GRE Study Help

[txgal]

I am going to take my GRE this summer and I am freaking out about the math. My math skills suck but don't worry I am not going into a math related field. I passed the ACT ok but when I went to take the TASP (state test to get into college), I passed by only 3 points! Is there anybody else that sucks at math and was able to pass the GRE? I need a 450 to pass but the grad program is flexible. Is that a high score?

Also what did you guys use to study? Any book or website recommendations? I want to review all the sections but I really need to focus on the math. I need to know not only the answer to the problem but how they got they answer in case I am wrong (which is a high probability). Is there a lot of one area in the test (geometry, calculus, algebra, etc.) or is it evenly dispersed?

Any suggestions? Oh yeah, I really cannot afford any of the test prep classes. They are like $600 here.

Help Me!

[blueyes]

Deep breath. You can do this.

First off, I'm no great mathematical scholar but I managed to come through just fine when I was a sophomore in college (long story - PM me if you need to know). The GRE scores similarly to the SAT in that the scores don't go 1,2,3 (etc); a 450 should be an average score for a section of the GREs.

Second, don't psych yourself out. If you managed to get through the SATs, you can get through the GREs. SATs are set at an 8th grade math level (that's basic algebra) and the GREs are set similarly for someone who has managed to survive college.

I used a GRE prep book that I picked up from Borders. It helped immensely, although my biggest fear was the analytical section. Go check out Borders and whatever, make yourself a studying schedule, and stick to it.

[capella]

Ah, the GRE math section. *shudders* I, too, suck at math. I managed to get 460 on the math part. Again, I suck at math. My poor husband is actually sitting here right now taking a practice test for his real test tomorrow. I have a feeling we'll be shelling out another 130 bucks for a retake since he hasn't studied much.

The math part seemed to want you to know a lot of formulas and be able to reason mathematically. It seemed like they wanted you to look at the problems offered and automatically know what the answer should look like. I felt pretty lost on a lot of the problems. I just don't speak math at all.

Is your program looking for a high math score? Or just a combined score? Mine was looking for a combined score so I just concentrated on the verbal part and let the math chips fall where they may. I reviewed some algebra and geometry formulas and that's about all. The verbal was tricky too IMO. The GRE is not the world's most easy test. I did far better on the SAT (1220-520 math and 700 verbal). The writing is looking for you to be logical and be persuasive.

[txgal]

They are looking for a GRE Verbal of 450, GRE Quantitative of 450 and Analytical of 4.0

[capella]

They are looking for a GRE Verbal of 450, GRE Quantitative of 450 and Analytical of 4.0
That sounds pretty doable. I am terrible at math and I had 460 quantitative, 600 verbal and 5 on the analytical writing. You should be fine. :) There are online practice tests you can take too (Princeton Review).

[Steve Grabowski]

They are looking for a GRE Verbal of 450, GRE Quantitative of 450 and Analytical of 4.0

Be glad you aren't prepping for a PhD in a science field. I took a practice test today and got a 590 verbal and 610 math and feel that that is still somewhat low. I am shooting for a 1300+. I have not started studying yet though (I just started yesterday), and will hopefully do better after a few months of studying. I want to securely get 1300+ when I take it in november. 450 is not an extremely hard score, that is about 40-50% of the answers being correct. So if you review trig and algebra I"m sure you'll do fine.

As for math, I would get a GRE prep book. All of the math is based on algebra, trig and pre-calc stuff. Did you take that stuff in college? If so, I'd review your old textbooks if you have them. if not I'd get a GRE book on amazon.com or half.com for a few bucks and study that. Alot of them can be bought used for a few dollars.

http://www.amazon.com/Barrons-Prepare-Graduate-Record-Examination/dp/0764173952/ref=sr_1_4/104-1771730-1806308?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181861295&sr=1-4

[capella]

As for math, I would get a GRE prep book. All of the math is based on algebra, trig and pre-calc stuff. Did you take that stuff in college?

Geez, if that's actually correct then it's a damn miracle that I did get a 460 on the math part. I NEVER took pre-calculus or trig... not even in high school. I took Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II in high school and College Algebra (to get the gen ed out of the way) my FIRST semester of college (Fall of 1999). I took the GRE in 2005 and still got a 460. That seems like it's not that terrible considering. My talent is with words not math. I embrace and accept that. :p

[Steve Grabowski]

Geez, if that's actually correct then it's a damn miracle that I did get a 460 on the math part. I NEVER took pre-calculus or trig... not even in high school. I took Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II in high school and College Algebra (to get the gen ed out of the way) my FIRST semester of college (Fall of 1999). I took the GRE in 2005 and still got a 460. That seems like it's not that terrible considering. My talent is with words not math. I embrace and accept that. :p

Ha. We all have talents and weaknesses. I can't remember people's names even if they say them 10 times.

My mistake, I don't think it involves pre-calc. But there is some trig related geometry.

http://www.wtamu.edu/academic/anns/mps/math/mathlab/gre/math_help.htm#geometry

Where I went to college I think everyone was required to take calculus I, or a class which was equal to it. So most people had some trig and algebra in college. Lucky you. I had to go to Calc III.

[capella]

Ha. We all have talents and weaknesses. I can't remember people's names even if they say them 10 times.

:) And I can memorize 130 kids' names within a week (or 5 hours since that's the total amount of time I'd see the students each week), and plenty of faculty members and repeat the process year after year. I can remember the exact location of a word or idea in a textbook (or any written document) and remember the context with ease. In fact, if I was taking a test, I would just close my eyes and visualize where I saw the idea or concept I was trying to remember and get it. I never took notes in class and I passed with an A-B average every time. No sweat. I think the key is to play to your strengths. Mine are words, writing and academic pursuits. I have always played to that and it has worked very well for me.

[EmberMae]

Well here's what I did. I had to take the THEA (replacement test for the TASP) in ~May 04 to be able to start my teacher education program. To study for it I got those Cliffs Quick Review books on Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. I did not review any pre-cal or trig though I did take those classes in high school (5 years earlier). Passed THEA with flying colors. Decided to enter the Master's program, so I took the GRE about 5 months after I took the THEA. I bought a GRE review book (barron's or something) but I didn't really have time to do much with it. But like you the scores necessary to enter my program were quite low. 450 is not that high of a score. So I winged it. I think the earlier math reviewing I did with the Cliffs Quick Review really helped. Unfortunately the problems on the GRE were strange, not really direct problems like I am used to solving. I thought it was very hard. But somehow I got a 700 on the math and a 660 on the verbal. My math score was only in the 72nd percentile whereas my verbal was in the 90th despite being lower.

[redav]

But somehow I got a 700 on the math and a 660 on the verbal. My math score was only in the 72nd percentile whereas my verbal was in the 90th despite being lower.
Congrats on the good score! The general rule is that people always score higher on the math section than the verbal. The verbal is the trademark, they want there to be a mythos about it. IMO, they only include a math section because they have to.

[txgal]

Just wanted to let you all know that I studied for a month and a half before I took the test. I used study guides and the PowerPrep software. I took the test on Monday and passed. My scores weren't impressive but I did pass and that's all that matters to me. I wasn't trying to get into MIT or anything. I spent the majority of my time studying for the math and very little time on the verbal. I got a 480 on the math and a 500 on the verbal. I know that I could have scored better on the verbal if I had reviewed more so I was a little disappointed with that. But like I said before I passed and that is all that matters! :D