By Gavin Sanders
The GRE is divided into 3 portions; Analytical, Verbal, and Quantitative. There are 2 sections for each, for a total of 6 in all. You begin the test with both portions of the Analytic Writing section, which is timed for 30 minutes each. This is followed by a 20 question 30 minute Verbal section, 20 question 35 minute Quantitative section, Verbal again, and the final Quantitative section.
Verbal
There were two ways I prepared for the verbal section. First, I tried to learn as many new words as possible. The website “Tyrannosaurus Prep” helped me immensely. I made flashcards of every word and studied them as much as I could. I even wrote words on a note card to take to work with me. I made it my mission to learn at least five new words a day. To reinforce my learning, I made lists of words and definitions and created sentences around them. A larger vocabulary is not only important for the GRE and graduate school. It has helped me express myself more and better form my ideas.
I also read as many scholarly articles as I could. Reading Comprehension questions on the GRE are designed to illustrate your ability to understand words in an academic context. Read research articles or publications such as the New York Times, The New Yorker, or The Economist (Lee, 2012). There are also countless websites offering tips and practice, even apps are available for all of our smart devices. Spend some time on Google. There are ample resources out there that provide advice and practice sets.
References
Lee, Chris. (2012, June 1). GRE Verbal Study Tips (Blog). Retrieved from http://magoosh.com/gre/2012/gre-verbal-study-tips/
Resources
Tyrannosaurus Prep: http://gre.tyrannosaurusprep.com/Vocabulary/Words-Lists
Verbal Practice Questions: http://gre.graduateshotline.com/
Magoosh Verbal Prep: http://magoosh.com/gre/verbal/
The GRE is divided into 3 portions; Analytical, Verbal, and Quantitative. There are 2 sections for each, for a total of 6 in all. You begin the test with both portions of the Analytic Writing section, which is timed for 30 minutes each. This is followed by a 20 question 30 minute Verbal section, 20 question 35 minute Quantitative section, Verbal again, and the final Quantitative section.
Verbal
There were two ways I prepared for the verbal section. First, I tried to learn as many new words as possible. The website “Tyrannosaurus Prep” helped me immensely. I made flashcards of every word and studied them as much as I could. I even wrote words on a note card to take to work with me. I made it my mission to learn at least five new words a day. To reinforce my learning, I made lists of words and definitions and created sentences around them. A larger vocabulary is not only important for the GRE and graduate school. It has helped me express myself more and better form my ideas.
I also read as many scholarly articles as I could. Reading Comprehension questions on the GRE are designed to illustrate your ability to understand words in an academic context. Read research articles or publications such as the New York Times, The New Yorker, or The Economist (Lee, 2012). There are also countless websites offering tips and practice, even apps are available for all of our smart devices. Spend some time on Google. There are ample resources out there that provide advice and practice sets.
References
Lee, Chris. (2012, June 1). GRE Verbal Study Tips (Blog). Retrieved from http://magoosh.com/gre/2012/gre-verbal-study-tips/
Resources
Tyrannosaurus Prep: http://gre.tyrannosaurusprep.com/Vocabulary/Words-Lists
Verbal Practice Questions: http://gre.graduateshotline.com/
Magoosh Verbal Prep: http://magoosh.com/gre/verbal/