Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Top 8 GRE Practice Tips, Eight GRE Practice Tips

Top 8 GRE Practice Tips

Everyone wants a high GRE score, but only a few manage to do it. The tips listed below should help you score high on the GRE.

1. Begin With a GRE Practice Test


Download the Free GRE Practice test from the ETS site and attempt it. This will help you to get familiar with the GRE & its pattern. You will find out what you're good at, and more importantly, what you're not good at. Which type of questions did you find difficult? Did you miss a lot of GRE analogies but do well on the GRE antonyms? With this information you'll be able to focus your GRE prep on your weaknesses and get a good GRE Score.

. Focus on GRE Practice in Your GRE Study Plan


Based on your strong and weak sections in the GRE, make a study plan and stick to it. Set more time for the areas you are weak at. You can plan to study different sections in different ways so that you find it interesting to prepare for the GRE. For example on one day you can plan to focus on the GRE vocabulary from flash cards and the other day you can focus on the GRE Quantitative section from a book.

3. With More GRE Practice, You’ll Know Question Directions in Advance

Learn & memorize the directions for different sections while preparing for GRE. Once you are familiar with the pattern, you won’t have to spend time on reading directions. You’ll end up saving time on the test day and will get more time to work on solving questions! You can be assured that you will get a better GRE Score, this way.

4. GRE Practice Test Tip: Focus on the First Few Questions

Be relaxed, so that you start slowly and carefully. Due to its computer adaptive nature, the GRE tends to give higher importance to the questions at the beginning of a section. Getting correct questions in the beginning will automatically lead to a higher GRE Score and getting them wrong will lead to a lower GRE Score.

5. Watch the Clock during GRE Practice



If you are running out of time, towards the end of a section, then it’s a good idea to mark answers for pending questions. Don’t forget that missing to answer a question leads to a high penalty – which negatively impacts your GRE Scores.

6. Eliminate Answer Options in GRE Practice

You may come across a tough question in the GRE, where the answer options are too close. If you are short on time, you won’t be able to work out the correct answer. In such cases, an educated guess is the best option. Try eliminating options, using your concepts. This will narrow down your guess to 2 options and sometimes to 1 option. This idea will help you save time and get a higher GRE Score!

7. Take GRE Practice Tests Regularly

The key to improving your GRE Score and problem solving skills is to practice daily. Make sure that you revise all your incorrect answers in the GRE sample test. Eliminating silly mistakes will also lead to a higher GRE Score. Tests will eventually help you build good exam temperament. This will in turn help you get the GRE Score that you want!

8. Do Not Panic When You Get Stuck

If you are stressed, take a second to tell yourself, "I have to give my best shot today without worrying". You must realize that an average GRE Score is not the end of the world. You should also know that very little is known about the score interpretation. In other words, it is likely that a University will select you, depending on other aspects of your academic profile. Perhaps the best GRE Practice tip that you can get, is to stay focussed.

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