GRE Biochemistry/molecular biology/ Genetics tes … Help !

[Abualjood]

Would you please help me finding a good review book for the GRE Biochemistry/molecular biology/ Genetics test? Amazon has listed only 2 or 3 books which are outdated and have very bad reviews. Also when I tried to look for some posted experience, I only found one that's talking about studying Albert's and other textbooks. I don't know why there is so little information about this test. 

Thank you

 

[MrsWizard]

There isn't a good review book for this test. Your best bet is to look at the practice test and review the topics they have listed there, and to read your genetics, biochem, and molecular biology text books. It is a really tough test, especially if you haven't taken those classes in a while. Unless your program absolutely requires it, or  you are sure you are going to score above the 80th percentile, you should avoid it.

 

You should also check out Kevin Ahern's biochemistry youtube channel. When you click on one of his videos, look under the "about" section. He has a free text book and courses you can take to help study.  He is an amazing biochem teacher and makes the material a lot easier to get through.   Good luck!

[Abualjood]

There isn't a good review book for this test. Your best bet is to look at the practice test and review the topics they have listed there, and to read your genetics, biochem, and molecular biology text books. It is a really tough test, especially if you haven't taken those classes in a while. Unless your program absolutely requires it, or  you are sure you are going to score above the 80th percentile, you should avoid it.

 

You should also check out Kevin Ahern's biochemistry youtube channel. When you click on one of his videos, look under the "about" section. He has a free text book and courses you can take to help study.  He is an amazing biochem teacher and makes the material a lot easier to get through.   Good luck!

Thank you for responding. Do I have the choice of taking the test and not showing the result to schools in case I wasn't satisfied with the result?

I'm using Albert's essential molecular biology, BRS biochemistry, still haven't decided yet on genetics. 

Edited February 13, 2014 by Abualjood

[Abualjood]

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Edited February 13, 2014 by Abualjood

[0908]

Do the programs your are applying to require you to take the subject test? Can you take the general bio test instead? Its much easier and will save you a lot of grief. Google GRE biochem practice test, I'm sure something will come up.

[bsharpe269]

I plan on taking the biochem subject test in the fall and have aslo found that there isnt much info on the test. I have read that studying alberts and lehninger biochem is the best way to prepare for the tests.

[Abualjood]

Do the programs your are applying to require you to take the subject test? Can you take the general bio test instead? Its much easier and will save you a lot of grief. Google GRE biochem practice test, I'm sure something will come up.

No, most of the programs I'm aiming are not requiring it ( some recommended it though) but because I'm an international student with a background of medical studies ( graduated from medical school overseas), I thought I'd take the test to strengthen my application. I chose this test and not the biology one simply because I have't studied Evolution and Ecology before. 

Edited February 13, 2014 by Abualjood

[pyrocide]

Don't forget cell biology, there's a whole section on that as well for GRE: Biochem. 

I bought one of the kinda acceptable study guides (it was published in 2007 or something) and the only thing in it that was relatively useful was a little bit more of a breakdown of the topics list given by ETS.

 

I echo the use of relying on your old textbooks from UG. I took it since it was required for one school, I've been out of school 2-3 years, and also to try and rectify a mediocre GPA. Also, thought there'd be less plants and ecology. I did pretty decent from studying Lehninger's Biochem textbook and Lodish's Molecular and Cell Bio textbook--they had a lot of info for the ETS topics and incorporated many topics together to give you a more concrete understanding. I felt like I could have used another source for plants and viruses, but that might have just been my own lack of exposure to those fields. I also made heavy use of taking notes: I had pages and pages of organized, (even color-coded) study notes and they were extremely helpful. They'll be helpful later for grad school classes as well.

 

Good luck and make sure you take the time to study! The BCM GRE is quite a commitment. 

[Abualjood]

What do you think of schaum's outlines reviews. There are three books for Bioch/Genetics/M.Biology. I just found textbooks daunting considering the limited time I have. 

