Nosheen

Hi bobo and sunxcat, Thank you very much for the good wishes! About your questions bobo, I got 30 questions for the Listening section. My essay topic was: In your home country, do u think more land should be kept in its natural condition or should more land be used for housing and industry. Support using examples. (I don't remember the exact topic but that was the gist of it). As to how long my essay was, I tried to make it as long as I could under the the time constraint: 30 minutes. Just keep focused and the time will be enough. As for Powerprep scores I got between 280 and 297. I hope this helps! Good luck for your exam!!

Hi everyone, First of all this is a really great site and many thanks to Erin Billy for putting it together. Also, all the TMs are really great and very helpful. To everyone who's answered my queries: thanks!!! I just gave my TOEFL. The breakdown of my scores after the Test was as follows: Listening: 30 Structure: 30 Reading Comp: 29 About my test experience: Noise level: I gave my GRE before at the same test centre so I was a little more prepared for the fact that there is some noise during the test as there are a number of people taking different tests while u take your test. As I require pin drop silence while working under pressure, I did get a little annoyed about this fact. Listening section: I thought the conversations I heard were longer than those I had heard on Powerprep-though maybe that's just me? The questions were fine though. All they required was careful listening. The voice quality of the conversations is much much better than on Powerprep Structure section: I got 25 questions. The difficulty level was ok. I prepared for this by giving the paper tests in the Barron's TOEFL book: that really helped. Reading Comp section: I got 5 passages and 55 questions. Rather surprised as I thought there would be only 4 passages. All the passages were full of technical details and very boring. I was hoping to get a literary passage-but no such luck. I spent maybe 5 days or so preparing for this, as I was busy with the GRE and only found out at the last minute that I needed to give the TOEFL too. Anyway, I hope I get a decent final score. I didn't really prepare a lot for the test, so I don't know if I can be of too much help; however if anyone has any questions about the test I'd be happy to answer them.

My scores really suck...but this teaches me a lesson I guess since I prepared in about 3 weeks and knew beforehand that my Quant was really weak!!! :( [xx(] [V] I only properly started preapring after I had got the date of my GRE Exam!! I might retake the GRE...I don't know yet. Any ideas how long it will take to improve since my Quant is very weak?? An estimated number of weeks would help. (Even in GRE Powerprep I consistently got scores in the lower end of 500 and sometimes near 600). I have my TOEFL on the 13th, so busy with that now. But later I will talk about my test experience if anyone is interested. Also, it never occured to me to press the "Confirm" button after typing my essays. Does anyone know if that means I lose my essays or will they be automatically saved. I am anxious in this regard and it would help if anyone would clarify!!! Thanks!!!

Could somebody PLEASE tell me a fast way of solving this: It’s a Quantitative Comparison (from PowerPrep) S is the set of all integers from 1 to 48, inclusive V is the sum of all of the even integers D is the sum of all of the odd integers in S Column A: V Column B: D + 23 The correct answer is: The Quantity in column A is greater. Thanks!!

Hi, Nullywave I subscibed to the GRE Diagnostic Service and found is very useful...especially for Quant. I'm still going over the questions. Thanks for the suggestion! I wanted to ask you how you found the Antonym and Sentence correction questions in the Verbal section? I found them easier than those I saw on the GRE Powerprep. What do you think? Also, thanks for the advice sunxcat! Every bit helps!!

