The GRE Revised Test

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The GRE Revised Test
Introduction and Overview
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The GRE Frequently asked questions
Q What is on the GRE? A The GRE consists of
two subtests, one involving math skills and the
other involving verbal skills, plus an analytical
writing assessment.
Q How is the GRE scored? A The math and verbal
subtests each receive a score from 130-170, in
one-point increments. The analytical writing
assessment is given a separate score, on a scale
of 0 to 6.
For answers to many other important questions
concerning the GRE, or to register for the
general test, visit www.GRE.org..
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The GRE Frequently asked questions
Q How is the GRE structured?
A The analytical writing assessment comes first.
It consists of two 30-minute sections, each
requiring you to respond to a given prompt.
Next comes the GRE proper - two verbal sections
and two math sections. The verbal sections each
consist of 25 items, with 35 minutes to complete
them. The math sections also consist of 25 items,
but you are given 40 minutes to complete each of
these sections. The GRE is computer-based, but
otherwise much like a paper-and-pencil exam you
may skip questions, leave questions blank, etc.
The best way to become familiar with the
interface of the computer-based GRE is to
practice with PowerPrep software, which gives you
the closest thing to the actual experience of
taking the GRE.
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The GRE Frequently asked questions
Q what are the math skills tested on the GRE?
A Virtually all of the math tested on the GRE
was covered by most students by the end of ninth
grade. A few specialized topics, such as standard
deviation, are more advanced, but their mastery
is not necessary for a high score. The GRE
emphasizes problem solving, not math knowledge.
GRE math items are hard not because the math
skills themselves are difficult, but because the
items that involve these skills require the test
taker to analyze complex problems and implement
multi-step solutions.
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The GRE Frequently asked questions
Q How important is learning new vocabulary words
to improving my GRE score?
A Not very. Clearly, the more English words one
knows the better. But the revised GRE is designed
to test vocabulary in context only, and so the
emphasis is not on vocabulary per se but on
critical reading skills such as recognizing the
roles of key words such as although and
since, and understanding the importance of
surrounding words to determining the meaning of a
missing word. Most test takers who plan to take
the GRE within two to three months are better
served by developing these critical reading
skills than by trying to learn new vocabulary
words.
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The GRE Frequently asked questions
Q what kinds of questions are on the GRE?
A Each of these two subtests contains test items
of a variety of different formats, some of which
may be familiar from other tests (such as the ACT
or SAT), but some of which are found on no other
test and which probably are entirely new to you.
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GRE Math item formats
Quantitative comparison

• Four answer choices, select exactly one

2
2
60
60
2
O is the center of the circle, and the perimeter
of AOB is 6.
A B C D
Quantity A Quantity B The circumference
of the circle 12
 
 
 
These Items require you to compare two
expressions and determine the relation between
their values, if a determinate relation exists.
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GRE Math item formats
Multiple choice items

• Five options, select exactly one

a 23
14. If a is the smallest prime number greater
than 21 and b is the largest prime number less
than 16, then ab A 299 B 323 C 330 D
345 E 351
b 13
ab 299
These are the standard multiple choice items with
which most test takers are familiar.
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GRE Math item formats
Multiple choice items

• Three or more options, select more than one

11. In triangle ABC, the measure of angle A is
25 and The measure of angle B is greater than
90. Which of the following could be the
measure of angle C ? Indicate all such
measures. A 12 B 15 C 45 D
50 E 70
lt65
25
gt90
Some of these items require you to select exactly
two answer choices other instruct you to select
all that apply, from one answer choice up. The
number of answer choices available with these
items ranges from three to more than five. Answer
choices appear in squares to distinguish these
items from select only one items
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GRE Math item formats
Numeric entry

• Answer is keyed into provided space, or spaces
  (for fractions)

23. The average (arithmetic mean) of the 11
numbers in a list is 14. If the average of 9 of
the numbers in the list is 9, what is the
average of the other 2 numbers?
36.5
Each space will accommodate a single numeral or
decimal expression (only numerals for fractions)
negations are keyed as hyphens. Fractions need
not be in reduced form.
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GRE Verbal item formats
Reading comprehension

• Five answer choices, select exactly one

• 25. In the context in which it appears,
  accorded
• (line 9) most nearly means
• A reconciled
• B revealed
• C granted
• D verified
• E maintained

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GRE Verbal item formats
Reading comprehension

• three answer choices, select all that apply

• For the following question, consider each of the
  choices separately and select all that apply.
• Which of the following statements is supported by
• the passage?
• A The pull theory is not universally accepted by
  scientists.
• B The pull theory depends on one of waters
  physical properties.
• C The pull theory originated earlier than did
  the push theory.

