“Educational Empowerment: We Are Our Brother’s Keeper!” ABC’s of the GRE International...

““Educational Empowerment: We Are Our Brother’s Keeper!”Educational Empowerment: We Are Our Brother’s Keeper!”

ABC’s of the GREABC’s of the GRE

International Director of EducationInternational Director of Education

Brother William L. Powell, Jr.Brother William L. Powell, Jr.Conclave 2009

New Orleans, Louisiana


Overview: GRE General TestOverview: GRE General Test

• Designed to measure verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing skills

• Does not test data/facts specific to any field of study

• Higher scores usually indicate high probability of success in graduate school

• Most graduate and professional schools require applicants to take the general test


Format of the GRE GeneralFormat of the GRE GeneralSection Time Allowed Description

Varies Tutorial

1 30 minutes Verbal Ability

8-10 Antonyms

6-8 Analogies

5-7 sentence completion

6-10 reading comprehension

2 45 minutes Quantitative Ability

14 Quantitative Comparison

10 Mathematical problems

4 data interpretation

10 minute break

3 75 minutes total Analytical Writing

“Present your Perspective ” task (45 min)

“Analyze an Argument” task (30 min)


Verbal Ability SectionVerbal Ability Section

• Measures effectiveness at problem solving based on command of the English language

• Contains four types of questions:• Antonyms-You are given a word and must choose the

best opposite• Analogies- Given a pair of words, and you must choose

the pair that are related in the same way


Verbal Ability SectionVerbal Ability Section• Sentence Completion-Measures the ability to

recognize which word(s) best fits a sentence

• Reading Comprehension-You must be able to read thoroughly for understanding, and answer the questions that follow. There are 4 passages: 2 longer ones with 7-8 questions, and 2 shorter ones, with 3-4 questions


Verbal Ability SectionVerbal Ability Section– Each passage will be from 4 areas of study

(social sciences, humanities, physical and biological sciences)

There will also be an unidentified experimental section (possibly a second verbal or quantitative section); it will be 30 minutes in length


Quantitative Ability SectionQuantitative Ability Section

• Designed to measure basic math skills and concepts

• Does not require any mathematical knowledge beyond the high school level

• Broadly, this section includes: arithmetic, geometry, data analysis, and algebra



• 14 of the 28 math questions are Quantitative Comparisons:

– There will be two quantities: one in Column A and another in Column B , you must compare them

– There are only 4 possible answers:• The quantity in Column A is greater

• The quantity in Column B is greater

• The two quantities are equal; or

• The relationship can’t be determined



• 10 of the 28 questions are Discrete Quantitative questions– You must do the necessary work, get a solution, and

find your answer among the choices given – These are standard multiple choice questions



• 4 of the questions in this section are Data Interpretation questions– 2 questions will be based on one set of data, and two

more on a second set– Based on information provided in graphs, charts or

tables– You will either have to calculate an answer or make an

inference


Analytical Writing Analytical Writing

• The Issue task– You are to write an

essay presenting your point of view on an issue of general concern

– Support your position with reasons and examples

• The Argument task– Critique the reasoning

of an argument by clearly pointing out its strengths and weaknesses

– Support with reasons and examples


Frequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions

• Does taking the computer based test differ from a pencil-and-paper test? On paper, you can skip from question to question in the

booklet and erase You can also write in the booklet, cross out wrong

answers, or underline words On the computer-based test however…


There is no bookletQuestions appear one at a time on the screen

and you must answer and confirm before you can move on

Once you have confirmed an answer, you can’t go back and change it

Questions are not arranged according to type



• Why do some people call the Computer-Based General test a CAT? CAT stands for Computer-Adaptive test. Unlike

a paper test, the questions on your screen will be different from others’

The computer begins by assuming you are an “average” candidate, then determines your next question based on the performance of the previous questions



• Can I tell how well I’m doing by the questions I receive?Don’t try. It only wastes time and energyLet the computer keep track, focus on

answering the questions and pacing yourself



• Should I guess?Yes, you have to! You won’t know the correct

answer to every questionYou can’t skip a question you don’t know the

answer to, the computer won’t allow itEliminate any obvious incorrect choices , and

then guess



• How can I use the process of elimination on a computer-based GRE?During the un-timed tutorial, take a few

minutes to write out a rough, scratch paper answer sheet for each section

Before you guess, cross out any answers on your sheet you know are wrong, then choose from the answers that are left



• How can I determine the unidentified experimental section?You can’t. Don’t waste time trying to figure it

out. If you are presented with extra sections, do

your best on all of themExperimental sections do not count, but there

is no sure way to tell which one it is



• When and where can I take the GRE?You can take the test almost any Monday

through Saturday all year roundAppointments are scheduled on a first-come,

first-served basis, so register early to get the date you want

November through January are the most popular months

There are a variety of testing sites, and can be found online at www.gre.org



• How can I register? If you have a credit card,you can register over

the phone or online. This is the fastest wayYou can also register by mail - complete the

request in the Registration and Information Bulletin. Then mail a check or money order to ETS



• How and when are GRE scores reported?The raw score (# correct) is converted to a

score on a scale of 200 to 800You will receive separate scores for verbal and

quantitative sectionsScore report includes scaled scores and

percentile rankAnalytical writing score will be the average of

the scores from two readersCombined score ranges from 0 –6, 6 being the

highest



As soon as you finish, an unofficial scaled score for the verbal and quantitative sections will appear on the screen

You will not receive a score for your writing on the day of the test

An official report containing all three scores should arrive in the mail approximately 3 weeks after the test date



Preparing for the TestPreparing for the Test

• It is never too early to start studying. Cramming is not an effective method!

• Become familiar with the types of questions, directions, and overall format of the GRE

• Schedule the test for your best time of day


• Allow yourself enough time to take the test. GRE Bulletin recommends 4 ½ hrs

• Be sure you know where your test center is. Do a practice run a week or so before the test

• Get a good night’s sleep

Preparing for the TestPreparing for the Test


On The Test DayOn The Test Day

• Take as much time as you need to go through the tutorials that precede the actual testThe CBT has 4 tutorials:• How to use a mouse• How to select an answer• How to use the testing tools• How to Scroll


• As you go through them, make sure you know all of the directions thoroughly

• Before you begin the test, take a break• Make a scrap answer sheet during the tutorial• Keep track of the time



• Don’t be consumed by any one question• Don’t rush, either. Think before you click• Never rush through the first questions of a

section• Eliminate as many wrong answers as you can• Be alert for five minute warnings



William L. Powell Jr.William L. Powell Jr.International Director of EducationInternational Director of Education

For Further Information:For Further Information:Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Phone: 717-434-9516Phone: 717-434-9516

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