GRE Words In Context: The Complete List: Test Prep Series
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Build a strong vocabulary and learn 1500 GRE words with the 2024 edition of GRE Words In Context: The Complete List!
GRE Words In Context: The Complete List 2024 edition brings you a structured and comprehensive list of 1500 vocabulary words handpicked by GRE experts. At the GRE level, you are expected to have a good grasp of tier 2 words with their meanings and correct usage in the correct context. This book will teach you all the important tier 2 words that you need to know — with context — and will give you a well-rounded learning experience.
What can you expect from this book?
- A structured practice with words arranged in alphabetical order
- Well-rounded learning with meanings, parts of speech, pronunciation, and usage
- Extensive information on the updated GRE
- 3 Word Lists arranged as per their difficulty levels
You can learn and memorize the meaning of each word and its pronunciation. The part of speech and 3 to 5 usages for each word will assist you in understanding the context in which the word can be used along with its position in the sentence (how can it be used as a noun or a verb, etc). To learn and retain the words more efficiently, you can also find expert tips and strategies inside the book.
See this book not as a dictionary but as an invaluable treasure of important vocabulary words that you need to know. Some unique ways in which you can learn the words are by writing them on flashcards, trying to form your own sentences and saying them aloud or writing them down and trying to find their etymology (origin).
Access a free stress management guide with this book to manage the stress of GRE preparation. In this stress management guide, you will also find well-constructed 8-week and 6-month study plans that you can directly use to streamline your test prep.
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Reviews for GRE Words In Context
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- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book is written and organized to help any individual who will be taking the GRE test. This book provides strategies, extensive list of vocabulary words, and multiple definition of each vocabulary word in context. The words are listed alphabetical and separated into three sections. Each vocabulary word lists its part of speech, phonetic pronunciation, definition, and is used in context including up to five sentences. This book proves that it takes more than a thesaurus to prep for this test. When taking the GRE exam you will find other books in this series very helpful.
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GRE Words In Context - Vibrant Publishers
GRE Words In Context: The Complete List
Test Prep Series
Vibrant Publishers
Published by Vibrant Publishers, 2023.
While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.
GRE WORDS IN CONTEXT: THE COMPLETE LIST
First edition. September 5, 2023.
Copyright © 2023 Vibrant Publishers.
ISBN: 978-1636512075
Written by Vibrant Publishers.
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GRE® Words In Context: The Complete List
Sixth Edition
© 2024, By Vibrant Publishers, USA. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the publisher.
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Overview of the GRE General Test
Word List 1
Chapter 2 Aberration – Banal
Chapter 3 Barrister – Conveyance
Chapter 4 Conviction – Drone
Chapter 5 Ecstasy – Gait
Chapter 6 Gale – Initiate
Chapter 7 Insightful – Monetary
Chapter 8 Mortician – Practicable
Chapter 9 Practical – Rivulet
Chapter 10 Robust – Terminate
Chapter 11 Theocracy – Zany
Word List 2
Chapter 12 Abbreviate - Behemoth
Chapter 13 Bereavement – Convene
Chapter 14 Convention – Dwindle
Chapter 15 Earthy – Galvanize
Chapter 16 Gambit – Innovation
Chapter 17 Inopportune – Monotheism
Chapter 18 Mores - Predicament
Chapter 19 Premise – Rig
Chapter 20 Roster – Temporize
Chapter 21 Tendentious – Zephyr
Challenging Word List
Chapter 22 Acclivity – Ballast
Chapter 23 Bandy – Colloquial
Chapter 24 Colloquy – Dulcet
Chapter 25 Ebb – Gadfly
Chapter 26 Gaffe – Indemnify
Chapter 27 Indiscriminate – Motley
Chapter 28 Mulct – Petrify
Chapter 29 Pharisaical – Requiem
Chapter 30 Requite – Tarry
Chapter 31 Tatty – Zeal
Dear Student,
Thank you for purchasing GRE® Words In Context: The Complete List. We are committed to publishing books that are content-rich, concise and approachable enabling more students to read and make the fullest use of them. We hope this book provides the most enriching learning experience as you prepare for your GRE exam.