A tall tree can transport a hundred gallons of
water a day from its roots deep underground to
the treetop. Is this movement propelled by
pulling the water from above or pushing it from
below? The pull mechanism has long been favored
by most scientists. First proposed in the late
1800s, the theory relies on a property of water
not commonly associated with fluids its tensile
strength. Instead of making a clean break, water
evaporating from treetops tugs on the remaining
water molecules, with that tug extending from
molecule to molecule all the way down to
the roots. The tree itself does not actually push
or pull all the energy for lifting water comes
from the suns evaporative power.
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GRE Verbal item formats
Reading comprehension

• Select-in-passage highlight the sentence from
  the passage that best meets the given description

In Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry does
not reject integration or the economic and moral
promise of the American dream rather, she
remains loyal to this dream while looking,
realistically, at its incomplete realization.
Once we recognize this dual vision, we can accept
the plays ironic nuances as deliberate social
commentaries by Hansberry rather than as the
unintentional irony that Bigsby attributes to
the work. Indeed, a curiously persistent refusal
to credit Hansberry with a capacity
for intentional irony has led some critics to
interpret the plays thematic conflicts as mere
confusion, contradiction, or eclecticism. Isaacs,
for example, cannot easily reconcile Hansberrys
intense concern for her race with her ideal of
human reconciliation. But the plays complex view
of Black self-esteem and human solidarity as
compatible is no more contradictory than Du
Bois famous, well-considered ideal of ethnic
self-awareness coexisting with human unity, or
Fanons emphasis on an ideal internationalism
that also accommodates national identities and
roles.
10. In which sentence of the passage does the
author provide examples that reinforce an
argument against a critical response cited
earlier in the passage?
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GRE Verbal item formats
Text completion

• One-to-three blanks per item, three answer
  choices per blank. Select exactly one answer
  choice per blank.

similarity
6. To the untutored eye the tightly forested
Ardennes hills around Sedan look quite (i)_____,
(ii)_____ place through which to advance a modern
army even with todays more numerous and better
roads and bridges, the woods and river Meuse form
a significant (iii)_____.
contrast
contrast
A impenetrable B inconsiderable C uncultivated
D a makeshift E an unpropitious F an unremarkable
G resource H impediment I passage
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GRE Verbal item formats
Sentence equivalence

• One blank per item, six answer choices per blank.
  Select exactly two answer choices per blank.

similarity
17. The macromolecule RNA is common to all
living beings, and DNA, which is found in all
organisms except some bacteria, is almost as
_____ . A comprehensive B fundamental C
inclusive D universal E significant F
ubiquitous
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Quantitative comparison items nicely illustrate
the importance of critical reasoning to the math
section of the GRE. Most generally, the
challenge is to recognize what makes comparing
the values of the two expressions difficult, and
then to remove this obstacle by implementing the
relevant steps to simplify the problem. The item
itself will offer strong clues as to which steps
should be taken to accomplish this goal. The
following are examples of common tactics for
simplifying quantitative comparison problems.
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Simplify one side or another
Quantity A Quantity B 64 of
(50)(40) 1200
(.64)(2000)
1280
 
 
 
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Add/subtract, multiply/divide same thing on both
sides
 
40y
x 39y
Subtract 39x
y
x
Subtract 39y
 
(930)(420) 420
(930)(420) 930
420
930
Multiplying or dividing by positive numbers
preserves relationship between expressions
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Collect together occurrences of a variable found
on one or both sides
 
2
2x - 2
4
2x
 
2(3x3)
3(6x-2)
6x6
18x-6
6
12x-6
12
12x
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Use any given information to solve for one side
or the other
 
 
(x - 5)(x 1) 0
x 5 x -1
 
 
x y z 3y
x z 2y
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Quantitative Comparison Items

• The Basic Approach to Quantitative Comparison
  Items
• First step - check to see if one, the other, or
  both expressions are indeterminate.
• indeterminate answer choice could be D.
  (Simplify as above, pick numbers)
• not indeterminate answer choice could not be D.
  (Simplify as above)

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Q What do we mean by indeterminate? A An
expression is indeterminate if it can have more
than one value. Examples x, a prime factor
of 15, and the base of a triangle with area 10
square meters are all indeterminate
expressions. By contrast, 4, The average of
12 and 13, and the greatest prime factor of 15
are all determinate expressions. Only if at
least one of the two expressions is indeterminate
can the relation between the two expressions
change, and thus can the correct answer be D.
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Items with indeterminacy
 
 
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Items with indeterminacy
 
 
25
Items without indeterminacy
Quantity A Quantity B 64 of
(50)(40) 1200
 
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Items without indeterminacy
 
 
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Once one finds indeterminacy in a quantitative
comparison item, the next step is to find out if
the answer actually is D.
With many items, the best way to do this is to
try out different values for the indeterminate
expressions, trying to make the relation between
the expressions change.
This technique, picking numbers, is the most
important technique to master for quantitative
comparison items.
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Example
(pg. 148 4)
 
-1
0
0
-1
29
Example
 
 
2
 
 
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Tips for picking numbers, Quantitative Comparison
Items

• Try simple numbers first 0 and 1 often work
  best.

• Try the same number for more than one variable
  at a time, if possible.

• After plugging in one set of numbers, think
  about which new numbers will make the relation
  between expressions change.

• Dont forget negative numbers, and numbers
  between 0 and 1 (especially if exponents are
  involved).

• Usually if the answer is not D, after plugging
  in a few sets of numbers you will understand why
  the relation does not change.

• If youve tried several numbers from all the
  important categories and the relation still
  hasnt changed, it is probably safe to guess.

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Case study
 
1
2
16
8
32
Case study
 
 
6
 
-6
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Case study
Alices salary is greater than Bills salary. At
the end of the year they each receive a bonus
of 4000 dollars. Quantity A Quantity
B Alices bonus, as a Bills bonus, as a
percentage of her percentage of
his salary salary