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Mervin2008 · 04-25-2008, 02:22 PM

I had got a few mails from people asking how I had prepared for GRE.This forum has been a phenomenal help to me and I hope some of the following points can help people in their preparation

1) Verbal

a) Wordlists : I believe this is the most crucial part of your verbal preparation .You will have to find a way to memorize all the words and ensure it sticks in your head.What I did was to go through all the word lists and mark the words I didn't know .Then I took 5 word lists at a time and typed out the words which I had marked along with their definitions and any secondary definitions.When I was finally done I had 10 pages named liked this wordlist1-5.txt,wordlist6-10.txt and so on.I took a printout of those pages and when ever I had free time I spent some time studying them.Please note you will have to find the method which suits you best.

b) Analogies and Sentence completion - The GRE big book containing 27 real question papers can be your best friend for this .Also do a Google search for GRE verbal questions.You will be able to find a lot a practice material

c) RC's - I think the big book is the best source for RC's and you can always get material from other GRE study books.The GRE throws rather abstract subjects at you so try to widen your range of interests by taking an active interest in science,art and literature.The New York times is a very good site to frequent and so is the editorial page of the Hindu (One of the major newspapers in India)

d) Antonym's - It basically depends on your vocabulary,so work on covering the word lists well and improving your vocabulary.

2) Quant - I really cant give much advice on this since I struggled badly with it in the exam but please note it has become harder than what the test papers and the powerprep softwares suggest.However

a) Be clear with your concepts and definitions ,if you don't know what a prime number is or that 1 is not a prime number then you are asking for trouble
b) Ensure you know your formulas well
c) Practice as much as possible

One of my friends had posted a very good suggestion regarding how to prepare for Quant,I would like to repost it again " For those that are yet to take the GRE, here's a little tip from me: for the quant, try ALSO to practice from books that train you for the CAT (the Common Aptitude Test, entrance exam for IIMs and many other B-schools). These books typically have a lot more than necessary for the GRE. So, practice only relevant sections. The problems in these books are rather hard and the GRE these days requires one to have this kind of muscle"

3) Essay writing : The best thing to do is to Practice and do try to do the essay under timed conditions so that you get accustomed to it.Also check out the sample essays in powerprep to see what standard they anticipate

Books used by me :

1) GRE Barrons 17th edition
2) Barrons essential words for the GRE by Philip Geer
3) Norman Lewis - Word power made easy
4) Time (CAT) material for permutations and combinations and probability- This is the study material given a coaching institute here in India which trains students for the CAT test used to as a entrance for the major Business schools in India
5) Quantitative aptitude by RK Aggarwal - Used this mainly as a formula reference
6) Some GMAT study material I found on the net for mathematics

Softwares

1) GRE bible -For verbal practise
2) Powerprep
3) Kaplan GRE 2005 CD
4) Vocaboly

Suggested websites :

1) Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online
2) The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia
3) The test magic forums

Hope this is of some help

Mervin

mickgreen58 · 04-25-2008, 03:38 PM

Thanks for the tips.

I have been taking a break from studying, since I feel a little burnt out, but I will be starting back up soon.

actustat · 04-26-2008, 04:09 AM

Very useful tips ..thanks mervin

Hey mick when are u retaking the gre ?

mickgreen58 · 04-26-2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by actustat

Very useful tips ..thanks mervin

Hey mick when are u retaking the gre ?

I will probably take it towards the end of May. I am going to check the mail today and pray that my results are in the mail, but it has only been 2 weeks, so I don't know if they will be there.

adig9 · 04-27-2008, 04:35 AM

thx a lot 4 d tips buddy!!

tushar067 · 05-10-2008, 05:46 AM

realy ... your tips help me a lot

ObfuscateOften · 05-11-2008, 10:38 PM

Mick, just curious, are you planning to attend Grad school Fall 2008?

mickgreen58 · 05-13-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ObfuscateOften

Mick, just curious, are you planning to attend Grad school Fall 2008?

I would like too, but I have to take about 5 "foundation courses" before applying to Grad School, as I am attempting to get my Masters (Psychology) in a field that is total different from what my Undergrad (Information Sys) was.

