GRE Audio Crash Course: Complete audio review for the Graduate
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Hello and welcome to the GRE test prep guide course. If you’ve been planning to enhance your knowledge – and to further your skill set – by obtaining an advanced graduate degree, then it is likely that the school, or schools, that you are applying to will want to see your scores from the Graduate Record Exam – which is also commonly referred to as simply the GRE exam. The GRE is a lengthy and highly comprehensive exam, and it covers quite a bit of ground as it pertains to several different areas of business related knowledge. Because of that, it can be extremely beneficial for you to take a course that will prepare you for this exam – both mentally and physically. That way, you will know more about what to expect, how to prepare, and ultimately how you can substantially increase your score. For example, knowing what you can anticipate in terms of the GRE exam subject matter, as well as the test format and timing, can help you to increase your confidence, your stamina, and your comfort level as you prepare for the GRE test, as well as when the day of the actual exam arrives. And this is exactly what you will be learning in this GRE test preparation course. Before we dive into the subject matter in depth, though, let’s first take a brief look at what this course covers. We’ll do that by reviewing the table of contents.
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION: HOW TO PROPERLY PREPARE FOR THE GRADUATE RECORD EXAM, OR GRE ................................................................................................................... 1 Course Overview ....................................................................................................................... 2 What Will Be Covered in This Guide ......................................................................................... 6 Figure Intro – A ......................................................................................................................... 8 Multi Stage Test Mechanics Features ................................................................................. 8 SECTION ONE – WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE GRE EXAM ........................................................... 14 Why the GRE Exam is Important ............................................................................................. 14 How the GRE is Viewed by Business Schools .................................................................... 15 How the GRE is Viewed by Employers .............................................................................. 16 GRE Stats – How Taking the GRE Can Put You Ahead of Your Competition..................... 16 How the GRE Exam is Organized ............................................................................................. 16 How the GRE Exam is Scored .................................................................................................. 19 Registering for the GRE Exam ................................................................................................. 22 Format of the GRE Exam ......................................................................................................... 25 Timing for Each Section of the GRE Exam............................................................................... 26 What to Expect Before, During, and After the GRE Exam ...................................................... 27 Section One — Wrap Up ......................................................................................................... 32 Section One — Key Takeaways ............................................................................................... 34 GRE Test Prep Course — Section One – Practice Quiz ........................................................... 37 GRE Test Prep Course — Section One – Practice Quiz Answers ............................................. 39
SECTION TWO – A CLOSER LOOK AT EACH SECTION OF THE GRE EXAM ................................. 42 Understanding Multi Stage Test Mechanics – MST ................................................................ 42 How Multi Stage Test Mechanics Works with the GRE Exam ................................................ 43 Some Advantages and Drawbacks of the Multi Stage Testing Format .................................. 46 Overview of the GRE Exam Verbal Section ............................................................................. 47 Overview of the GRE Exam Quantitative Reasoning Section ................................................. 50 Overview of the GRE Exam Analytical Writing Section ........................................................... 51 GRE Exam Research Section.................................................................................................... 54 Section Two — Wrap Up ......................................................................................................... 55 Section Two — Key Takeaways ............................................................................................... 56 Section Two — Practice Quiz .................................................................................................. 59 Section Two — Practice Quiz Answers ................................................................................... 62 SECTION THREE – THE GRE VERBAL REASONING SECTION ..................................................... 64 Introduction to the GRE Exam Verbal Reasoning Section ...................................................... 64 Types of Questions Found on the GRE Exam Verbal Reasoning Section ................................ 65 Text Completion ...................................................................................................................... 66 Sequence Equivalence ............................................................................................................ 68 Reading Comprehension ......................................................................................................... 69 Critical Reasoning.................................................................................................................... 75 Vocabulary .............................................................................................................................. 79 Key GRE Terms List ............................................................................................................ 80 Pacing Yourself on the GRE Exam Verbal Reasoning Section ................................................. 98 Verbal Reasoning Section Sample Questions ......................................................................... 99 Section Three — Wrap Up .................................................................................................... 101 Section Three — Key Takeaways .......................................................................................... 102 Section Three — Practice Quiz.............................................................................................. 104 Section Three — Practice Quiz Answers ............................................................................... 107
