Mr. Vũ Hiệp is currently an instructor responsible for teaching SAT/GRE at Clever Academy. Mr. Hiệp graduated with distinction from Tufts University (#29 NU) with a degree in Chemical Engineering, with notable achievements including SAT 2310/2400, GRE 325/340 (156 Verbal, 169 Quant, 4.5/6 Analytical Writing). Let's explore the GRE exam with Mr. Hiệp!
What is GRE?
GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is a standardized test used for graduate admissions (Masters, Ph.D) at universities in the United States. Simply put, GRE serves a similar function to the SAT for undergraduate level. However, it is important to emphasize that GRE is almost entirely computer-based, while SAT is a paper-based test, and the structure, target audience, and evaluated skills of the two tests have many relatively distinct differences.
Like SAT, GRE has two test formats: General GRE and GRE Subject Test. General GRE is a general test that assesses a combination of language and mathematical skills in general, without focusing on any specific field. GRE Subject Test is a specialized test that focuses on one of 6 subjects (mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, psychology, literature), aimed at assessing depth of knowledge and skills in a specific field.
GRE and GMAT are two main tests used for graduate admissions; however, GMAT is designed for business schools and economics-related programs, while GRE is used for most other fields (STEM, social sciences, education,...). GMAT emphasizes grammar and mathematics, while GRE emphasizes analytical and reasoning skills. However, recently, some business schools and law schools in the United States have allowed GRE to be submitted instead of GMAT. Most universities in the US require GRE, but for top-tier schools, submitting GRE scores is mandatory. Therefore, you need to allocate sufficient time for preparation to achieve good results on the exam.
GRE Test Structure
A GRE exam has 3 main sections: analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning.
- Analytical Writing: assesses the ability to analyze issues and express personal perspective in writing. This section has 2 tasks; task 1 is analyzing an issue, and the other task is analyzing an argument. In task 1, the prompt presents an issue related to education, culture, history, etc., and requires you to comment, provide evidence and examples. Task 2 presents an argument in the form of a short passage and requires you to analyze the flaws in the argument (fallacies, logical reasoning, missing evidence, etc.). Each task lasts 30 minutes with a score range of 0-6. The analytical writing score is the average of both tasks.
- Verbal Reasoning: assesses reading comprehension skills. This section has 2 sections, consisting mainly of text completion questions and academically rigorous passages. Therefore, to perform well in this section, you need a rich and diverse vocabulary, as well as strong analytical and information evaluation skills. Each section has 20 questions, completed in 30 minutes, with 1 point for each correct answer and no points deducted for wrong answers. Total section is scored on a scale of 130-170.
- Quantitative Reasoning: assesses basic mathematical skills. This section has 2 sections, including basic formulas for algebra, geometry, probability, statistics, etc. However, the test questions often contain tricky traps, so you need to read the questions carefully. Each section has 35 questions completed in 20 minutes. 1 point for each correct answer with no points deducted for wrong answers. Total section is scored on a scale of 130-170.
- Additionally, the exam will include an experimental section, which may be verbal or quantitative. This section appears randomly and is not counted toward your actual score. However, you won't know which section is experimental, so you must do your best from start to finish.
Test Preparation
- Test fee: $205. You need to register through ETS (https://www.ets.org/gre). Payment via Visa/Mastercard.
- Remember to bring valid ID when taking the test (valid passport, driver's license, etc.)
- Test frequency: Every 21 days, maximum 5 times in one consecutive year (valid even if you have cancelled scores from a previous test).
- For computer-based tests, you will receive Verbal and Quant scores immediately after the exam. Analytical Writing scores will be available after approximately 1-2 weeks (as they need to be graded).
Experience with GRE Preparation Process
- Allocate sufficient time for thorough preparation. The ideal time for GRE preparation is 2 months (not too rushed, which can cause stress and lower scores, nor too long, which can be distracting). During this time, approximately 1 month is spent learning new vocabulary and doing reading comprehension, 2-3 weeks preparing for the essay section, and remaining time on math. If you work while studying, preparation time can extend up to 3 months.
