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 […]
Correlations and Causality on the GRE Part I
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 […]
Most Common and Most Difficult GRE Reading Comprehension Questions
GRE Reading Comprehension makes up about half of the Verbal section. Passages range from roughly 50 words to almost 500. The vast majority are just a single paragraph that’s under 150 words. Subjects include the arts, sciences, and humanities as well as a smattering of non-academic topics. You might think that longer passages or less familiar […]
Triangle Geometry Made Easy
Triangles dominate GRE geometry. Make sure you learn the area formula for a triangle (½ base × height) plus facts like “the sum of a triangle’s interior angles is 180°.” But you probably already know about that stuff. Here are some GRE triangle facts you may not know about.
Spotting Classic Quadratic Forms in GRE Algebra
When it comes to quadratics in GRE algebra, you might think the only equation you should memorize is, well, the quadratic equation: ax2 + bx + c = 0. But an expression like ax2 + bx + c can take many forms, and some come up more often than others on the exam. Call the […]