SECTION FOUR — THE GRE EXAM QUANTITATIVE REASONING SECTION ............................. 111 Introduction to the GRE Exam Quantitative Reasoning Section .......................................... 111 Types of Questions Found on the GRE Exam Quantitative Reasoning Section .................... 112 Math Foundations................................................................................................................. 113 Math Foundations – A Review of Arithmetic and Number Properties .......................... 115 Math Foundations – A Review of Ratios and Math Formulas ........................................ 124 Math Foundations – A Review of Algebra Terms, Operations, and Problems ............... 130 Math Foundations – A Review of Statistics .................................................................... 134 Math Foundations – A Review of Counting Methods and Probability ........................... 137 Math Foundations – A Review of Geometry .................................................................. 138 Math Foundations – Real World Math ........................................................................... 145 Quantitative Comparison ...................................................................................................... 146 Problem Solving .................................................................................................................... 147 Data Interpretation ............................................................................................................... 148 Pacing Yourself on the GRE Exam Quantitative Reasoning Section ..................................... 148 Quantitative Reasoning Section Sample Questions ............................................................. 149 Section Four — Wrap Up ...................................................................................................... 153 Section Four — Key Takeaways ............................................................................................ 154 Section Four — Practice Quiz................................................................................................ 161 Section Four — Practice Quiz Answers ................................................................................. 164 SECTION FIVE – THE GRE EXAM ANALYTICAL WRITING SECTION .......................................... 167 Introduction to the GRE Exam Analytical Writing Section.................................................... 167 Types of Questions Found on the GRE Exam Analytical Writing Section ............................. 168 A Review of the Analytical Writing Foundations and Content ............................................. 170 Preparing for the Issue Essay on the GRE Exam ................................................................... 178 Preparing for the Argument Essay on the GRE Exam ........................................................... 183 Analytical Writing Section Sample Questions....................................................................... 190
Pacing Yourself on the GRE Exam Analytical Writing Section .............................................. 193 Section Five — Wrap Up ....................................................................................................... 194 Section Five — Key Takeaways ............................................................................................. 195 Section Five — Practice Quiz ................................................................................................ 198 Section Five — Practice Quiz Answers .................................................................................. 201 SECTION SIX – HELPFUL CHECKLISTS AND GRE EXAM PREPARATION TIPS ............................ 203 GRE Exam Preparation Checklist........................................................................................... 203 Preparing Mentally and Physically for GRE Test Day ............................................................ 209 GRE Registration Checklist .................................................................................................... 211 Considerations When Registering for the GRE Exam ........................................................... 214 On the Day of the GRE Exam................................................................................................. 216 After You Complete the GRE Exam ....................................................................................... 222 Which Graduate School Programs to Consider .................................................................... 225 How and When to Apply for Graduate School ..................................................................... 226 Graduate School Application Checklist ................................................................................. 229 Tying It All Together .............................................................................................................. 234 Section Six — Wrap Up ......................................................................................................... 236 Section Six — Key Takeaways ............................................................................................... 237 Section Six — Practice Quiz .................................................................................................. 242 Section Six — Practice Quiz Answers .................................................................................... 244 SECTION SEVEN – GRE EXAM RESOURCES AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ....................... 247 GRE Resources and Additional Information ......................................................................... 247 Section Seven — Wrap Up .................................................................................................... 251 Section Seven — Key Takeaways .......................................................................................... 252 SECTION EIGHT – CONCLUSION ........................................................................................... 253 Reviewing What You Have Learned in this Course ............................................................... 253
