V: 720 Q: 600, Sunk by the AW? (3.5)

[Gracchus]

I took the test in Mid-May. I foolishly did not take the writing section very seriously when preparing, and paid the price. I had trouble focusing on my first section, the Issue essay, and was well aware at the time that I blew it.

I wrote a decent Argument essay, but it wasn't enough to salvage my writing score. That's how I ended up with a 3.5.

I'm seriously thinking of retaking the GRE even though my performance on the two main sections wasn't bad. Does anyone have some useful advice regarding this? I would hope that an admissions committee looking at my verbal score and undergrad writing grades would realize the AW score is not representative, but I doubt if that's the case.

Any input would be appreciated.

[samymajed]

What is your major? Your Q is very low if you are majoring in CS, ECE, Math, ....

[Gracchus]

Originally Posted by samymajed

What is your major? Your Q is very low if you are majoring in CS, ECE, Math, ....

I'm planning to apply to History programs (MA), so the Q score doesn't concern me too much.

[brave_heart]

Well you've got an excellent Verbal score. Congrats

Would you like to share your experience. How did you prepare for the V section? Did you prepare word list from Baroons and saw any words from it?

[Gracchus]

Originally Posted by brave_heart

Well you've got an excellent Verbal score. Congrats

Would you like to share your experience. How did you prepare for the V section? Did you prepare word list from Baroons and saw any words from it?

Thank you. I felt pretty comfortable with the Verbal section to begin with, but knew I could improve my score by boosting my vocabulary a bit. So I did compile a word list by copying and pasting words and definitions from the Kaplan software program (although I do think Barron's is the most comprehensive). By doing lots of practice tests, I got progressively faster on the analogy and antonym questions. I found that this freed up time to focus more deliberately on the reading comprehension subsections. I also used the Princeton book and software, though less than the Kaplan.

The Kaplan and Princeton practice CAT tests were helpful in replicating the format of the GRE CAT, but for me the PowerPrep ETS tests a better indicator of how well I was prepared. On both Powerprep CAT tests I scored within 20 points of my score on testing day, so I'd recommend that people take these after they've done most of their preparation and want to know if they're ready for the real thing.

And obviously I learned to take the AW section seriously when preparing. I had downloaded the pool of essay questions, but bothered to do very few because it seemed pointless if there was nobody to evaluate my responses. Even ETS acknowledges that their essay scoring software can't really approximate what their human scorers do. In retrospect though, it is worth writing these practice essays to gain the confidence that you will be resourceful enough to plan and compose the two essays within the allotted time. I found this out the hard way, so now I'll probably have to retake the whole test just to get my AW score within range of my Verbal. I'm concerned that the disparity will be glaring in the eyes of an Admissions crew.

[aks1232001]

"I'm concerned that the disparity will be glaring in the eyes of an Admissions crew" im sorry but i too feel the same. Since ur into history most probably u will be having quite some written work to be done.. i mean it must be very important as to how u can present ur ideas... do dude.. if u r very confidant u have do equally well in verbal next time too... just GO FOR IT!!!

im sure with a deadly >5 in AWA ur profile will get better...

but before u do it will always be better to check up with the schools u wanna apply to as to how much weightage they give to AWA.. i heard most schools are really helpful so do check up with them!!!

all the best!!!