Romanista Posted June 11, 2013 Posted June 11, 2013 For those that have taken it, do you suggest taking the subject test before the general test or after?
kayrabbit Posted June 11, 2013 Posted June 11, 2013 For those that have taken it, do you suggest taking the subject test before the general test or after? I think it depends on what you're most concerned about. I took my subject test in October and my general in November because I was much more worried about the subject test and ended up preparing very little for the general test. This worked for me because I didn't want to have to think about the general test at all until after I'd completed the subject test. But others might feel they'd rather wait until later to take the subject test to have more study time. The general test could also be a practice run for the stressful testing situation of the subject test if you struggle in testing environments. I convinced myself that by registering for the earlier subject test, I'd have time to take it again if I needed to — but this didn't work out as the registration deadline for the next test was before I even took the first one. For me, it was a matter of negotiating my stresses and anxieties into a schedule that I believed was advantageous. Realistically, I don't think it makes any difference. Do what feels better.
antigone56 Posted August 23, 2013 Posted August 23, 2013 Question: I have to take the subject test in Literature. There are two dates in my city (fortunately, I'm in a big city). One's September 28th, the other October 19th. I probably need to do the Oct.19th because I won't have enough money to register until 9/15. In your experience, do these things fill up so fast that waiting til the 15th of Sept. to register put me at risk of not getting a spot to take the test on 10/19? Or does there tend to be plenty of availability right up til test date? Thanks.
id quid Posted August 28, 2013 Posted August 28, 2013 It's worth noting that the regular registration deadline for the October 19th test is September 13th. After that, you have 1 week -- until September 20th -- to register with an additional $25 fee. Whether the test fills up or not depends on the size of the test centers, but if you can scrape together the funds before the regular registration deadline you might like to save the $25!
mightyheidi Posted August 29, 2013 Posted August 29, 2013 Quick question - I'm about to sign up for the lit GRE in the next couple of days, and didn't realize that they asked for your four schools to send the scores to when you register. I am debating whether to have them send the most recent score or all scores, as I understand that "all scores" encompasses the general GRE test? I took the GRE twice, and my most recent one is better than the earlier one. Would it hurt my application if the schools saw both of my scores, or would they just take the composite? Or does it depend on the school?
id quid Posted August 29, 2013 Posted August 29, 2013 I imagine it depends on the school. If you're worried about it and can afford the extra send fee, I would recommend the peace of mind of sending scores individually. If you're worried about the cost, however, I would trust in the graduate school admissions process -- improvement is improvement. Incidentally, how much better is the second score? I can make a case for it either way -- if significantly, perhaps you just had some awful circumstances the first time around; if minorly, well, better is better! -- but I tend to be more forgiving than some.
mightyheidi Posted September 3, 2013 Posted September 3, 2013 Thanks! I decided to send them separately, and realized that you can change your score recipients up until three days before the test! Besides taking practice tests and going over the few good GRE prep websites for lit, what are you all doing to prepare? I'm making an outline that's basically the reading list here organized by period/American/British/World. It's getting really long, but I think it'll be helpful as I'm including dates and hyperlinks to bios/shorter works online so they would be easier to revisit. Dr. Old Bill 1
gatz Posted September 3, 2013 Posted September 3, 2013 So, uh, does anyone know how many actual past tests are available? Just the one they send when you register and the one in the princeton review book?
id quid Posted September 3, 2013 Posted September 3, 2013 Using the Princeton book to prepare and schedule my study, along with my trusty Norton Anthology, Hapax Legomena and Vade Mecum. I've seen very few practice exams, unfortunately. Vade Mecum links to this one: http://people.duke.edu/~tmw15/gre%20lit%20test%202.pdf
antigone56 Posted September 3, 2013 Posted September 3, 2013 I'm registered to take the Subject test (Literature) on 9/28. I wish I had time to study for it just a little, but I have absolutely no time. I'm studying for the General test, plus auditing two classes this semester in order to get strong letters of rec. (Professors I've had in the past but who I want to know me better and to see even more current work from me.) I plan to familiarize myself with the test format for the Subject Test in the three days before I take it, but I'm not studying at all.