Putting Theory into Practice ................................................................................................. 256 Where to Go from Here ........................................................................................................ 259 Section Eight and Course Wrap Up ....................................................................................... 261 Section Eight — Key Takeaways ........................................................................................... 263 SECTION NINE – ONE HUNDRED QUESTION GRE PRACTICE FINAL EXAM ............................. 267 GRE Final Exam – One Hundred Practice Questions ............................................................. 268 One Hundred Question GRE Practice Final Exam Answer Key ............................................. 291 SOURCES ............................................................................................................................. 307 FIGURES............................................................................................................................... 310
INTRODUCTION: HOW TO PROPERLY PREPARE FOR THE GRADUATE RECORD EXAM, OR GRE Now that you know what you can expect from this material, welcome again to the Graduate Record Exam – or GRE – test preparation course. Readying yourself for this exam is an extremely important component of the overall business school admissions process. One reason for this is because many graduate school admissions committees will use your GRE test score as a part of the overall decision process. Even just a slightly higher GRE score than other candidates could mean the difference between receiving – or not receiving – an acceptance letter from the school of your choice. But studying for the GRE can – at least initially – seem a bit daunting. There is a lot of detailed information to cover – and admittedly, there are a number of different resources that are available to you. Because of that, though, it may be somewhat overwhelming, and you may not be exactly clear where you need to begin. The good news is that you are in the right place now. This course will help to break down all of the information that you need, one step at a time. That way, just like with any long journey, taking things step by step will make it seem much more manageable for you as you move forward. And as the old saying goes, a journey of many miles begins with a single step.
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COURSE OVERVIEW The Graduate Record Exam – which again, is also oftentimes simply referred to as the GRE exam – is a key factor in the business school application process. In addition to graduate schools, GRE exam scores are also accepted at law schools for admission to their J.D. programs. In fact, prospective graduate and business school applicants from all around the world who are interested in pursuing a master’s, MBA, specialized master’s in business, J.D. degree, or even doctoral degree take the GRE. Applicants can come from a wide variety of educational and cultural backgrounds. The GRE exam scores are used by admissions and / or fellowship panels to supplement undergraduate records, as well as to supplement recommendation letters and other qualifications for graduate level study. It is important to point out that there is a GRE General test, as well as various GRE Subject tests. The GRE Subject tests are designed to measure your achievement in specific subject areas, and these subject tests are available in a wide range of subjects, including: •
Biology
•
Chemistry
•
Literature in English
•
Mathematics
•
Physics, and
•
Psychology
GRE Subject tests are paper delivered tests that are administered worldwide, up to three times per year. Typically, the subject tests are given in September, October, and April each year.
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Prospective graduate school applicants can take the GRE Subject tests. Applicants for these tests also come from a wide array of backgrounds – and the GRE Subject tests can provide a common measure for comparing the qualifications of such candidates. GRE Subject test scores are accepted by thousands of grad schools, including individual departments or divisions within these schools. Even though these scores may not be a requirement for admission to a particular program, admissions committees are oftentimes likely to consider the scores if they are submitted. If this is an area that you plan to go in, then it is recommended that you first contact the specific graduate program that you are interested in and inquire about their particular requirements. This GRE test preparation course, however, will focus on the GRE General Test. This general GRE test measures various subject areas, and it may be taken either as a paper delivered exam, or alternatively via computer. The GRE General Test is a standardized test that consists of four key components. These test sections include the: •
Analysis of an Issue Essay,
•
Analysis of an Argument Essay,
•
Verbal Reasoning, and
•
Quantitative Reasoning.
It is important to note, though, that both the Verbal Reasoning, and the Quantitative Reasoning sections are each further broken down into two parts.
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Each of these key components of the GRE exam – Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning -- are further sub-divided by different types of skills. For example, in the Verbal Reasoning section of the test, you will find that your skills will be tested on factors such as: •
Text Completion,
•
Sentence Equivalence, and
•
Reading Comprehension.
Likewise, the Quantitative Reasoning section will test your knowledge in areas that include: •
Arithmetic and Number Properties,
•
Algebra,
•
Geometry, and
•
Data Analysis.
