test taking tips). If you took the test, what did you like/dislike about it? What surprised you? What would you have spent more time focusing on?

I have about nine weeks to prepare, and have planned for about an hour of study per day.

Test: Skill :: MAT : ?

Miko — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:21:55 -0800

MAT vs. GRE: Does it matter? The graduate program I'm applying to [American Studies with a certificate in Public Culture and History] requires either the GRE -or- the MAT.

I don't want to take both and won't have time to take either more than once between now and the application deadline. I'm inclined to take the MAT because it's shorter, cheaper, and I think I have good skills at logical analysis. Evidence suggests I would probably do very well on the GRE verbal, but low-mediocre-to-very-poor on the mathematics.

My question is this: is there any reason to think one is a better choice than another? Funding? Strength on the application? Fit with field? Just want to make sure I don't create a detriment. Thanks for anything you can offer.

Is it random?

bluejayk — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:05:15 -0800

Do standardized tests (SAT, GRE, LSAT, etc.) use randomly sorted answer choices? I don't know how to go about getting a straight answer from the makers of these tests.

When writing a question, the writers must write 4 incorrect and 1 correct answer. How is the order they are placed determined?

I had kinda assumed that on harder tests (GRE, GMAT, MCAT, LSAT) that the answers were at least sometimes arranged in a non-random (test-writer chosen) method. But in a discussion I've been having, everyone else thinks that's crazy.

If the answer order is chosen by people, in order to sometimes make the answers more difficult to choose (example: putting a superficially attractive incorrect answer before the correct choice), that makes it non-random, even if each answer letter comprises 20% of the answer choices. Right?

However, I don't really know if they do that, or if I just notice when they do, and discount it when they don't.

Anyplace I can find hard evidence?

Funneling words into my noodle at a rapid rate

dead_ — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 08:35:49 -0800

What are the best (free) online exercises to prepare for the GRE? I'm looking specifically for flash or web based exercises that are designed to build vocabulary for the verbal section of the GRE test. I'm not looking for word lists--there are plenty of those widely available--but rather I want something that I can do in my spare time, like a game type of thing. Something that will help build my vocab and not bore me to tears.

Online flashcard type of stuff, or whatever. Any ideas?? I haven't found much, as Googling for it brings up mostly commercial dross.

GRE Literature Subject Test

mammary16 — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 09:27:35 -0800

A friend of mine is taking the GRE English Literature Subject test in a couple weeks. She was an English major in undergraduate. Any tips on a quick study plan? She will be getting her hands on some Norton anthologies, and has a Kaplan book. Anybody have specific pieces of advice?

Thanks!