Truth or just a Hype ?

[Tienshinhan]

Nowadays, I hear a lot of people complaining that the GRE math section has become harder than before, but then I come across a plethora of people with fabulous scores like 790-800.This really makes me wonder whether this is just a hype. I really wish that we stop spreading these false rumors because others who go for the GRE thinking that they will encounter hard problems are likely to score less, it's the psychological factor which comes into play here.

[Jacobson11]

My opinion, I have not taken the exam yet, but from what I have seen on the GRE POWERPREP, the practice excercies are almost all taken from GRE Big Book. There are a few that arn't in the practice. Mind you, I have yet to take teh PowerPrep CAT, but it seems to me that the excercises are all from Big Book.

I think what happened is they addded more combinatorial like problems, they added some basic counting and some basic probability.

My biggest problem is making dumb errors.

[GRE_Kickboxer]

I think you bring up an excellent point. I have recently done a lot of reading about GRE test design and standardized tests in general. My feeling is that the tests ARE somewhat different than the used to be. There is less number crunching and more emphasis on a person's ability to keep things clear in his/her "mind's eye" while solving problems. As a result, there is some change in the density of the problems and the intricacy of the wording.

But people are also answering fewer questions correctly on these denser tests! As a result, scores are lower and you don't have to do quite as well to get a high score!

If the test is harder for you, it's probably harder for most people.

Just know the concepts, don't panic, don't spend too much time on one problem, and you should be fine.

I do think it is very important to be aware that the GRE test designers use predictable tricks, and that if you use your wits during the test, you can surprise yourself. Knowing how they try to trick you can make you feel very confident. They have used the same types of tricks for years.

GRE_Kickboxer

[Jacobson11]

Keen observation GREKickboxer.

Also I'd like add another nickel in my thoughts. Many of the people who talk about the harder GRE exam are GRE Exam preperation companies. These companies need to make money, and so what better way to make money then claim you have a mroe accurate more "fitting" mock exam then the rest of the crowd. Imagine, how many hardworking and honest people who wawnt to succeed would buy such programs (and do). I suspect the market gives many firms an incentive to push up the perception of supposded difficulty to gain them profits.

It's like how Priests in Christian religions use to say to people that if they didn't go to church they would go to hell. Same concept, fear is a powerful incentive.

[raza5680]

I agree if you prepare right quantative is NOT DIFFICULT problem arises when test takers get stuck or are not confident going into the exam.

[Tienshinhan]

Hi jacobson, GK and raza, I thank you for your replies.

Jacobson, I think you are right on the money about the fear and disinformation which is being disseminated by some GRE coaching institutions.

I have joined a GRE coaching institute and the preparation material that they have supplied to me is quite intricate and, most likely, futile with regards to the GRE examination. I mean they have included problems on parabola and hyperbola, which are not likely to manifest themselves even in the most bizarre scenario. Wouldn't it be much feasible to focus on the simpler things on actual GRE, considering the amount of time that is left ? And what's the point behind wasting this time if you don't even get a perfect score in maths.
I think all this effort should be spent instead on improving vocabulary which is the real challenge for most non native English speakers like me.