toby42

Thanks for the extra info, I really appreciate it. And I don't know if anyone can know if the exp section does anything for the next tests but ETS... I would really lean toward thinking that they don't.

That's one of the things I'm trying to figure out... looking for all the info I can get from those who have taken the GRE already Interesting.... Thanks for the info.

Thank you, that's exactly what I was looking for. Yeah, I'm not looking to decipher WHICH section is experimental... I just want to know if you can tell whether the exp. section is Verbal or Quant. And it looks like you've answered that for me, but I hope others who have taken the new GRE chime in further. And I know that 'it shouldn't matter' and 'I should do my best on it all' and what-not... I know this and I will do my best on EVERY section, believe you me. But the fact of the matter is that there is some sort of effect that this has on a person psychologically/subconsciously. And I can use it to my advantage. Myself, I would prefer to have only two verbals since that's where I need my highest score. But really, I just want to know if others have experienced the same thing on the GRE... Three sections = one is experimental. Two sections = both count. Oh, and amlobo... did the five tests alternate w/ your verbal first? V-Q-V-Q-V?

I'm applying to a school of theology and they expressly stated that they, being a school of theology, will pay more attention to the writing and verbal since math is really of no concern to their program, but not to slough off the math section either. So I've been studying quite hard for the math section as well since I want to put my best foot forward and show them I'm not only half smart. ;o)

I've been busting tail with studying and doing practice tests and have a question about the experimental section. Two, now that I think of it... First, Kaplan's practice tests starts you off w/ the two essays. Then it moves into 5 tests, two verbal, two quant and an experimental that could be either one. So you'll have either 3 Quantitaves and 2 Verbal or 3 Verbal and 2 Quant. Since this is an odd number and the tests alternate, whatever the first test after the essays are you know there will be three of - and thus which of the two (Q or V) has the experimental section. I know that this shouldn't really matter and that I should do my best on every test... but I just want to know if this is the way that it happens on the real (new) GRE test. Will I be able to tell if the experimental section is Verbal or Quantitave by the first type that comes up after the essays? Second Question: does the experimental section affect your score in terms of setting the bar for the next test section. For instance, the first time through the verbal section, it's supposed to be about medium difficulty and the second verbal section will be either easier, about the same, or more difficult, depending on how you do on the first one. Well what if your first section is your experimental one... is the second (which is really the first, technically) bumped up in difficulty? Thanks in advance; I hope this I made this fairly clear...

Regarding the Vocab... A couple months ago, I downloaded a GRE flashcard program on my Kindle Fire and it has helped TREMENDOUSLY. It's the one through superflashcard.com, I think, and there are at least 6 or 7 different sets of cards of 2-300 each. The repetition is key to learning them and I've gone from missing an average of 25-30 words per set to missing 2-3 words now. It's been invaluable. In taking the practice tests, I've seen a tremendous improvement and usage of the words I've learned. Plus being an app, it's not as dull or tedious (banal, hackneyed, etc) ;o) as simple 'flashcards' or 'word sets.' my $.02