[elanorci]

Honestly, I just used my lecture notes from when I took relevant courses. I ended up doing fine (92nd percentile) so I'm not sure it will make a big difference to use materials prepared specifically with the subject test in mind vs. general stuff that an undergrad should have learned -- they seem to be very similar sets of information. (If you weren't a biology undergrad major / didn't take these courses, that's probably not too helpful -- sorry!) 

[pyrocide]

What do you think of schaum's outlines reviews. There are three books for Bioch/Genetics/M.Biology. I just found textbooks daunting considering the limited time I have. 

 

The amount of detail required for successfully tackling the GRE is daunting--it's pretty much like Biochem/cell/molec trivia (Undergrad edition). I don't know much about Shaum's outline reviews, but since they have the word "outline" in them, I'm assuming they won't have the level of detail you'll need. They might have good prep questions though, from the short bit of reading I've just done on them. However I'd like to stress: if you don't think you have a lot of time for studying before the April test, I'd recommend giving yourself more time and take the one in October, if you can. 

[Abualjood]

The amount of detail required for successfully tackling the GRE is daunting--it's pretty much like Biochem/cell/molec trivia (Undergrad edition). I don't know much about Shaum's outline reviews, but since they have the word "outline" in them, I'm assuming they won't have the level of detail you'll need. They might have good prep questions though, from the short bit of reading I've just done on them. However I'd like to stress: if you don't think you have a lot of time for studying before the April test, I'd recommend giving yourself more time and take the one in October, if you can. 

Actually this is my plan, to take it in October. But I'm working full time and I still need to do GRE revised, TOEFL. 

 

I'm sorry but I'm still waiting for an answer for my previous question ; Do I have the choice of not showing the the score to the school If it's not a good one. I'm familiar with ETS and the process of application. 

Edited February 13, 2014 by Abualjood

[elanorci]

Actually this is my plan, to take it in October. But I'm working full time and I still need to do GRE revised, TOEFL. 

 

I'm sorry but I'm still waiting for an answer for my previous question ; Do I have the choice of not showing the the score to the school If it's not a good one. I'm familiar with ETS and the process of application. 

 

Yep! You can just send your general GRE scores and omit your subject test if you so desire. I'm not 100% sure if you can take the biochem test 2x and only submit one of them, but I think you can. 

[MrsWizard]

Thank you for responding. Do I have the choice of taking the test and not showing the result to schools in case I wasn't satisfied with the result?

I'm using Albert's essential molecular biology, BRS biochemistry, still haven't decided yet on genetics. 

If you choose to wait until after the test to report results, then you have to pay $25 per school to have it sent. If you choose your schools before the exam, then you get 4 score reports sent at no charge. I think it is worth it to wait until after, and just suck up the extra money instead of reporting a bad score.

[bsharpe269]

If you choose to wait until after the test to report results, then you have to pay $25 per school to have it sent. If you choose your schools before the exam, then you get 4 score reports sent at no charge. I think it is worth it to wait until after, and just suck up the extra money instead of reporting a bad score.

 

My plan is to send automatically to any schools that require the test and then fill the rest of my 4 free ones with schools other than top choices. This way I can avoid sending the score to my top choices is I dont do as well as id like, while still saving money.

[Abualjood]

My plan is to send automatically to any schools that require the test and then fill the rest of my 4 free ones with schools other than top choices. This way I can avoid sending the score to my top choices is I dont do as well as id like, while still saving money.

Good plan ! 

[Raerosk]

I would seriously consider taking the bio one. I took the biochem and I think it hurt my chances with some of the schools. After you take it and indicate your schools you can not change your mind about sending, and if you screw up that is that. It also seems most schools don't care what gre you take.

[groverj3]

My advice is not to take any of these subject tests unless you're required to. I don't know of too many programs that require it, it's expensive, and pretty difficult.

 

I took it a while back when I was trying to decide what I was doing with my life and did abysmally. Since then I've gone to a masters program and taken the same coursework in biochem/molecular bio and not only did better than I did in the subjects while in undergrad, but better than many of the PhD students. The test is difficult to study for because there's almost no way to know what is going to be on it.

 

Then again, this thread is old so you've probably already taken it. Hopefully you did better than I did, haha.