Conquer the GRE General Exam

How to Study Effectively for the GRE General Test

Taking the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test is a quintessential part of the graduate school application process. The GRE General Tests measures skills in verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and critical thinking and analytical writing skills.

Some graduate programs require both the GRE General and Subjects tests, such as the GRE Psychology, which assess the specialized academic knowledge that you've learned through your studies in college. Be sure to check the individual requirements for each graduate program that you apply to. To not have required GRE scores is pretty much on par with application-to-grad-school suicide.

Studying for the GRE is a rite of passage that every prospective graduate student must endure. But some students have no idea where to start. What are the best GRE review guides to follow to brush up on basic skills that grad programs are looking for?

1. ETS GRE: Practicing To Take the GRE General Test (10th edition)

This book is actually published by the Educational Testing Service, the institution that administers the GRE General Test. One might think that this guide would offer the best advice for GRE preparation, but read on....

2. Princeton Review's Cracking the GRE 2010 Edition

Surprisingly, this review guide actually gets slightly better customer ratings than the ETS version. Apparently, it includes tons of practice questions in the book, exclusive free access to 2 practice tests, and expert advice online.

3. Kaplan GRE Exam Vocabulary in a Box

These targeted products come in handy if you already know where your weaknesses lie, and say, for example, that you know that you need to brush up on vocabulary. There are over 500 handy flashcards that you can use to review GRE vocabulary. There is also a GRE Exam Vocabulary Workbook if you prefer that format over flashcards.

4. Kaplan GRE Exam Math Workbook

Similar to the Vocabulary in a Box, this workbook is a great idea if you already know that math is your weakness. There's lots of review of core math concepts, detailed answer explanations, and strategies to solving different types of math problems. Basically, this guide will cover everything that you may have forgotten since your last college-level mathematics course.

BONUS for those who are interested in interactive GRE software:

5. Barron's GRE with CD-ROM

Barron includes a full-length book that has two full-length practice exams with all questions answered and explained. As a bonus, it also includes two full-length computer-adaptive tests on the CD-ROM. Why is this a good idea? The GRE General exam is almost always administered via computer. What better way to study than using the actual computerized format that you will face during actual GRE test administration?

Decide how you study best - and then pick the GRE preparation book that works best for you and your particular goals.

Understanding Average GRE Scores - What You Need to Know

Average GRE scores are some where between 55 percentiles to seventy percentile. Securing higher marks in the Graduates records examination, GRE more than the average ensure you seats on complete merit. Normally it is through the Research assistantship programs and teaching assistantships and fellow ships through which you gain money for you academic expenses. These are awarded for higher GRE scorers.

This is essentially done in order to meet out the fees requirement and boarding and lodging expenses in the university campuses while you opt for post graduation studies. Anything below this mark of average GRE scores cannot be treated as a worthy record despite have your pass percentile. But it is actually pretty tough to secure even this average GRE scores as well.

The complexity of the questionnaire in the GRE exams are of tedious nature to solve and needs adequate skills and expertise. Sheer practice can improvise you to hone your skills to fine levels to secure these average GRE scores. If you have obtained anything more than this mark then you are genuinely smart enough to be a gifted personality.

The benefits of securing the GRE scores or above than that assure you a seat in the universities of United States of America easier. The score of GRE are considered to be as mandatory for evaluation of the candidate potential. Some of the universities do insist on both TOEFL and GRE as mandatory along with the academic credentials earned by the candidate otherwise.

Financial aid for the students is considered with respect to the marks secured by the students in the GRE and TOEFL. If you have higher scores you get more aid to manage your fees. There are students who get more aid than the requirement to manage their additional expenses until they pursue their master degrees.