VzlaGirl

Thanks Erin, that's a confusion I have always had. And thank you for everything!!! :D I just finished my GRE test today, I made a post in the corresponding forum. It's not 800-800, but I'm so happy. Thank you for eveything Erin [goodjob] !!!

Basically, this is what I used to prepare: - Testmagic!. Really great place, really nice people. If you have a question, you search the forums or post it. You can surf around the forums to learn about your test, etc. - Barron's "How to prepare for the GRE". I really liked this book. It covers all the sections in the GRE, and provides you with tons of strategies to deal with them. It also has problems for you to solve, and the answers to them are all explained. It also have the GRE word list (I also have Guru's word list, but I wasn't able to practice it the way I would have wanted to). - Powerprep. I took the practice tests and the practice questions. They help you practice and get a better undestanding of the test and how it is scored. My test experiences: First, I got my Analytical Writing section. Then I got one Verbal, one Quantitative and finally another Verbal (VQV). Analytical Writing section: For the Issue: Both topics were really interesting, it was not difficult to find something to say about them. For the Argument: It was not difficult at all to detect the flaws in the author's argument. I don't really know how well I did in this section, because my english is not that good. I follow some of Barron's strategies, and surfing around the essays here at the forums also helped me. The 2 Verbal sections: I don't really know which one could be the experimental one, they both seemed pretty similar to me. Analogies, antonyms and sentence completition: Some of them you have to think, but you may get to the correct answer. Some others, I had no idea what those words mean. Tip: If you are an international student, and your native language is spanish (or some with the same origin), that may be a good thing. Many strange words in english may sound familiar to you, because they have a latin origin, and they look like some words you know in spanish. Unfortunately, not all the questions are this way, but that helps you compensate your not so goog knowledge in english. Reading comprehension: They were not easy to read passages, but if you concentrate in what you are reading, you will be able to answer the questions easier. If I remember ok, in each of the verbal sections, I got 3 passages (with 3 of 4 questions each one). Two of the passages are kind of short, the other is longer. The Quantitative section: I was worried about timing in this section, but it was not a problem after all. On the last few days I practice with the powerprep and taking timed tests, and that helped me learn how to pace myself. I think questions are of similar difficulty to those in powerprep. That's why I recommend doing the powerprep tests, and then again, and again. I did this the last days and I learned a lot from that. The kind of problems you will encounter are from the topics the GRE page says that you should practice on: fractions, exponents, square roots, percents, ratios, absolute value, linear equations, inequalities, algebra rules (like (a+b)^2 and (a+b)(a-b), etc.). About coordinate geometry: equation of a line, slopes, perpendicular and paralell lines, etc. Geometry: triangles, circles: Be sure to remember this: the measures of the sides or a right angle 90-45-45 (x, x, xsqrt(2), and the measures of the sides of a right angle: 90-30-60 (x, 2x, xsqrt(3)). I got some questions of solid geometry, you just have to know the formula to calculate the volume of a cubic or rectangular figure, or a cilinder. I got some probability questions (I think it's ok to know that p=favorable cases/possible cases). I got one permutation question (don't forget about combinations). I got some data analysis questions. I think I got between 2 or 3 graphics, with some questions each one. Be sure to remember: mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation. Not just how to calculate, but also what they mean, specially what standard deviation means. Tip (it's kind of obvious, but it's important while taking the test): In a comparison question, always test all border cases: 0, 1, negative questions. Sometimes, just replacing the varibales with a 0, can make the answer to your question be D. Tip (it's kind of obvious, but it's important while taking the test): Remember that in x^2=9, x is equal to 3 and also to -3. But in this case: sqrt(9) is equal to just 3, because in the GRE sqrt(9) only considers the positive answer. A final word: On the days before the test, and after the test, it's normal to worry about getting in the colleges of your choices, getting accepted, etc. But, on the day of the test this is not allowed! On the day of the test you should only think about the test, not on what consecuences it would have. It's just you and the test, nothing else matters. I think on this day, learning to control yourself is way too much beneficial than learning 5 new strange words or learning a new math strategy. Being nervous about the test is completely normal, you just have to control yourself in order to be the best at the test. I think controlling yourself on the test day is almost as important as preparing yourself for the test. Think: it's just you and the questions, don't think about anything else while solving the test. Well, I think that's it. This is way long. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. :)

