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Mervin2008 · 04-22-2008, 03:16 AM

I am so glad to say its finally over .I was preparing for it for almost 3 months and I am really grateful that the hard work paid off.I think I have a pretty decent chance at most schools .Now begins the onerous task of applying for the universities.

AWA - Both topics were from the pool of essays which ETS has on its site but I would advice people to practice writing those essays under timed conditions.I cut and chopped my essays so many times to try and get the flow I wanted and though I was pretty happy with my overall effort ,the only reason I was able to complete my essay was because I have a relatively high typing speed.

Quantitative - Who ever said that the real Quant is much tougher than the powerprep one's was correct,I found the questions extremely tough and was out of time by the time I reached the last question,all I could do was randomly mark an answer at the end and hope it was correct.Since I was running out of time for most of the questions and forced to rush through my calculations I was very despondent and felt that my quant was totally messed up

Verbal : Since I felt my quant was totally messed up I really did'nt bother too much about verbal and gave it in a rather casual way.I guess thats the reason I was able to spot the answers easily since I was very relaxed .Even the RC's were quite easy and I was able to figure out the answers to most.Regarding verbal I think the best book is undoubtedly barrons's. I didn't prepare from anywhere else and I dont think I saw a single word which was out of Barron's .The Analogies were ok and sentence completions were generally simple

Fortunately I didn't have any unmarked section so just one verbal and quant and I did get one marked research section ,I made a casual attempt at it but I was under the impression that I had done very badly in the GRE so I wasn't even bothered and just wanted it to be over.I was so upset about my performance in quant that I actually deliberated canceling my scores because I was thinking my total would be something like 800 -900 ...I am just grateful to god that better sense prevailed and I did accept my scores which was way better than what I anticipated.

My first reaction on seeing my score was disbelief and I went to the extent of checking if I was sitting in the correct seat ...

I am very thankful to this wonderful forum and I wish I found it much earlier and I would like to thank everyone here for their help in my preparations.I will be more than happy to answer any questions you have,the forum has helped me greatly and its time I give something back

Thanks

Mervin

Erin : Sorry for the wrong title ,I understand the score has to be first ,is there any way I can edit it ?

mickgreen58 · 04-22-2008, 11:13 AM

Congratulations on a great score.

actustat · 04-22-2008, 02:14 PM

Wow Mervin..........AWESOME SCORE!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! ...U INSPIRE ME TO RETAKE THE GRE..........Which Barrons book did you say..I so badly want to get my verbal scores like yours ..Good Luck Buddy..I'm sure you will sail through any school......You just need to pick and choose your school...........NICE WORK !!!!!!!

actustat · 04-22-2008, 02:18 PM

Was this your first attempt ???

Mervin2008 · 04-22-2008, 02:24 PM

Thanks for the kind words

It was my first attempt only,to be honest I cant really give any verbal advice,I think the reason I did very well was I very cool about it (since I thought I had messed up big time in the quant) and was treating verbal like a formality.But my verbal preparation consisted of the following :

1) GRE Barron's word list - A must ,I don't think I saw any words which were not in it,I did see one word which puzzled me but I suspect it was a verb form of a word in the word list.
2) Big book verbal part - I would say this is very crucial to get a feel of the questions
3) Norman Lewis word power made easy
4) GRE bible - The word exercises
5) Reading the NYC times and my regular reading habits

I am sorry if I am not very specific but if you have any questions please let me know

Mervin

actustat · 04-22-2008, 02:35 PM

No Mervin that information is very useful thanks...I had just used the Kaplan 500 Flash cards which was clearly insufficient as my scores reflected...

Anyway Congrats once again !!!!

ObfuscateOften · 04-22-2008, 04:57 PM

Congratulations Mervin, that's a fantastic score.

Oldman · 04-22-2008, 10:02 PM

Great score!

Congrats!

Mervin2008 · 04-23-2008, 04:02 AM

Thanks everyone

amy1234 · 04-23-2008, 01:42 PM

awesome score!!!!!!!!!!!

