T: 1310 (Q:750 V:560 AWA: 5.5) - Good enough for MS program in Mech. Engineering?

[raider130]

Hello all,

I have been observing this forum during my preparation and have found many of your comments helpful.

My GRE scores are Q:750 V:560 AWA: 5.5. Would this be good enough for admission to some well known programs? Would it be worth it to take the test again next year and then apply to these schools? I appreciate any input you have. I am around the average scores for these schools (according to US News & World Report), but would also like some advice from fellow graduate applicants.

My top choices are:

Carnegie-Mellon University
University of Pennsylvania
Northwestern University
Ohio State University

Thanks!

[mmmt20]

Hello Raider

Your score is pretty good. Congratulations!
I wanted to ask you about the exam preparation material

I have only done Barrons HFW plus some odd 300 words from my tests' practice.

I have studied only from Kaplan, Barrons and Princeton Review. Do you think this is enough for a good score. My exam is on 8th Jan.

Also, I am not confident on my Verbal section, scored only 380 on Powerprep Test 1. Please guide me for some last minute preparation. Thanks

[jimhitch]

1380 (M 740 V640)

Just took the test this morning. My initial practice test results (ETS CAT) without studying were M620 and V410.

I studied for about a week using Barron's HFW and the Princeton Review 2009. I also took the "free" tests with Princeton Review as well to get used to the CAT style of the exam.

Made a lot of flashcards for the verbal.

I also downloaded and took the free tests from the GREBible (if I was to take this again, I'd probably buy the GREBible in addition to studying the Princeton Review and Barron's HFW).

I finished the verbal with about 30 seconds left and had to quickly guess on the last 4 math questions because I only had a little over a minute left.

The writing prompts were "up my alley"; therefore didn't have too much of problem conjuring up a 300+ word reply.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

[raider130]

mmmt20,

Thanks for the congratulations, I think it should be good enough for most places, as long as my application is supplemented with good references and things like that.

I didn't really have too much time to prepare either. The words on the verbal section are usually what you will find in any of the test prep book vocab lists, so I think studying those as much as possible would probably be your best bet. Aside from that, I would definitely be sure to take the other PowerPrep test at the end of your preparation. Also, if you have it, I would do some paper-based tests from the ETS "Practicing for the GRE" book as well, as it will still help you study your vocabulary and get used to the wording of the questions, even if the format is different from the real test. You may be able to order it from Amazon or something and have it shipped quickly so you can use it to study next week. I used that book for last minute prep, and I think it helped me a lot. Otherwise, just keep taking the practice tests that you haven't taken from your test prep books. I think that is the best way to get used to the test after you feel like you have studied word lists enough.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

[mmmt20]

Hey Raider130

Thanks for your help. I will try and get hold of the GRE Bible. Also, about the test...
In Maths were the questions tough. As in, did you really have to think hard? Based on the formulas and tricks we learn from Barrons and Princeton Review, do you think, Maths should go well. I have practiced a lot of Maths. But just want to know the exam feeling.

Thanks again

[raider130]

mmmt20,

When I prepared with Kaplan, I thought the CAT tests included with the book really only measured my ability to test the strategies that they suggest. I think the other test prep books probably use the same strategies. As a result, I didn't feel that the Kaplan practice tests were an accurate predictor of how I would do on actual test questions, so I left that task to the PowerPrep tests. For myself anyway, I found that the practice paper-based tests in the ETS book were the best way for me to get used to the actual wording and format of the Quant. questions on the real test. I think the strategies included with the Kaplan or Barron's prep books are useful too, but I felt that real ETS questions were the better way for me to prepare in general. However, your preference may differ. My advice for you would be to start looking over some real ETS questions in the PowerPrep software (if that's all that you have in the way of "official" test questions). Once you take the test, look over the answers as much as possible, and see if you can spot the tricks that were used get you to pick the incorrect answer on the questions that you got wrong. You might even want to take the test over again, as you will probably see some new questions that you can also study (although I would disregard the score that it gives you after taking the same test again, of course). I think that this will help you get used to the questions on the real test, in addition to preparing with the other test prep materials like Barron's or GREBible. After all, the GRE Quant. section really just seems to measure how comfortable you are with the test format and how well you can spot the tricks used in the questions, and not necessarily the material (since the material isn't really all that difficult). So, when practicing, if you take some real ETS questions and can spot the kinds of tricks that are used to try to get you to select the wrong answer, I think you will be better prepared to spot these tricks on test day. (I think that was my issue, at least.)

Please let me know if I can provide any more advice.
Good luck with your preparation!