- After registering for the test, create a detailed study plan. A specific plan (what to study each day, what to review, which tasks to complete) will give you clear direction and prevent distraction. Once you have a concrete study schedule, preparation becomes much easier, like a daily to-do list for eating, laundry, etc.
- The number of GRE practice tests is very limited, with far fewer materials compared to SAT. Even on ETS's official website, after registering, test-takers only get 2 free POWERPREP practice tests. Therefore, study thoroughly and save those practice tests for near the end, after you've mastered the test structure and solving techniques, to avoid wasting valuable tests.
- Self-study is essential, so you must be very serious with yourself.
- Dedicate time to learning new vocabulary multiple times daily (those who have taken the old SAT will understand this struggle). For example, learn 10 words in the morning, review those 10 and learn 10 new ones in the afternoon, review all 20 and learn 20 new ones in the evening. The next day, review those in the morning and afternoon while learning new words. Learning vocabulary this way, like "rolling" through the material, increases exposure and improves retention. Generally, learning around 40 new words per day is fine (after 2 months you'll have around 2,500 words, enough to avoid panic on test day). Avoid cramming 1,000 new words in one week before the exam. Learning vocabulary is a process that requires time for your brain to memorize and recall correctly.
- While learning vocabulary, I used Quizlet (available on both PC and mobile). Whenever you have free time, open your phone and learn a few words, repeating them. I personally find Quizlet has a very user-friendly interface and easy interaction using flashcards. I mainly learn vocabulary through flashcards, so Quizlet is very useful, rather than having to write out individual sheets of paper. However, Quizlet also has a disadvantage in that inputting words into flashcards takes quite a bit of time, so if you can get a vocabulary list from others (who also use Quizlet), learning will be much easier.
Experience Preparing for Each Section of the GRE Exam
– Math Section: As mentioned above, the knowledge used in the math section is not difficult at all; however, the test questions contain very tricky traps. Therefore, you don't need to spend excessive time studying (1 to 1.5 weeks is enough). When doing the questions, read the questions very carefully to avoid confusion.
– Reading Comprehension Section: This is the most important part of the GRE exam, consisting mainly of text completion and reading comprehension. Therefore, vocabulary study is of utmost importance.
- Vocabulary:
– This is a nightmare for many SAT and GRE test-takers. Having a rich vocabulary provides an enormous advantage in reading comprehension. But the eternal question is: How do you study new words effectively?
– My answer is always: it takes time. Vocabulary learning is always the most time-consuming task and is limited by short-term memory (which is already limited), so you need to start learning early and plan exactly how many words to learn per day.
– After creating a specific plan, remember these 3 principles. First is "lessen the load & increase exposure". Divide your daily vocabulary list into multiple small sections, for example learn 10 words in the morning, 10 new words and review 10 old words in the afternoon, learn 10 words and review 20 old words in the evening, instead of cramming all 30 words in one evening session. At the same time, continuously review and reinforce learned words after 24 hours, 48 hours, and 1 week. This helps: 1/ reduce memory load at any given moment, and 2/ increase brain exposure and contact with new words. Learning vocabulary this "rolling" way helps the brain accept new information more easily and improves information retention. Generally, learning around 40 new words per day is fine (after 2 months you'll have around 2,500 words).
– The second principle to remember is "higher frequency words come first". Among the countless GRE vocabulary words, some have a high chance of appearing on the test (high frequency, must-know words that are likely to appear on the test), while others have lower percentages. Therefore, you should prioritize learning high frequency words first, then learn less common words if you have time. For the list of words with high appearance percentages, I will explain in detail in a future post.