04-22-2008, 03:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mervin2008 Within my grasp! Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 131	Finally done with my GRE -score 1520 - 780 Q,740 V I am so glad to say its finally over .I was preparing for it for almost 3 months and I am really grateful that the hard work paid off.I think I have a pretty decent chance at most schools .Now begins the onerous task of applying for the universities. AWA - Both topics were from the pool of essays which ETS has on its site but I would advice people to practice writing those essays under timed conditions.I cut and chopped my essays so many times to try and get the flow I wanted and though I was pretty happy with my overall effort ,the only reason I was able to complete my essay was because I have a relatively high typing speed. Quantitative - Who ever said that the real Quant is much tougher than the powerprep one's was correct,I found the questions extremely tough and was out of time by the time I reached the last question,all I could do was randomly mark an answer at the end and hope it was correct.Since I was running out of time for most of the questions and forced to rush through my calculations I was very despondent and felt that my quant was totally messed up Verbal : Since I felt my quant was totally messed up I really did'nt bother too much about verbal and gave it in a rather casual way.I guess thats the reason I was able to spot the answers easily since I was very relaxed .Even the RC's were quite easy and I was able to figure out the answers to most.Regarding verbal I think the best book is undoubtedly barrons's. I didn't prepare from anywhere else and I dont think I saw a single word which was out of Barron's .The Analogies were ok and sentence completions were generally simple Fortunately I didn't have any unmarked section so just one verbal and quant and I did get one marked research section ,I made a casual attempt at it but I was under the impression that I had done very badly in the GRE so I wasn't even bothered and just wanted it to be over.I was so upset about my performance in quant that I actually deliberated canceling my scores because I was thinking my total would be something like 800 -900 ...I am just grateful to god that better sense prevailed and I did accept my scores which was way better than what I anticipated. My first reaction on seeing my score was disbelief and I went to the extent of checking if I was sitting in the correct seat ... I am very thankful to this wonderful forum and I wish I found it much earlier and I would like to thank everyone here for their help in my preparations.I will be more than happy to answer any questions you have,the forum has helped me greatly and its time I give something back Thanks Mervin Erin : Sorry for the wrong title ,I understand the score has to be first ,is there any way I can edit it ? Last edited by Mervin2008 : 04-22-2008 at 02:25 PM.

04-22-2008, 02:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mervin2008 Within my grasp! Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 131	Thanks for the kind words It was my first attempt only,to be honest I cant really give any verbal advice,I think the reason I did very well was I very cool about it (since I thought I had messed up big time in the quant) and was treating verbal like a formality.But my verbal preparation consisted of the following : 1) GRE Barron's word list - A must ,I don't think I saw any words which were not in it,I did see one word which puzzled me but I suspect it was a verb form of a word in the word list. 2) Big book verbal part - I would say this is very crucial to get a feel of the questions 3) Norman Lewis word power made easy 4) GRE bible - The word exercises 5) Reading the NYC times and my regular reading habits I am sorry if I am not very specific but if you have any questions please let me know Mervin Last edited by Mervin2008 : 04-22-2008 at 05:14 PM.

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04-22-2008, 11:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
mickgreen58 TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 550	Congratulations on a great score.

04-22-2008, 02:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
actustat Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 27	Wow Mervin..........AWESOME SCORE!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! ...U INSPIRE ME TO RETAKE THE GRE..........Which Barrons book did you say..I so badly want to get my verbal scores like yours ..Good Luck Buddy..I'm sure you will sail through any school......You just need to pick and choose your school...........NICE WORK !!!!!!!

04-22-2008, 02:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
actustat Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 27	Was this your first attempt ???

04-22-2008, 02:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
actustat Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 27	No Mervin that information is very useful thanks...I had just used the Kaplan 500 Flash cards which was clearly insufficient as my scores reflected... Anyway Congrats once again !!!!

04-22-2008, 04:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
ObfuscateOften Within my grasp! Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 114	Congratulations Mervin, that's a fantastic score.

04-22-2008, 10:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
Oldman Within my grasp! Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 234	Great score! Congrats!

04-23-2008, 04:02 AM	#9 (permalink)
Mervin2008 Within my grasp! Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 131	Thanks everyone

04-23-2008, 01:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
amy1234 Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 6	awesome score!!!!!!!!!!!

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