is powerprep an accurate indication of GRE score?

[manhattanbusmap]

I've been struggling with Quant. review & have been using number2.com & a Barron's book with....lackluster results. I took a quiz on number2.com and scored in the 30th percentile in quant (which correlates to what score, by the way? a 350? 400?). I also have trouble answering most of the math questions in my Barron's review book.

So I tried some questions on powerprep & found it easy! I only missed one question in the Quant. review. What gives?

Are GRE questions similar to those which appear on Powerprep? Or is it deceptively easy? Should I continue slogging away at Barron's etc???

[sarathkumar1729]

Heya,

[GRE]

In my experience, I did find number2.com a lil difficult to get the perfect score. But barrons review books were pretty fine. But must say, the powerprep questions were rather easier than the actual GRE quants. Moreover during the GRE, I found my self running out of time towards the end and had to step up my pace to complete it just on time. Well, the scores I received in the powerpreps were actually exactly what I got for my GRE. So for quants, u may get questions that need a little more working than the pp questions but most importantly, time management is essential.!

Regards.

[steiner-5]

I agree with the above poster. The ETS tests and powerprep seemed to nail it. My inital score on powerprep before studying was 750 q, 650 v. My final score using powerprep right before the test was 780 q, 690 v. My actual GRE score was 780q, 680v. I'd say that's pretty much as accurate as a predictor as you can expect.

I ran out of time on the quant so I had to blindly guess the last three questions. If you can make good use of your time, you will be ok.

The paper ETS tests in the book are also good. I took all five and all the quant scores were 780, except for one 790. The verbal scores were more dispersed, but the average was about what I got on powerprep. For me I think eye fatigue was a major factor in my verbal score because at a certain point I just wanted to be done with it. IMO, reading comp is SO much easier on a paper test. I finished with 12 minutes left, so I should have probably taken my time with the reading comp.

If I were scoring that low on the quant, I'd strongly consider doing a test prep class. Some of the smaller local ones can be not too expensive (I took one for $400 for 6 three & a half hour sessions). Learning how to take the test is at least as important as knowing how to actually answer the problems. I know that while my overall score improved only 60 points, some of the other students who got really low quant scores were able to increase 150 points.

IMO, the math part is the most stressful of the GRE because you only have 45 minutes for 28 questions and they get harder as you get them right. You will not have the time to actually do the calculations longhand, so you've got to get to the bottom of what concepts they are trying to see you know. A class could help you.

Either way, good luck!

[manhattanbusmap]

thanks for your response. I should say that I don't need a great quant. score since I'm applying to grad programs for English & they don't seem to care, as long as you don't humiliate yourself. I would be perfectly happy with a 500.

When you mention the ETS tests in the book...what book are you referring to? Barrons?

As a side note, I'm shocked by how much math I have forgotten. Man, in high school I took the SAT hungover, without having studied and managed a 650 in quant. In contrast, I answered three questions correctly on my GRE diagnostic. Sigh. Perhaps my gleeful eschewal of math courses (who needs algebra when I can take Arabic! metaphysical poetry! sculpture!) was too hasty...

[steiner-5]

I was referring to the actual practice book put out by ETS which produces the GRE. I found it very helpful in terms of seeing what kind of questions will be on the test. Check it out here http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.1488512ecfd5b8849a77b13bc3921509/?vgnextoid=e7e42d3631df4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD&vgnextchannel=d6e7e3b5f64f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD

I'd use it in conjunction with kaplan's math workbook and the barron's general workbook. Kaplan will teach you the math, and barron's will give some good pointers as well for the whole thing, but the practice tests are bs in my opinion. The ETS tests predicted what I would get within 20 points.

[jrpk]

I used the Barrons book and struggled with Quant as well. When I finally to the PowerPrep tests I was relieved to see I did significantly better. When I finally took the GRE I wound up scoring a bit higher on the verbal and a bit lower on the quant then I did on PowerPrep. But like you Quant was my big issue and I did respectably.

So I'd say, from my experience the Barrons book was a lot tougher on me in the quant, (which may have ultimately helped) than the PowerPrep or the GRE for that matter. Hope that helps. Good luck.

[misterpat]

Powerprep isn't a CAT. The questions are the same every time. So it's not a perfect simulation and shouldn't be considered a reliable indicator.

In case you are interested, my actual score on test day was higher than both of the POWERPREP tests that I took.

[swisnieski]

Powerprep isn't a CAT. The questions are the same every time. So it's not a perfect simulation and shouldn't be considered a reliable indicator.

In case you are interested, my actual score on test day was higher than both of the POWERPREP tests that I took.

This was true with me as well. POWERPREP under-predicted my verbal score by 30 points and my quant by roughly 80.

That said, I have always been a fairly good test-taker.