GRE math section

[siarabird]

Hey all!

So I'm going to be applying to grad schools for Fall 2013, and I have to take the GRE. I'm concerned however about the math section. I'm applying to English programs so I've heard from several people (including the websites of some of the grad schools themselves) that the math section won't be taken into account. But I can't help continuing to worry because if anybody here thinks that they are bad at math, I promise you, I'm 100% worse. If I take the math section of the GRE without studying for it, I don't think I would get a single question right. This worries me because even though the math scores aren't a part of the decision process, what if the school thinks I'm a complete imbecile because my scores could be emulated by a dog with a pencil taped to its paw?

But then again, I don't want to waste precious time studying for the math section of the GRE when I could be studying for the other sections which will be taken into account. So my question is, am I dumb for worrying about the math section when clearly an English program will have nothing to do with math so it doesn't matter, or am I right in thinking that I shouldn't go into the math section of the GRE completely unprepared?

Another concern of mine is if I take the math portion, become completely bummed out because I'm dumber than a rock, and tank on the important sections due to anxiety from the math section. :/ Ah hell, I'm a ball of anxiety anyway so that's not gonna change. But I would still love to hear everybody's input anyway! :]

[poeteer]

I would aim for at least a 500 if I were you (but preferably a 550-600). I have a score in the low 500s, and even though it really hurt my overall score, it still kept gave me one (when added to the Verbal score, I mean) that will break grad school minimums. I also think some schools might need to petition to accept candidates with sub-500 math scores.

[lolopixie]

Luckily, grad school minimums don't really work anymore because of the new scoring scale. Try your best on the math section, but don't freak out too much. Some schools state they don't care about your math scores -- that's what I'm hoping for because my math scores suck.

Oh, and if you decide to take a GRE prep course, see if there is a Sherwood Test Prep course near you. I took that course and it was extremely helpful and I increased my verbal scorely hugely after taking it. And it is not as expensive as all the other courses. $400 as compared to about $1k-$1500

Edited January 13, 2012 by lolopixie

[poeteer]

Oh LOL, I forgot about the change in scoring. I wonder if they have new minimums yet.

[Grunty DaGnome]

We're all equally in the dark about these things but my sense is that state / public school funding is tied to scores more closely than private schools. Therefore, if you have your eye on a Penn State or a UVA or a UC whatever, you should probably plan to take the test early, just incase you need to improve your math score / combined GRE.

That's the best in the dark advice I can muster.

I've also heard [rumors] that schools take the best of all your non-expired scores, so if you don't study much for the math the first time out, get a great verbal score and then retake the test, but you lose a few points on the verbal the second time, because of all the conical diagrams floating through your head, some schools will take your best verbal and your best math. Boston University, for example, has a "date" entry for all your scores, contemplating that you self-report the highest historical score for each section.

Edited January 14, 2012 by Grunty DaGnome

[coffeeplease]

I hadn't taken a math class in about 5 years when I took the GRE -- I am terrible at math, and I managed to do fine without sacrificing TOO much time. I used the Princeton Review's GRE book, plus their math workbook since I was a ball of stress (I only used that for extra practice on things I was really struggling with, though). I think that PR stuff is designed for people like us, who are terrified by numbers and triangles and whatnot. The book did a good job of putting me at ease since it breaks things down into simple concepts and explains things pretty well, and for that alone it was worth the investment. I put those things on flashcards (properties of triangles and such) and looked at them once and a while during my commute and it was enough -- made 79th percentile on the math section, which was enough for me to triumphantly throw out said books and flashcards and kiss the exam goodbye.

As poeteer said, aiming for 550 (now about 146 -- source) would probably be ideal, but check with your targets schools to see just how much effort you should be putting in.

[perrykm2]

According to that conversion graph, my quantitative score would have been slightly higher than my verbal.

Edited January 15, 2012 by perrykm2

[Timshel]

According to that conversion graph, my quantitative score would have been slightly higher than my verbal.

That conversion chart isn't right because I got a 530 math which is 148.

[coffeeplease]

That conversion chart isn't right because I got a 530 math which is 148.

Yeah, my guess is that they will put out another one before next year's exam cycle, when they have more data to work with. It seems like schools are also unsure of what to make of the new scores -- I had one prof email me to that effect.

[Timshel]

Yeah, my guess is that they will put out another one before next year's exam cycle, when they have more data to work with. It seems like schools are also unsure of what to make of the new scores -- I had one prof email me to that effect.

I am hoping that the newness of the scores will work in all of our favors.

[cquin]

I've also heard [rumors] that schools take the best of all your non-expired scores, so if you don't study much for the math the first time out, get a great verbal score and then retake the test, but you lose a few points on the verbal the second time, because of all the conical diagrams floating through your head, some schools will take your best verbal and your best math. Boston University, for example, has a "date" entry for all your scores, contemplating that you self-report the highest historical score for each section.

I can confirm this for at least Duke.

[lolopixie]

There is just so much to stress over

[perrykm2]

Don't stress out over GRE. You'd be wasting your time/energy.

[bfat]

I second the recommendation for a simple math workbook. All of the math concepts are things that are standard in a middle school (or, at the latest, freshman or sophomore year in h.s.) curriculum, so there's a good chance it's hiding in the back of your brain somewhere. The workbooks are good at reminding you how to do that stuff and pointing out the little tricks. I got the Kaplan one, and it's very thorough, but not as good at teaching the mnemonics and tricks--Princeton Review is better for that.

Good luck!

[siarabird]

Thanks for the advice everyone! :] I've already bought a couple of Princeton Review books for other sections of the GRE, so I might as well pick one up for math as well. :]

[czenzi]

Hi Siarabird,

I feel your pain. Math is not my strength either, and it's been a few years since I took a class in it. When I took a diagnostic test for the GRE, I did horribly on that section. But, I worked through the math section of a practice book and took some time to review equations. When the test came, I actually did decently on that section. It is doable, even if math is a marked weakness. The good news is that the new version of the GRE has a built in calculator, which helps save time on basic calculations. Just make sure you give yourself time to practice and relearn concepts. It does mean pulling a little time away from other things that could be studied but, because the type of math that the GRE tests is pretty specific, the time drain wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

[thestage]

I haven't taken a math class in 8 years, I was always terrible at math, I did no review at all, and I ended up with a 157. It won't kill you.

[Galoup11]

I've heard that some schools consider combined GRE score (verbal + math) for certain funding opportunities, and possibly as a cutoff, but even in those cases a high verbal could save you from any negative consequences. In terms of the test itself, the easier questions generally involve simple math, reading the question carefully, and knowing some basic equations. Getting these questions right, which don't take any exceptional quantitative reasoning skills, should ensure that you don't do ridiculously bad, even if you bomb a later, harder portion of the test (if you do well on first math section, the second will be more difficult). I used to be very into math in high school so I did pretty well in this section but much of it is truly a matter of reading carefully and using the calculator correctly.