Romanista Posted September 10, 2013 Posted September 10, 2013 For those who are planning on sending scores before taking the exam, have any of you contacted the departments to let them know that you are applying?
semicolon2013 Posted October 7, 2013 Posted October 7, 2013 It's crunch time for the October test day! How's everyone's studying going? I'm still scoring in the high 500s after months of regular study. Ugh.
gatz Posted October 7, 2013 Posted October 7, 2013 It's crunch time for the October test day! How's everyone's studying going? I'm still scoring in the high 500s after months of regular study. Ugh. I'm looking forward to reading less plays/short stories and more long ass novels after this is over. I'm learning a lot of little tidbits, which I find pretty fun if not real useful.
jestaylor Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 (edited) Is anyone having trouble accessing Vade Mecum? I've tried from two computers and my phone. I'm dependent on it at this point and the test is in less than two weeks! Edited October 8, 2013 by jestaylor
Romanista Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 Is anyone having trouble accessing Vade Mecum? I've tried from two computers and my phone. I'm dependent on it at this point and the test is in less than two weeks! I was just going to post this. Seems I'm not the only one...
id quid Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 I have a copy of the Mobile Mecum. Its format is not as easy to use, but it has the benefit of being a file I can upload. You can get it here: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64316068/Mobile_Mecum.doc BattyBoy and Romanista 2
Romanista Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 Thanks for that. The site seems to be gone, you can't even access it on the internet archive.
BattyBoy Posted October 9, 2013 Posted October 9, 2013 Yup. Crunch time. Next week. Phew! Thx for the upload of Mobile Mecum, id quid :) Mad respect!
BattyBoy Posted October 9, 2013 Posted October 9, 2013 GRE English Literature Subject Tests: GR9064 (1989) GR9564 (1995) GR9964 (1999) http://ge.tt/6hi9L7u?c Hope these help! All the very best for the subject test and the applications Romanista 1
gatz Posted October 10, 2013 Posted October 10, 2013 GRE English Literature Subject Tests: GR9064 (1989) GR9564 (1995) GR9964 (1999) http://ge.tt/6hi9L7u?c Hope these help! All the very best for the subject test and the applications Thank you so much! I've been looking for extras for a while BattyBoy 1
Romanista Posted October 16, 2013 Posted October 16, 2013 My admission ticket has my nickname and not my full legal name. I called ETS about it and apparently it's up to the proctor to decide whether I test or not. Extraordinary that a bureaucratic mistake could allow one to not be able to apply to certain schools.
champagne Posted October 16, 2013 Posted October 16, 2013 My admission ticket has my nickname and not my full legal name. I called ETS about it and apparently it's up to the proctor to decide whether I test or not. Extraordinary that a bureaucratic mistake could allow one to not be able to apply to certain schools. Damn. There's not really much to say to make you feel better about that. Feels hug?
BattyBoy Posted October 18, 2013 Posted October 18, 2013 My admission ticket has my nickname and not my full legal name. I called ETS about it and apparently it's up to the proctor to decide whether I test or not. Extraordinary that a bureaucratic mistake could allow one to not be able to apply to certain schools. I know the last thing you need is more stress... hoping that the proctor is an understanding creature... all the very best for this miserable miserable exam... last 14 hours... my brain has shut down. "F**K ALL THESE BLOODY DEAD WHITE MALES AND OBJECTIVE CORRELATION OF PETRARCHAN STANZAS ON THE TRANSCENDENTALISM OF THE BOSTON BRAHMINS !!!"
purpleperson Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 I just got my score today and suffice it to say that it is HORRIBLE. Lower than any person in this thread posted as their score. I really hope the subject test score doesn't matter much.
StardewDropIn Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 Are other people getting their scores back from the September test? I got mine back today-- 630, hoping that will be adequate for most of the schools
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