Advice on improving GRE Score!

[optimist2016]

Hello friends,

I'm currently studying for the GRE using Magoosh. I noticed that I perform relatively well in the easy, medium and hard problems. However I tend to always fail the 'very hard' questions. I'm worried I won't reach my minimum target score of 160 in both sections because I'm likely to get very difficult questions in the second sections.

I'm almost done with all the Magoosh practice problems. I intend to go through all the questions I got wrong when I finish answering all the questions.

Please any advice on how I can improve my proficiency in the difficult problems?

I will take the GRE on the 5th of July.

Thanks for your anticipated responses...

Edited June 10, 2015 by optimist2016

[firewitch]

When I was practicing, the two websites I found most useful were Kaplan and Number2.com. Although Kaplan sells a test prep program, they allow you a certain number of practice questions and tests. Number2 is free and very helpful, although I think some of the verbal ability questions are outdated for the new digital tests.

 

I was working mainly on quantitative problems, and although I did not have a great score, I think I did as well as I could have possibly done. Quantitative reasoning is my weakest point.

Hope this helps.

[Jay's Brain]

Just a thought, if the questions are VERY HARD, perhaps they are meant to be very hard? Don't let overly difficult questions affect your preparation. There will always be questions that are exceedingly difficult that you won't catch on. Even if you extremely well on all the questions, that may or may not prepare you for it. Just remember, the questions on the GRE are computer assessed. That means they change in levels of difficulty depending on your performance in the previous section. 

 

Keep practicing just like you are and follow that schedule. But don't get overwhelmed! And on test day, make sure you go into the exam with positivity!

Good luck!

[optimist2016]

When I was practicing, the two websites I found most useful were Kaplan and Number2.com. Although Kaplan sells a test prep program, they allow you a certain number of practice questions and tests. Number2 is free and very helpful, although I think some of the verbal ability questions are outdated for the new digital tests.

I was working mainly on quantitative problems, and although I did not have a great score, I think I did as well as I could have possibly done. Quantitative reasoning is my weakest point.

Hope this helps.

Hi Firewitch

Thanks so much for your reply. I'll check out the websites

Edited June 10, 2015 by optimist2016

[optimist2016]

Just a thought, if the questions are VERY HARD, perhaps they are meant to be very hard? Don't let overly difficult questions affect your preparation. There will always be questions that are exceedingly difficult that you won't catch on. Even if you extremely well on all the questions, that may or may not prepare you for it. Just remember, the questions on the GRE are computer assessed. That means they change in levels of difficulty depending on your performance in the previous section.

Keep practicing just like you are and follow that schedule. But don't get overwhelmed! And on test day, make sure you go into the exam with positivity!

Good luck!

Thank you Jay's Brain. I won't relent, I'll keep giving in my best. I really appreciate your advice.

[optimist2016]

Just a thought, if the questions are VERY HARD, perhaps they are meant to be very hard? Don't let overly difficult questions affect your preparation. There will always be questions that are exceedingly difficult that you won't catch on. Even if you extremely well on all the questions, that may or may not prepare you for it. Just remember, the questions on the GRE are computer assessed. That means they change in levels of difficulty depending on your performance in the previous section.

Keep practicing just like you are and follow that schedule. But don't get overwhelmed! And on test day, make sure you go into the exam with positivity!

Good luck!

Thank you Jay's Brain. I won't relent, I'll keep giving in my best. I really appreciate your advice.

[GREMasterEMPOWERRichC]

Hi optimist2016,

 

When it comes to self-analysis, you really have to 'nitpick' the types of questions that you're getting wrong (saying that they're just the "very hard" ones is incomplete).

 

To that end, you should review your last MST and take notes on the following:

 

1) How many questions did you get wrong because of a silly/little mistake (be honest)? WHAT was the mistake exactly? How could you have kept it from happening?

2) How many questions did you get wrong because you just didn't know a piece of vital information (a math formula, the definition of a word)? This is a 'knowledge' problem.

3) How many questions were really just THAT hard and you had no reasonable chance to get them correct?

 

If you're not hitting your score goals, it's far more likely that your 'issues' are with your tactics (how you're approaching questions) and not in the "very hard" questions you mentioned.

 

GRE Masters aren't born, they're made,

Rich