Hey guys!! Thank you so much for everything :D Wood, MS, hellogmat: Your scores are great!! Congratulations to you too! Psyoutlaw: If I remember ok, your test is tomorrow right? Wood: I would like to go to the University of Texas at Austin, maybe an Operations Research master. What do you think about my chances? Hey! I love your "conundrum master" picture ;) Psyoutlaw: Yeah, I filled it. I think it's for research purposes. They ask some questions about yourself and your undergraduate studies, but nothing to worry about. MS: Thank you so much, I've seen your score. Wow!! That's really impressive :) hellogmat: Do you really think I can apply for a scholarship? Wow, that would be great!! Well, let's see where I'm admitted first ;) I'm going to write about the details of the test now.

[w00t] [w00t] It's over!!! And I'm so happy!! [w00t] [w00t] 1370 V: 620 Q: 750 (the score is 750, not 760, sorry, I made a mistake typing it) I can't write too much now, because I'm going out tonight ;). I promise I'll write here explaining everything about the test. Right now, I just wanted to share this with you :o I know my score is not 800-800. But I'm so happy about it!! This is the first time I take the GRE, my native language is not english, I've never lived in an english speaking country. Oh my!! Erin and all people at TestMagic: Thank you so much!! Gracia, gracias, gracias, gracias !!!! I'll write more soon !! Take care you all!!

[w00t] [w00t] Congratulations hellogmat!!!! [w00t] [w00t] You are incredible, really smart!! Thank you for helping me along the way!!! Take care [goodjob]

Hi Psyoutlaw! I'm taking the GRE next Monday! [w00t]:crazy::D:p:D:o How about you?

Hey shawnMgardy! How have you been hellogmat? Thank you so much for answering. I'm asking those questions because when I'm under timing I usually rush (and do everything wrong) or go really slow (and I'm not able to finish the sections) :o. So, I really need some advice. Well, this is kind of a coincidence, I'm also taking the GRE on Monday, and if I remember ok, hellogmat is taking the GMAT on Monday too. What exam are you taking on Monday shawnMgardy? I see you both speak english really good. My native language is not english. I posted a question on the grammar forum, I would like to know the answer before starting the analytical writing section, would you help me please? :o This is my post: http://www.TestMagic.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7071 Well, Good luck to you two in your exams! (and good luck to me too :o;) ) Take care.. PS. hellogmat: thank you for helping me along the way :)

MS!! That's such an incredible score!!! :D:cool::p I'm taking the GRE in a few days. I would like to know how did you manage your time in the Quant. section? Did you finish on time? before time? Did you have to guess the last questions? How much time did you spend in the first questions? (I've read those are the most important ones). In short, how did you manage your 45 minutes solving the 28 questions? ;) Thank you :)

Hey neighbor!! Congratulations! :D (I'm from Venezuela..) I'm taking the GRE in a few days. I would like to know how did you manage your time in the Quant. section? Did you finish on time? before time? Did you have to guess the last questions? How much time did you spend in the first questions? (I've read those are the most important ones). In short, how did you manage your 45 minutes solving the 28 questions? ;) Thank you :)

Hi Salaisan! Congratulations! :D I'm taking the GRE in a few days. I would like to know how did you manage your time in the Quant. section? Did you finish on time? before time? Did you have to guess the last questions? How much time did you spend in the first questions? (I've read those are the most important ones). In short, how did you manage your 45 minutes solving the 28 questions? ;) Thank you :)

Hi, I'm taking the GRE is just a few days. My native language is not english. I would like to understand something about pronouns before starting with the analytical writing section. I posted my question some days ago in the grammar forum.. but nobody answered me :( Could you please help me with this question, in order to improve my analytical writing performance? It's a really easy question if you speak english. But I'm really confused :o. This is the post: http://www.TestMagic.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7071 Thank you so much :)

PS. This is for the GRE test

Hi, I would really like to hear your opinions about this. I think my math is not bad, but I often have problems with timing. There are 28 questions in the Quantitative section. And you have 45 minutes to complete it. I've read that you need to answer the first questions carefully, because they can really affect your final score. So, how many time (minimun and maximun) you think that should be spend in the first 5 questions? Thank you so much :)

Hi, if you have GRE Powerprep and you have reviewed the Practice Questions and the Practice Tests sections, I would like to ask you about the differences in both of them. I mean, is the level of difficulty on both section the same? Are questions from the Tests section more difficult than those from the Practice section (or viceversa)? Do they both cover the same material? Thank you so much.

