Episode 2: The standardized tests: GRE and TOEFL

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required by every university you apply to. So you might as well get through with it and have a monkey off your back. The GRE has 3 components. An Analytical Writing Ability section where you write 2 essays, a Verbal section (30 questions, 30 minutes) and a Quantitative Ability Section (28 questions, 45 minutes). Any preparation book can give you more details. Remember, the GRE is an important exam. Getting a great score will give you an advantage over another applicant irrespective of how good the university is. Here are some tips to crack the exam:

1. Remember, the GRE is a computer adaptive test, where the questions become tougher as you answer them right.
2. If you are an Engineering student, you must ensure that the Quant score is 800. 10^th standard maths is tested and it is a crime if you don’t get almost all questions right. A couple of day’s preparation and practise tests can get you there.
3. The AWA section is neglected by many people. This section (writing 2 essays) is important too. Your essay score matters apart from your score out of 1600. Practise typing in an essay or two from the list of topics in the ETS website (that is the list from which they take questions. And I got the same one I practised!!!). See that you can manage the time of 45 minutes and 30 minutes for the 2 essays.
4. For the verbal section, the key is knowing a lot of vocabulary words. Keep improving your vocabulary by learning wordlists.
5. Practise full-length tests from CDs with the time limits (mainly the Verbal section). This will give you a feel of the computer adaptive test.
6. Remember that the GRE is a computer adaptive test. It is a must that you are more attentive for the first few questions (10-15) and get them all correct. Also, ensure you answer all the questions as the negatives for not answering are more than for answering wrong.
7. Some books I' suggest are:
1. Barrons for GRE (Must. Do all the wordlists at least once.)
2. The BIG book. (This is out of print now. It has some old published GRE questions. Try and get an online copy.)
3. If you have more time, Kaplan GRE will be good.
4. Princeton review is largely a waste of time and money.
5. Use the accompanying CDs or download tests online.
8. Join some of these communities on Orkut and go through some of the sample questions. This will help.

• http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Community.aspx?cmm=27913614
• http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#CommTopics.aspx?cmm=27575457
• http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#CommTopics.aspx?cmm=28459806
• http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Community.aspx?cmm=170660

9. ETS (Educational testing Service) the organization that conducts the GRE) hands out a cd-rom called Powerprep, which has a couple of tests. Make sure you practice these towards the end. Because the software used in these cds is the same as the one that runs in the test center. So it is as if you have taken 2 GREs before the one you are going to take!

How much time does preparation take? Depends. If your vocabulary is really good, then I’d say in a month you can get more than 1500. If you have an average vocabulary, it will take more time. It does help to read good English material (like in this blog) and assimilate words from them. The key to success in GRE is practise, practise and more practise.

Next, the Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). This is best taken within a month from the GRE. The scores are currently valid for just about one and a half years, so you better be sure you are going to apply before you register for this exam. GRE scores are valid for 5 years.

TOEFL is very easy. It has 4 sections: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. Taking a full-length test (maybe two at the max) should get you well prepared. The Kaplan CD for TOEFL preparation is very good.