General GRE Prep

Topic outline

• General

  Collapse all Expand all

  General GRE Prep Course
  

  ---

  • This Moodle site is a self-paced course that lets you prepare for the General GRE via a series of homework exercises, readings and practice exams. The materials were created and selected by Walter Smith and Suzanne Amador Kane (Haverford Physics).
    
  • 

    Announcements Forum

• Topic 1

  Daily Assignments (plan on spending 25 days on this prep course, then taking the real test)

  You do not need to be on campus to participate!
  

  • Dear Haverford students,

    If you're even thinking about applying to grad school, you should consider taking the General GRE (like a somewhat advanced version of the SAT). This test is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), the same organization that administers the SAT. The General GRE is a standardized test required for PhD programs, not professional programs like business, law or med school--be sure to find out which standardized tests your plans might require!
    
    These exams are peculiar. It's been a long time since you've taken a standardized test. Everyone agrees you need to study for them separately from your regular coursework. (Just go on Google to see how many students at all different types of colleges and universities do this.)
    
    The smart money is on using this free study course to prepare in advance for these exams. We've created this course for Haverford students. Many of our seniors have used it and we've tracked their scores on the practice exams and the actual exam itself. Students who do this entire course typically get dramatic improvements in their GRE scores! We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to boost your chances for grad school and even some fellowship programs.

    GRE scores are valid for 5 years, so you can take the exam during your junior or senior year, or of course later, and still use the score to apply to graduate schools.

    We recommend that you do this course starting at the latest in the summer of the year before you apply to graduate school, so that when the academic year starts you can concentrate on your courses. If that's not possible, then plan out 25 days of studying, at the rate of about 45 minutes per day.
    
    Another idea: think about finding a friend or three and forming a General GRE study group! That way you can hang together, compare notes, commiserate, hold GRE prep parties and carpool to the exam.
    
    Together, we will get you to your best General GRE performance!
    
    Suzanne Amador Kane & Walter Smith
    Haverford Physics Department
    

  • OK, now to get started on your prep for the general GRE. Follow our day by day schedule below, trying to spread out the work so you absorb this all gradually. As you know by now, that's far more effective than last-minute cramming!
    
  • 

    Day 1: Assignment
  • 

    First Letter File
  • 

    Day 2: Assignment
  • 

    Day 3: Assignment
  • 

    Day 4: Assignment
  • 

    Day 5: Assignment
  • 

    Day 6: Assignment
  • 

    Day 7: Assignment
  • 

    Days 8, 9, 10, 11: Assignment
  • 

    Day 12: Assignment
  • 

    Days 13-14: Assignment
  • 

    Days 15-21: Assignment
  • 

    Days 22-24: Assignment

• Topic 2
  Useful General GRE Info
  

  • 

    General Information & Advice Page
  • 

    Understanding your General GRE scores Page
  • 

    Advice for Exam Day Page
  • 

    How to be more confident taking exams Page
  • 

    Problem-Solving Advice & Strategies File
  • 

    Why Worry? NY Times Magazine File
  • Fee reduction voucher: Save $$$! If you qualify for undergraduate financial aid, apply for the GRE fee reduction voucher before taking the test. This same fee waiver can be used to waive graduate school application fees at many universities.

• Topic 4

  Princeton Review Guide errors

  • 

    Princeton Review Guide for General GRE Errors (Thanks to Emma Oxford) Page

• Topic 5