We will be going into much more detail regarding each of these GRE exam sections – as well as how you can best go about studying for them – throughout this GRE exam prep course. There will also be practice tests along the way – following each of the key sections in the course -- so that you can gauge how well you are retaining the material from each section, and so that you know where you may need to go back and do more review before the day of the test. Here again, even just getting a few additional questions right on the GRE exam can make a big difference. So, it is important not to just gloss over any of the key areas of this important test. As a side note, you will also have the option of taking the section practice quizzes in your follow-along PDF manual. Because the correct answer will be provided to you within a few seconds in the audio version of the course, using the PDF version will instead allow you to move through each of the quizzes – as well as the one-hundred question final practice exam – in their entirety. After taking the quizzes and the final test, you can then refer to the answer keys that are provided – also in your follow along PDF manual.
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So, why is it so important that you use a GRE exam prep study guide? There are actually a number of very good reasons for doing so. First, just like with any other exam that you would prepare for, it can be beneficial to study and review the information that may be included on the GRE exam so that you are familiar with what may be asked. Doing so will not just help you with preparing mentally for the GRE examination, but it can also help you to be more confident and relaxed physically when you are in the process of completing the test. And, that is just exactly what this study material will allow you to do. The GRE exam is designed to assess your readiness for a wide variety of graduate programs. The ways in which graduate schools use GRE scores can vary, though. For instance, GRE scores are oftentimes required as part of the application for entrance to a particular program. However, these scores can also be used to grant fellowships or financial aid. So, in other words, the GRE exam isn’t just beneficial for getting you in the door of a graduate program, but rather a long list of other things, too. Each section of the GRE is designed for assessing general skills that are necessary for graduate school. Some of the skills include the ability to read complex informational text and understand high level vocabulary words, respond to an issue in written form, or apply general mathematical concepts to a variety of problem types. Admissions officers at graduate schools will oftentimes compare hundreds – or even thousands – of applications. Therefore, having a quantitative factor like a GRE exam score makes the job of comparing so many applicants much easier.
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Figure 1a – Structure of the GRE Exam
Section
Time
Number of Questions
Biological Information
Approximately 10 minutes
-------------------------------
Issue Essay
30 minutes
1
Argument Essay
30 minutes
1
Section 1
30 or 35 minutes
20
Section 2
30 or 35 minutes
20
Break
10 minutes
-----------------------------------
Section 3
30 or 35 minutes
20
Section 4
30 or 35 minutes
20
Section 5
30 or 35 minutes
20
Possible Research Section
Optional
Depends
Select Schools / Programs
5 minutes
Up to 4
Accept Scores
1 minute
------------------------------------
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Receive Scores
1 minute
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HOW THE GRE EXAM IS SCORED You will receive a score for each of the scored sections of the GRE test. In other words, scores will be tabulated for all of the sections other than a research or experimental section. Both the Verbal Reasoning and the Quantitative Reasoning sections will yield a scaled score of between one hundred thirty and one hundred seventy, in one point increments. You will not be able to score above a one hundred seventy, or below a one hundred thirty for either of these sections. In addition to the scaled scores on the GRE exam, you will also receive a percentile rank. This rates your performance on the GRE exam relative to that of a large sample of the population of other GRE test takers. These percentile scores can give graduate schools an indication of what your scaled scores are worth. For example, if all GRE test takers got high scaled scores, then schools would still be able to differentiate candidates by their percentile scores. Figure 1b and 1c provide percentile rankings as they pertain to scaled scores for the Verbal Reasoning and the Quantitative Reasoning sections of the GRE test. Figure 1b – Verbal Reasoning Scores and Percentile Rankings
Percentile Ranking
Scaled Score
99
169 – 170
19
95
165
87
161
78
158
63
154
50
151
36
148
22
144
10
140
Figure 1c – Quantitative Reasoning Scores and Percentile Rankings
Percentile Ranking
Scaled Score
98
170
95
168
86
163
20
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