I see this one this way: The point where Y is intercepted is: (0,b) Since, X intercept is twice the Y intercept, X intercept = 2b Then, the point where X is intercepted is: (2b,0) We have two points from the line, so we can calculate the slope: m = y2-y1 / x2-x1 m = b-0 / 0-2b m = b / -2b m = -1/2 Since, the slope: -1/2 Is this a good reasoning to the problem?

Please, I need some advice, please, please....

Thanks MS !! Ranjani, I'm copying the solution from that post here:

Thanks hellogmat, I'll keep that in mind :-) I was reading son pdf files I downloaded from the GRE web page, and they were talking about the Addition Law, so I wanted to practice it a bit.

Maybe this could be a good bridge, but I'm not sure: a SACRIFICE is a kind of WORSHIP and an AUGURY is a kind of PREDICTION An augury is sometimes considered a superstitious prediction, and a divination (Merriam-Webster: "1 : divination from auspices or omens")

Do you know where I can find some practice exercises for the GRE, about the Addition Law in Probability? P(E or F) = P(E) + P(F) - P(E and F) Thank you so much

This is taken from ETS pdf file "MATH REVIEW for Practicing to Take the GRE General Test " (I'll type 'Sqrt' instead of the radical sign): "If N > 0, then the positive square root of N is represented by Sqrt(N), read "radical N." The negative square root of N, therefore, is represented by -Sqrt(N)." You may find this in page 10 of the pdf file. This pdf file may be found in the GRE web page: http://www.gre.org/pracmats.html#gentest

Yes, sqrt(25) = 5 and -5. Anyway, I'm copying this paragraph that I found in the ETS pdf file "Preparing for the Verbal and Quantitative: Sections of the GRE General Test. Sample Questions with Explanations" (I'll type 'Sqrt' instead of the radical sign): "The radical sign Sqrt means "the nonnegative square root of ;" for example, Sqrt(0) = 0 and Sqrt(4) = 2. The negative square root of 4 is denoted by -Sqrt(4) = -2. If x You may find this in page 6 of the pdf file. This pdf file may be found in the GRE web page: http://www.gre.org/pracmats.html#gentest

I just found this web page today: http://onlinegre.com/ It has some tutorials and practice exercises

This is also a Combinations problem, because the order doesn't matter. You have to options: a) selecting 2 men from group 1.. and.. 2 women from group 2 and b) selecting 1 men and 1 women from group 1.. and.. 1 men and 1 women from group 2 Option a) 3C2 * 2C2 (combinations of 2 men from group 1)*(combinations of 2 women from group 2) = 3!/2!1! * 2!/2!1! = 3 * 1 = 3 Option b) (3C1 * 1C1) * (1C1 * 2C1) => (combinations of 1 men from group 1 * combinations of 1 women from group 1) * (combinations of 1 men from group 2 * combinations of 1 women from group 2) = (3!/1!2! * 1!/1!0!) * (1!/1!0! * 2!/1!1!) = (3 * 1) * (1 * 2) = 3 * 2 = 6 Favorable Cases = option a + option b = 3 + 6 = 9 Posible Cases = 4C2 * 3C2 (combinations of 2 persons in group 1)*(combinations of 2 persons in group 2) = 4!/2!2! * 3!/2!1! = 6 * 3 = 18 Probability that two men and two women will be selected = Favorable cases / Posible cases = 9/18 = 1/2

I'm having some trouble using He, She, They, etc. Could you please tell me which of the following sentences is the correct one? 1) A student should be nice. For example, HE should not cheat, even if HE doesn't know the answers of HIS test. 2) A student should be nice. For example, SHE should not cheat, even if SHE doesn't know the answers of HER test. 3) A student should be nice. For example, THEY should not cheat, even if THEY don't know the answers of THEIR test. 4) A student should be nice. For example, IT should not cheat, even if IT doesn't know the answers of ITS test. 5) A student should be nice. For example, HE/SHE should not cheat, even if HE/SHE doesn't know the answers of HIS/HER test. 6) None of this is correct. My problem here is this: Since I'm talking about "A student", this refers to any student. So, it's not male or female... and I don't know the correct way to use the pronouns :( I would really appreciate your help. Thank you :)