GRE - Mississippi State University
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Transcript GRE - Mississippi State University
Graduate Record Exam
A standardized test that is an admissions
requirement for many graduate schools
Available at about 700 test centers in more
than 160 countries
In most areas, it is a computer-based test
Recently revised in 2011
◦ Enabled editing/changing of answers, skipping
questions, and on-screen calculator
3
Sections:
◦ Verbal Reasoning
◦ Quantitative Reasoning
◦ Analytical Writing
Assesses your ability to :
◦ analyze and evaluate written material and
synthesize information you obtain from it
One half requires you to read passages and
answer questions on those passages
• The other half requires you to read, interpret, and
complete existing sentences, groups of sentences,
or paragraphs
3 types of questions:
◦ Reading Comprehension
Reading a passage and answering questions about it
Test contains 10 passages with 1-6 questions for each passage
Answers are mostly multiple choice. Some you will choose multiple
correct answers and some you will select a sentence from the passage.
◦ Text Completion
Contains passages with words or short phrases omitted (1-3 blanks)
Information in the passage is used to choose the correct answer
Answers are multiple choice
◦ Sentence Equivalence
Questions contain single sentences with one blank
You will be asked to select 2 answers that both fit into the sentence
Answers are multiple choice
•
•
Assesses your:
◦ basic mathematical skills
◦ understanding of elementary mathematical concepts
◦ ability to reason quantitatively and to model and solve
problems with quantitative methods
Content:
◦ Arithmetic
◦ Algebra
◦ Geometry
◦ Data Analysis
Content is generally no higher than a second course in
algebra; it does not include trigonometry, calculus, or other
higher-level mathematics.
An on-screen calculator is provided for this section of the
GRE
4 types of questions:
◦ Quantitative Comparison
Compare two variables A or B
Answer choices are: A is greater, B is greater,
quantities are equal, or relationship cannot be
determined
◦ Multiple Choice – select one
◦ Multiple Choice – select one or more
◦ Numeric Entry
These questions require you to type in your answer
Assesses your ability to :
◦ articulate and support complex ideas,
◦ construct and evaluate arguments
◦ sustain a focused and coherent discussion
Contains two separately timed “tasks”
◦ issue task
◦ argument task
Issue task
Argument Task
◦ Purpose is to test your critical thinking and persuasive
writing
◦ You will be given an issue with specific instructions
◦ You will have to take a position with the issue and present
an argument (addressing what the instructions ask) for why
you support that position
◦ Purpose is to test your ability to understand, analyze and
evaluate arguments
◦ You will be given an argument and be forced to consider
the logical soundness of the argument by examining the
line of reasoning and the evidence it presents
◦ There will be specific instructions to follow when writing
your response
Overall time is about three hours and 45
minutes
There are six sections with a 10-minute
break following the third section
The Analytical Writing section will always be
first, while the other five sections may appear
in any order.
¹An unidentified un-scored section may be included and may appear in any
order after the Analytical Writing section. It is not counted as part of your
score.
²An identified research section that is not scored may be included, and it is
always at the end of the test.
http://www.aavmc.org/data/files/vmcas/test_chart_2012.
pdf
◦ For each school within the AAVMC
◦ MCAT can substitute for the GRE for some schools
Listed on this link
Three scores are reported for the GRE:
If no questions are answered for a specific measure (e.g., Verbal
Reasoning), then you will receive a No Score (NS) for that measure.
Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning
◦ score reflects the number of questions answered
correctly
Analytical Writing section
◦ Each essay receives a score from two trained
readers
◦ If the two assigned scores differ by more than one
point, a third reader decides the final score
◦ Overall score is the average of the ratings given to
the two essays.
Computer-based Test
◦ Official scores are sent to you and the score
recipients you designate about 10 – 15 days after
your test date.
Paper-based Test
◦ Official scores are sent to you and the score
recipients you designate within six weeks after your
test date.
You can also view your scores online free of
charge.
How a department or admissions committee
evaluates GRE scores varies:
◦ use them as cutoffs to eliminate applicants
◦ use them as criteria for research assistantships and
other forms of funding
◦ look at to GRE scores to offset weak GPAs
◦ admissions committees will overlook poor GRE
scores if applicants demonstrate significant
strengths in other areas.
GRE scores are due by October 1.
◦ There is normally a 3-4 week reporting time after
taking the exam, so taking the test no later than
August 15th is recommended.
Average scores of those accepted to the Class
of 2015 were 460-590 on the Verbal and
Quantitative sections, and 4.5 on the
Analytical Writing section.
No minimum score required.
Practice Questions:
◦ Kaplan
http://www.kaptest.com/GRE/Home/index.html
Usually have workshops
Publish guides for the test
Courses anywhere from $500-$2200 with financial aid option
◦ ETS
http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare?WT.ac=rx46
Offers a variety of free and low-cost tools from practice questions to what to
expect on test day and tips for each section
◦ Barron’s
http://barronstestprep.com/gre/gre-online-practicetests.php?gclid=CKiJx9vIiq8CFUhl7Aodmm0aCA
Publish guides for the test
Limited help online for free
Access to online practice tests and solutions for $69
◦ http://www.greguide.com/gre-practice-tests.html
Has practice problems for the new GRE
Also has practice problems for the old test if you want to compare them
◦ The GRE is given year-round at computer-based
test centers in most locations around the world.
Appointments are scheduled on a first-come, firstserved basis.
◦ You can take the GRE (computer-based and paperbased) only once every 60 days, and no more than
five times within any continuous rolling 12-month
period.
◦ Cost – $160.00
◦ In Mississippi:
Hattiesburg – 7574
University of Southern Mississippi
Walker Science Bldg. Rm 217
University Testing Center
Jackson – 3600
Prometric Testing Center
Meridian - STN13965A
Meridian Community College (No GRE)
Webb Hall
Mississippi State – 7546
Mississippi State University
Rice Hall
Oxford – 7753
University of Mississippi
University Avenue at Grove Loop
Tupelo – 3603
Prometric Testing Center
Analytical Writing
Budget your time wisely
Allow a few extra moments at the end of each time to look
for obvious errors.
Quantitative Reasoning:
Quantitative Comparison
Become familiar with the answer choices.
Avoid unnecessary computations
Plug in numbers.
Multiple Choice:
Use the fact that the answer is there
For questions that require approximations, scan the answer
choices to see how close an approximation is needed
Numeric Entry:
Make sure you answer the question that is asked.
Make sure you round your answer when asked to
Examine your answer to see if it is reasonable with respect to
the information given.
• Verbal Reasoning:
Reading comprehension:
distinguishing between minor and major points
summarizing a passage
drawing conclusions from the information provided
analyzing a text and reaching conclusions about it
Identifying strengths and weaknesses of a position
Text completion
understanding the structure of a text in terms of how the parts
relate to one another
identifying the author's assumptions and perspective
developing and considering alternative explanations
Sentence Equivalence
understanding the meaning of individual words and sentences
understanding the meaning of paragraphs and larger bodies of
text
developing and considering alternative explanations