One of the most important, and sadly most overlooked, components of test success is a positive mental outlook. In the days leading up to your test, you should feel as though your conceptual preparation is nearly complete, and your focus should begin to shift instead towards preparing yourself mentally for an amazing test day experience. […]
Reading Comprehension Challenge: Weaken the Argument
GRE Reading Comp questions that make you think critically are rarely easy. In fact, some will be very hard. But others will be medium difficulty, like this week’s “weaken the argument” question. Reading Comprehension: Weakening Arguments Difficulty Level: 3 (Medium) Question Difficulty Very High50 High420 Medium 340 Low26080 Very Low1100 % of Test Takers Who Answered Correctly […]
Geometry Challenge: Use the Volume Formula Wisely
GRE geometry can sometimes seem like a formula fest. Formulas matter, for sure, but simply memorizing them isn’t enough. You also need to know how to use them efficiently. For practice, try this Quantitative Comparison question that requires you to apply the volume formula for a cylinder.
Arithmetic Challenge: Find the Expression that Must be Negative
GRE arithmetic questions can challenge you to think abstractly about simple concepts such as squaring or subtracting numbers. Meeting this challenge often becomes easier when you replace any variables with specific values. See for yourself with this arithmetic problem that only about half of test takers would get right.
Word Problem Challenge: Extreme Meal Pricing
GRE word problems sometimes use “real-life settings,” says ETS, to test your quantitative problem solving skills. Talk of salary ranges, fabric purchases, population densities, or similar topics will prompt you to do some algebra or other standard GRE math. Figuring out the math can be tough, given that word problems can be a bit convoluted. […]
Data Analysis Challenge: Probability at Maximum Difficulty
Data analysis problems make up about one-quarter of GRE Quant, and most of them will bemuse and beguile the majority of test takers. In The Official Guide to the GRE, Practice Test 1 includes a probability question that only 15% of examinees got right when it was on a real exam. Think you can solve […]
Correlations and Causality on the GRE Part III
Comic via xkcd The previous blog article in this series provided an example of a short Reading Comprehension passage containing causal reasoning, and followed it with a Weaken question. Today we discuss the correct and incorrect answer choices for that question. Let’s start by revisiting the passage and question: Advertisement: Pump3D is a nutritional supplement […]
Understanding GRE Subject Tests
In addition to the GRE General Test (which is the test that comes to mind when most people think of the GRE), the Educational Testing Service offers eight GRE Subject Tests in the following disciplines (click on the links to be taken directly to the ETS page on each specific subject test): Biochemistry, Cell and […]
Correlations and Causality on the GRE Part II
The makers of the GRE frequently create arguments in Reading Comprehension passages that conflate correlation with causation, and thus you must understand the distinction between the two. In statistics, “correlation” refers to a statistical relationship between two interdependent variables, such as height and weight or studying and grades. A correlation alone does not prove a […]
10 Steps to Acing the Graduate School Admissions Interview
In addition to submitting your application, it’s likely you’ll also have to partake in an interview as part of the graduate school admissions process. Take solace! Although the interview can be a stressful experience, the fact that you have made it to the interview round tells you that you are a serious contender for a […]