Am I the GRE master?

[zzzboy]

The only studying I did for the Oct. 14 GRE was reading the Official GRE Guide by ETS.  I did a total of 4 real practice tests (2 in book, 2 on CD).  The vocab list I created consisted of words found in the book and on the 4 practice tests that I did not know.

 

I also wrote zero essays prior to my test.  I just looked at sample Argument/Issue essays in the GRE Guide and learned how to approach both types of essays.

 

Score: 170 Q, 165 V, 5.5 Writing

 

 

I am willing to give advice to anyone who needs it!

Edited October 23, 2013 by zzzboy

[SueMadre]

Nah--my guess is you got one of the easier tests. I've posted before about this--first time I took the GREs (the old format) I got a 720v/650q, and I studied halfheartedly for 2 weeks in my spare time. I took like one practice test. But then I got to the testing center and the test I got was way easier than the sample questions/practice test.

Not all GREs are the same. They are random combinations of questions, assigned using an algorithm created as you input your answers. It's entirely possible you just lucked into a good series of questions that you knew all the answers to/were easier to answer than some of the others.

 

That said, it sounds like you actually studied pretty hard. I didn't study as hard as you (but did worse anyway). Even so, the test I took was way harder than any of the practice tests I'd done prior. In fact, one of the analytical essay questions was so ridiculous, I can't believe I did as well as I did on the essay sections (it essentially asked "Can people be good at two fields of study?" I was so blown away by the vagueness of the question, compared to the practice questions I'd seen, that I laughed out loud in the testing center and everyone turned to look at me).

I guess my questions to you would be: what were your essay questions like? What about the reading comprehension on the verbal section? My reading comp questions were generally preposterous--stuff about vague cognitive theories using jargony terminology. Was that how yours was? Or did you have more of the "Einstein was a patent clerk" type questions, where the answers are pretty straightforward? I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, since you studied some. The reading comp can be either easy to follow or complete gibberish.

[zzzboy]

It was the exact same difficulty as my 4 real practice tests.  My math practice test scores were 170/170/170/165, verbal was 159/162/166/165.

 

I don't think I studied very hard =(

 

Essay topics were about UltraClean and "should technology serve to increase leisure time."

 

I'm not sure what you mean by crazy reading comp. questions.  Even if a passage is weird, the questions are typically easier.  Everything works out in the end because harder tests mean that you can miss more questions to get a certain score.

 

I personally do worse on easier tests because I make stupid mistakes, which are certainly more costly when you are expected to get nearly every question right.  My test was definitely medium difficulty.  I know what hard GRE vocab and math questions entail, and I only had a few.

Edited October 23, 2013 by zzzboy

[Scarf in the wind]

Only if you work for ETS.

[zzzboy]

Only if you work for ETS.

 

Haha I don't think people realize that official guides by the test company are always the #1 way to study.

 

Nothing can mimic the effectiveness of taking real practice tests made by the test-administering company itself.

Edited October 23, 2013 by zzzboy

[clandry]

Haha I don't think people realize that official guides by the test company are always the #1 way to study.

 

Nothing can mimic the effectiveness of taking real practice tests made by the test-administering company itself.

Hey. I don't see the issue topic in on ETS's pool that you mentioned in your previous post. I see ones similar to it, but nothing really matches. 

 

Anyways, did you really find official guide to be all that helpful? I went through it and honestly didn't find it to be as helpful as people suggest. Or maybe I am just expecting too much. It seems the book is a good intro to the GRE and what you are expected to know, but they don't seem to go over testing strategies that other books go over. E.g., I don't remember them telling me to avoid extreme answers. 

[zzzboy]

There are no testing strategies.  No one who scores high on the test has any strategy in mind...I always skip over the strategy sections and just go straight to practice problems.

 

The guide is helpful because you know exactly what difficulty the test will be.

 

I agree that it won't help you if you have a ton of verbal studying and a ton of math concepts to learn.  However, the ETS guide should always be used once you are confident in your skills...you need to make sure you don't waste any tests just for a diagnostic score.  They are priceless.

 

Google "ultraclean GRE" for the argument topic.

 

Google "technological leisure GRE" for the issue topic.

Edited October 23, 2013 by zzzboy

[Cesare]

If you haven't really "studied" for the test why would someone ask you for advice? Also, judging by the title of this thread, do you want us to call you the "GRE master?" No offense, you are coming off as someone with a big ego (something that will be crushed in graduate school). 

[socioholic]

The only studying I did for the Oct. 14 GRE was reading the Official GRE Guide by ETS.  I did a total of 4 real practice tests (2 in book, 2 on CD).  The vocab list I created consisted of words found in the book and on the 4 practice tests that I did not know.

 

That sound like a good bit of studying to me. I wish I had more time - test is Sunday...

great scores though.

[awells27]

I had much harder test than ETS practice tests.  If I had had similar ones, I would have scored around 167/163.  My verbal sections were inundated with scientific essays and absurd answer choices.  THe practice tests were relatively easy.  ETS = Evil.