I'm applying to Ontario, Canada to the University of British Columbia. I have written a SOP and another essay required in the application. Any criticism on the essays is welcomed!!!! I have to submit the application soon-so a quick response would immensely help! :shy: Please provide a short personal statement or statement of purpose in which you tell us why you wish to do graduate work in Economics. I already have a Masters degree in Economics from Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan. However, my family has decided to move to Ontario, Canada. Thus, I would like to take full advantage of this move and obtain another Masters of Economics from your prestigious institution. The reasons for doing this are manifold. If I can obtain a Masters degree from the University of British Columbia, I will then be better equipped to pursue a career in Economics. I lack research experience and therefore see this Masters degree as a chance to obtain it. I believe that you institution is ideal for me because you place an emphasis on excellence and on doing ground breaking research. As a future Economist experience with research will be invaluable to me. With research experience under my belt, I would like to work as a research assistant and thus gain practical hands on experience in the field of Economics. A Masters in Economics will also help me obtain work-a good job with a stable income. I would later like to pursue a Doctorate in Economics. As a woman from a Developing country, I have personally seen how economic independence of an individual and personal independence are closely knit. In a conventional country, such as Pakistan, I know that it is only with education and economic empowerment that a person can take an individual stand and be themselves. In this reference, I would like to quote from Virginia Woolf’s essay “A Room of One’s Own”. In her essay Woolf says “a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is going to write.” That applies to all occupations. Also as Woolf further states in her essay, “There is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of the mind”. I think a person who has a sound education is better equipped to protect both freedom of mind and person. I am interested in International Economics and am also intrigued with how gender and Economics are related to one another. These are two potential areas which I would like to explore for research during my Masters. I have explored the Economics program at your university and know that you have teachers researching on and teaching a wide variety of subjects, including International Economics. I believe obtaining a Masters degree from your institution would be an invaluable experience for me, as well as an asset. Please discuss any other information you feel would be important to the Admissions Committee in evaluating your application to the Department of Economics. I have a passion for knowledge and learning, influenced by which I want to pursue education at the Masters level. I have always been lucky in that my parents and my teachers (especially during my O–Levels, A–Levels and Masters) have by example, as well as advice, encouraged me to learn and explore and think for myself. I have always been inspired by my father, the most diligent and industrious person I know. He is a Computer Engineer by profession. He has a real thirst for knowledge and puts heart and soul into the work he does. From him I have learnt that the attainment of knowledge is an end in itself and not merely important for the attainment of monetary gain. There have been numerous teachers who have taught me invaluable lessons. There were Mrs. Harr and Mrs. Dixon, who both taught me English at school; they taught me to work hard and with honesty. There was Mr. Stevenson, who taught me A- Level English Literature; he taught me the importance of creativity and individuality and about developing my own ideas and being my own person. My professors at Government College University, Lahore have been a source of inspiration to me too. There is Ms. Masuma Farooki, a lady full of vitality, a passion for communicating with people and a real passion for her subject. She is for me an example that one can with confidence and hard work challenge the status quo. She always stands up for her opinions, her friends and takes no nonsense from anyone. I have always been interested in Literature. It began as a child when I had a voracious appetite for ‘stories’. As I grew older, I read Literature myself from books; at first dazzled by a new world of make belief and the power of the imagination. My obsession with the world of Literature continued and when I began my O-Levels, I first studied Economics. We had a wonderful teacher, Mr. David, who really made the subject come alive for us, using real world examples and anecdotes to have us see beyond the theoretical and understand reality and feel the real pulse of the modern day economy. He was a wonderful man with a fiery temper and an amazing sense of humour. Later when I did my A-Levels, I really developed a strong affinity for the subject. We had a great teacher again, Mrs. Stevenson. She would have us read “The Economist” and relate interesting incidents about the world of business and economics. I suppose this is about the time when I saw how knowledge, may it be of the Arts or the Sciences, social or natural, is ultimately all related. Knowledge in its real sense rises above the mundane facts we sometimes have to memorize. I learnt about the beauty of individual thought and innovative ideas; the creativity that is at the root of every kind of knowledge. The genius at work in the minds of Simone deBeauvoir when she wrote “The Second Sex” or of Adam Smith when he wrote “An Inquiry into the nature and causes of the Wealth of Nations” is essentially the same. So is the creativity at the heart of the works of Jean Paul Sartre, Sigmund Freud, Einstein, Germaine Greer and Fyodor Dostoevsky. All originators of thought may they be economists, novelists, poets, scientists, philosophers, psychologists or people to study any other discipline- innovate and create. Through their efforts, something that was not before comes into being. It is with creativity and innovativeness that we can add to knowledge. For me personally the pursuit of higher education is the means of adding to my own knowledge and hopefully that of others. That is why I wish to be admitted to the University of British Columbia and why I think I am a suitable candidate for the Masters program at your prestigious institution.

Thanks for the help Shivani!! :p

Thank you guys for the advice!!! I do think I need to put in a lot of effort ! :shy: Good luck for your test nullywave!

I'm applying to Masters programs in Economics in Canada. For the application for the University of British Columbia I have to write a SOP. The on-line application states: "Please provide a a short personal statement or statement of purpose in which you tell us why you wish to do graduate work in Economics." I don't understand what kind of SOP I should write? Should I only talk about academics? Or should I also talk about myself generally, personal experiences and why I chose to study Economics etc. I've read stuff about how the SOP should tell the reader about you as a person etc. But this particular topic says 'dry' and 'academic' to me. Any advice??? :shy:

Hi, I just took a GRE Powerprep test. I got 650 in the verbal section, 92 percentile and 530 for quantiative section, 37 percentile. My GRE test is scheduled for the 6th of Jan. I need atleast a 700 on maths!! Any advice on how to improve FAST??

Could anyone please tell me how many questions in how many minutes have to be answered on the Quantitaive section of the GRE. I downloaded GRE Powerprep and in it you have to answer 28 questions in 45 minutes. Or is it 30 questions in 30 minutes now?

Hi Ali, Thanks for your detailed reply to my query about GRE essays. It really sounds as if u've mulled over the matter. :D Sorry about replying so late but I've been having problems with my net connection due to which I haven't been able to visit the forum.

Thanks for the reply Ali. That really does help!! :D :p Just another question...about the essays that you have to write. The GRE prep books suggest you create a template to help you write the essays. I don't really fancy doing that. What do you think? How do you write?

Hi Ali. Firstly, that really is a very comprehensive and useful 'How To' for the GRE. :) Good work! I just have a couple of questions about the quantitative section that I'd be obliged if u'd answer. (I did post these before but received no reply). My maths is very weak and so I’m very worried about the GRE quantitative section. I read in a GRE prep book the test gives you questions mostly from grade 8 or 9 or so level. (I think it was the Princeton Review). Is that true? Besides the GRE prep books, would O-Level and A-Level maths books be useful? If so, then for which sections? I know a lot of the A-Level maths is irrelevant for GRE such as calculas. But the the problem is which bits are relevant? So do they test O-Level type maths or A-Level maths on the more difficult questions? (hence making the questions 'difficult'?) It'd really help me a lot if you shed light on the above! :shy:

My maths is very weak and so I’m very worried about the GRE quantitative section. I read in a GRE prep book the test gives you questions mostly from grade 8 or 9 or so level. Is that true? Besides the GRE prep books, would O-Level and A-Level maths books be useful? If so, then for which sections? I know a lot of the A-Level maths is irrelevant for GRE such as calculas. But the the problem is which bits are relevant. Someone please do clarify! Thanks!