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studying for the GRE

Mehm

Mehm

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Hey all, I'm looking for good resources to prepare me for the GRE. Some sort of all inclusive, interactive system that walks you through all of the math would be awesome. I know the Kaplan books are good. Any ideas are appreciated!

thanks <3
 
Well, the bad thing about the quant. portion of the GRE is that the math is pretty much all pretty basic algebra/geometry. Which, depending on your math background, may be something you did a long time ago and have since forgotten. The good thing about this is that it allows you the ability to drastically increase your quant. score with just a bit of review.

I think books like the Kaplan one (I can't remember what other ones there are, but I think there are a few that are similar) will have most of the material you need to review. You should be able to access it for free from a campus library (if you are currently a student).

EDIT: On a related note, I think it is very helpful to look up how the test is scored. It weights questions differently (more at the beginning, less at the end of a section), and knowing this will allow you better distribute your time.
 
You might consider taking a course at a community college to refresh you on math, otherwise there are a lot of good math resources on iTunesU. Calculators aren't allowed, so make sure you get some practice writing problems out and working them in your head.

Also, make it a habit to start reading with the accompaniment of a dictionary, the vocab part started tripping me up and the more words you understand the better!
 
Mehm, I have not studied for the GRE, but a friend of mine did:

there's a review for the quantitative section that covers everything (briefly) online, on the website where you register for the test (click "get powerprep software" once you're on that page). then you can just find resources to review stuff you still don't get.

it's free, and it comes with a couple of practice tests, information on scoring, and a math review.

this is for the new version of the test. if [you are] taking the test before august, then the verbal section is completely different, and [you need] to buy test prep for the old test.
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She also mentioned using a Kaplan book from the 80s that helped--So maybe pick up one of those?

Best of luck!
 
I'd get a Kaplan book from a university library, learn the proper techniques for guessing, and diligently take those practice tests.
 
Make sure to look into any program your university/college/community may offer,from accredited programs to voluntary assistance. The more help for such a expensive important test the better.
 
All good advice so far. One thing I did was to start studying 3 months before the test date. This isn't the type of exam you can cram for.

I don't know how useful those vocab flash cards are...I memorized like 300 words for the verbal part and didn't see a damn one on the exam :X I'm NOT saying you shouldn't study new words. Who knows, you may get lucky and have them work for you.

I agree with the folks saying to study not only the material ON the exam, but study HOW to take the exam. It's pretty stressful and for every correct answer you get, the computer program chooses a harder question to come next.

The two books I used were a Kaplan and, iirc, a Princeton Review book.

Study everything but study hardest for your weak areas. I hate math and I studied so hard for the math section that my math score ended up being higher than my verbal score. I sure didn't think that would ever happen, but the test is fucked up that way.
 
Geriatric said:
I don't know how useful those vocab flash cards are...I memorized like 300 words for the verbal part and didn't see a damn one on the exam I'm NOT saying you shouldn't study new words. Who knows, you may get lucky and have them work for you.
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Not very likely. Selectively studying for words indicated to come up with high frequency in prior tests CAN be useful, but only by a little bit. Learning how to guess effectively proves more efficient (insofar as you face a trade-off). Kaplan books (or whoever, I'm sure) list these.

Study for longer than I did (roughly 10 hrs. total).

ebola
 
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