– The final principle when learning vocabulary is "work smarter, not harder". Instead of just learning a word and its meaning, find ways of studying that interest you more. For example, learn prefixes/suffixes and use them to guess word meanings. Or link a word with a vivid image (image linking), or group words into an absurd but funny story. Or you can visit mnemicdictionary.com to see suggestions from other users.
- Reading Comprehension:
– Just like reading comprehension in the SAT exam, the most important thing in GRE is that you must grasp the main argument that the author wants to convey.
– Formula: Main argument = the subject + so what?
– For any passage, you must understand two basic things: 1/ what topic the author is writing about, 2/ why the author wants to write about that topic; from that you can infer the main argument. After grasping the main argument, write it down as a note so you never lose direction. Understanding the main argument helps you avoid answer choices that contradict the author's reasoning. After all, GRE Verbal is a test of reasoning, so clearly understanding the key point of the passage is paramount.
– Additionally, take time to redo good books like the Official Guide for GRE General until you feel confident and can explain your answer choices.
Experience Before and During the Exam
- 1-2 Days Before the Exam:
– While the preparation process is very important, taking time to relax and prepare mentally for the upcoming exam is equally important. Therefore, 1-2 days before the exam, set your books aside and dedicate this time to resting, relaxing, and preparing mentally to enter the exam in the best condition. As I mentioned in previous sections, preparation is a process, so studying until the last minute won't help much either. Use this time to de-stress and recharge yourself.
– On the day before the official exam, take time to verify that your personal information is correct and that you have all required documents (mainly a valid ID with a photo). Double-check critical information like name, date of birth, exam time and location, then take a photo with your phone. If you're driving to the test center, check Google Maps for directions and take photos if necessary. If you're bringing your passport or driver's license, keep them safe and check if they're still valid.
– The evening before the exam, remember to eat well and don't eat anything unusual (to avoid stomach problems). Also remember to fully charge your phone, and double-check that you've packed all relevant materials in your backpack. Set your alarm (in case you don't wake up on time), and set multiple alarms as backup in case you oversleep.
- Morning of the Exam:
– If you're testing in the morning, try to wake up early and eat a full meal. You can bring some water and snacks (however, you cannot bring these into the testing room, only use them during breaks between sections). Taking the exam on an empty stomach is very risky. Besides making you lack focus (because of hunger), there are other health risks (like fainting from low blood sugar).
– Plan to leave about 1 hour before exam time (regardless of distance). Arriving early will calm your nerves, reducing pre-exam panic. If you arrive early, you can also start early if you wish, and finish early, since GRE is mainly computer-based (one computer per person, so you don't have to start at the same time).
– Use the restroom thoroughly before the exam and limit water intake. The last thing you want during a test is the urge to use the restroom. While testing, dedicate 100% of your mind to the exam. For any GRE exam, the essay section always appears first; so if you do the essay section well, you'll be motivated for the following sections with better peace of mind.
- During the Exam:
– If a question takes too much time to answer (over 2 to 3 minutes), skip it immediately and move to the next question; if you have time remaining, come back to it. Each question, whether hard or easy, is worth only 1 point. Therefore, focus on easier questions first, then tackle medium/difficult ones if time permits. Easy questions usually involve a phrase or small detail in the passage, while difficult questions usually focus on the big picture.
– In case you're running out of time (only 1 minute left), try to fill in answers for all remaining blanks (random guessing is fine). If you don't answer, you'll definitely lose points on that question, but if you answer (even if guessing), you still have a 25% chance. However, only do this when time is almost up; if you still have time, try your best.
General Rule: educated guess by elimination >> random guess > blank answer.
– Once you finish a section, you cannot return to it. Therefore, after completing any section, take 10 seconds to calm yourself and remind yourself not to think about the completed section anymore, as overthinking won't change the results. Dedicate all your attention to the next section, and continue this way through the entire exam.
See detailed information about GRE test prep course at Clever Academy using exclusive curriculum from Kaplan.
Learn more about teacher Vũ Văn Hiệp – GRE/SAT instructor at Clever Academy.