ObfuscateOften · 05-13-2008, 05:13 PM

I see. Have you looked into CLEP exams at all? They might not be any good for you but if you require only low level courses that you simply didn't take because of your undergraduate course of study they may provide a quick solution.

giddy · 05-13-2008, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickgreen58

I would like too, but I have to take about 5 "foundation courses" before applying to Grad School, as I am attempting to get my Masters (Psychology) in a field that is total different from what my Undergrad (Information Sys) was.

Hey Mick,

What was your change of heart (from IS to Psych)? Do you want to be a counselor or anything that has to do with vocational rehabilitation or education? Do you want to do some research?

Thanks.

04-25-2008, 02:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mervin2008 Within my grasp! Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 131	Some GRE preperation suggestions I had got a few mails from people asking how I had prepared for GRE.This forum has been a phenomenal help to me and I hope some of the following points can help people in their preparation 1) Verbal a) Wordlists : I believe this is the most crucial part of your verbal preparation .You will have to find a way to memorize all the words and ensure it sticks in your head.What I did was to go through all the word lists and mark the words I didn't know .Then I took 5 word lists at a time and typed out the words which I had marked along with their definitions and any secondary definitions.When I was finally done I had 10 pages named liked this wordlist1-5.txt,wordlist6-10.txt and so on.I took a printout of those pages and when ever I had free time I spent some time studying them.Please note you will have to find the method which suits you best. b) Analogies and Sentence completion - The GRE big book containing 27 real question papers can be your best friend for this .Also do a Google search for GRE verbal questions.You will be able to find a lot a practice material c) RC's - I think the big book is the best source for RC's and you can always get material from other GRE study books.The GRE throws rather abstract subjects at you so try to widen your range of interests by taking an active interest in science,art and literature.The New York times is a very good site to frequent and so is the editorial page of the Hindu (One of the major newspapers in India) d) Antonym's - It basically depends on your vocabulary,so work on covering the word lists well and improving your vocabulary. 2) Quant - I really cant give much advice on this since I struggled badly with it in the exam but please note it has become harder than what the test papers and the powerprep softwares suggest.However a) Be clear with your concepts and definitions ,if you don't know what a prime number is or that 1 is not a prime number then you are asking for trouble b) Ensure you know your formulas well c) Practice as much as possible One of my friends had posted a very good suggestion regarding how to prepare for Quant,I would like to repost it again " For those that are yet to take the GRE, here's a little tip from me: for the quant, try ALSO to practice from books that train you for the CAT (the Common Aptitude Test, entrance exam for IIMs and many other B-schools). These books typically have a lot more than necessary for the GRE. So, practice only relevant sections. The problems in these books are rather hard and the GRE these days requires one to have this kind of muscle" 3) Essay writing : The best thing to do is to Practice and do try to do the essay under timed conditions so that you get accustomed to it.Also check out the sample essays in powerprep to see what standard they anticipate Books used by me : 1) GRE Barrons 17th edition 2) Barrons essential words for the GRE by Philip Geer 3) Norman Lewis - Word power made easy 4) Time (CAT) material for permutations and combinations and probability- This is the study material given a coaching institute here in India which trains students for the CAT test used to as a entrance for the major Business schools in India 5) Quantitative aptitude by RK Aggarwal - Used this mainly as a formula reference 6) Some GMAT study material I found on the net for mathematics Softwares 1) GRE bible -For verbal practise 2) Powerprep 3) Kaplan GRE 2005 CD 4) Vocaboly Suggested websites : 1) Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online 2) The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia 3) The test magic forums Hope this is of some help Mervin

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04-25-2008, 03:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
mickgreen58 TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 550	Thanks for the tips. I have been taking a break from studying, since I feel a little burnt out, but I will be starting back up soon.

04-26-2008, 04:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
actustat Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 27	Very useful tips ..thanks mervin Hey mick when are u retaking the gre ?

04-27-2008, 04:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
adig9 Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 17	thx a lot 4 d tips buddy!!

05-10-2008, 05:46 AM	#6 (permalink)
tushar067 Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1	realy ... your tips help me a lot

05-11-2008, 10:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
ObfuscateOften Within my grasp! Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 114	Mick, just curious, are you planning to attend Grad school Fall 2008?

05-13-2008, 05:13 PM	#9 (permalink)
ObfuscateOften Within my grasp! Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 114	I see. Have you looked into CLEP exams at all? They might not be any good for you but if you require only low level courses that you simply didn't take because of your undergraduate course of study they may provide a quick solution.

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