Should you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to email us at [email protected]
Thanks again for your purchase. Good luck for your GRE!
– Vibrant Publishers Team
GRE Books in Test Prep Series
For the most updated list of books visit
www.vibrantpublishers.com
How to Get Most Out of this Book
What’s in this Book?
This book contains wordlists unlike any you have seen before. A traditional word list offers a vocabulary word, its dictionary definition, and a SINGLE use of the word in a sentence. That is simply not enough for a fully functional understanding of a word in all its complexities. Our Word List takes each vocabulary word through its paces, denoting its part of speech, synonyms for its various contexts, its descriptive meaning, and, most importantly, THREE (3) to FIVE (5) sentences using the word in its varied contexts. When appropriate, those varied contexts include both literal and figurative uses of the word.
The Logic Behind the Division of the 3 Word Lists
In this book, we have divided the Word Lists into three sections- Word List 1, Word List 2, and Challenging Word List. Each section includes 10 chapters with 500 words arranged in an alphabetical order throughout the section. It is important to remember that your goal is to be fully conversant in as many of these vocabulary words as possible. Why? You must not only recognize and comprehend the words when you encounter them in GRE test questions, but you must also utilize sophisticated vocabulary to express your own ideas in the Analytical Writing section of the test. It is to your advantage, therefore, to have as many high-level vocabulary words as possible at your disposal. This is especially difficult to do if your preparation time is limited.
The aim of such categorization, therefore, is to facilitate easy studying. Looking at 1,500 words arranged alphabetically from cover to cover can be an overwhelming experience. From a psychological viewpoint, progressing alphabet-by-alphabet (as though you are reading a dictionary) makes the study process seem long and tedious. That’s why we’ve grouped the words into three sets of alphabetical divisions to help you fast-track your learning.
Usually, words that begin with alphabets like ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘P’, and ‘S’, for example, have long lists (110+ words). On the opposite side of the spectrum are words that begin with ‘J’, ‘K’, ‘Q’ etc. These word lists will have over 10+ words on an average. If the 1,500 words were arranged alphabetically, a significant portion of time would be used up in working through ‘A’ itself. With 50 words per day, you would have been able to finish only 1 alphabet in a week.
Instead of progressing from words that start with ‘A’ to words that start with ‘B’ and so on until ‘Z’, you will be able to cover words from the whole alphabet in each section. You will be able to cover more than 5 alphabets in the first 5-7 days. In this way, your vocabulary will be enriched by a rich selection of words from across the alphabet. Finishing a series of 5 alphabets will boost your confidence and motivate you to continue your progress through the list.
Once you’ve made headway through Word List 1, you can proceed to Word List 2, and finally onto the Challenging Word List.
Challenging Word List: After you’ve mastered the first two lists, you’ve completed a significant portion of the material and you can move onto the next list. This list is comprised of words that are much more difficult than the words in the previous sections. Pay special attention to these words and keep aside more time to study them. Eventually, mastering the three Word Lists will refine your vocabulary and give an edge to your writing skills that will help you beyond the GRE.
WORD LIST DIVISIONS
How will our Word Lists Help You Prepare for the GRE?
Performing well on the GRE General Test, especially its Verbal Reasoning section, requires a strong working knowledge of the vocabulary that appears in the questions - how those words function both literally and figuratively, how their meanings vary based on context, and how (in many cases) they operate as more than one part of speech.
The following is an example of a question type the GRE refers to as Sentence Equivalence.
The test-taker is instructed to select two (2) answer choices that, when used to complete the sentence, fit the meaning of the sentence as a whole and produce complete sentences that are alike in meaning.
The angry delegates no longer debated the matter with equipoise, and the _____________ that ensued prevented any further rational or intelligent discourse.
a) finesse
b) pandemonium
c) pragmatist
d) appellation
e) maelstrom
f) liaison
To perform well on this test question, the test-taker must look beyond the more traditional use (i.e., dictionary definitions) of the vocabulary it contains. The dictionary definition of the word equipoise,
for instance, is not particularly helpful.
a: a state of equilibrium
b: counterbalance
Source: Equipoise.
Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 20 June 2014.
The state of equilibrium
here is not physical (e.g., a gymnast in equipoise
). Instead, the word is being applied figuratively to a debate or discussion in which the arguments are not in equilibrium - in other words, are not being discussed in an equal and fair manner. By combining the figurative use of equipoise
with the clues that the delegates are angry
and the debate is no longer rational
or intelligent,
one can conclude the discussion has broken down into mayhem or confusion. The two (2) correct answers signify such a situation. They are: pandemonium (wild chaos or disorder) and maelstrom (a violent whirlpool or, figuratively, a tumultuous situation).
Tips and Strategies for Learning the Vocabulary using the Word List
Activate what you already know.
We recommend progressing in sequence, starting from Word List 1, Word List 2, and then onto the Challenging Word List. Whichever list you’ve chosen to start out with, five hundred (500) words may seem like a great deal, but it is likely you already know a number of them, in one form or another. Begin by focusing on those you think you may know:
a) Review the example sentences. Is that how you use the word? If not, how is your use different?
b) If you are familiar with a word, check to see that its part of speech on the list is one with which you are familiar. For example, you may be familiar with the use of sham
as a noun (as in, The charity fundraiser was a sham.
), but you may be unfamiliar with its use as a verb (The used car salesman tried to sham us.
) If the word’s use as another part of speech is unfamiliar, familiarize yourself with that new use of the word.
c) Note whether the word can be used both literally and figuratively. For example, the word dilute
has both a literal use, as in thinning something by adding liquid (e.g., to dilute the chemicals by adding water), and a figurative use in which nothing physical occurs (e.g., to dilute the power of his argument by offering counterarguments). Adjust your understanding of the word to include both its literal and figurative meanings
d) Even if you do not know a particular word, can you connect the word with one that is familiar to you? For example, you may not know the word dulcet,
but you may be familiar with the Spanish word dulce,
which means sweet.
Increasingly, for instance, you can find dulce de leche
or sweet milk
ice cream or candies in the store, referring to a sweet caramel flavoring. You learn, from the Word List, that dulcet
means sweet, especially something that is sweet
or pleasing to the ear (e.g., the dulcet
tones of the violin). The connection is, therefore, an easy one!
e) Color-code the words with which you are familiar.
i) For example, you might highlight in yellow those words that you know outright, without making any adjustments to your understanding.
ii) Highlight in green those that are functioning as a different part of speech than what you are used to seeing.
iii) Highlight in blue those words with a literal or figurative use that is unfamiliar to you. Also highlight the example sentence(s) in which that use of the word appears.
iv) Highlight in pink those words that you do not know, but that you can connect to using related words.
Chunk
your learning of the remaining vocabulary.
After activating your prior knowledge and weeding out those words you already know or with which you have some familiarity, it’s time to focus on those words you don’t know. You can chunk
or group those words into manageable segments for learning.
a) One approach to chunking
is to group together words that perform as the same part of speech and look for patterns. For instance, words ending in ous,
such as amorphous,
chivalrous,
dexterous,
ominous,
and vacuous,
all function as adjectives.
b) Another approach to chunking
is to group words that primarily pertain to certain subject areas. For example, avalanche,
arid,
navigable,
and glacial
are primarily geographic terms, while cognitive,
debunk,
muse
and paradigm
are terms that relate to the act of thinking.
c) A final approach to chunking
might be personal to you: divide the words into groups based on how difficult or easy they are to you.
d) However you chunk
your words, you can then design a schedule for working with the words, taking on no more than 4-5 words at a time before moving on to another chunk.
Have fun with the words as you make them your own!
Never lose sight of your ultimate goal: to incorporate these words into your personal vocabulary. The Word List example sentences will give you a solid foundation for how the word is used - an excellent launching pad for using that word appropriately in your own world.
a) Enliven your family dinner conversations with words from the Word List. Doing so helps you, but also challenges your family and creates a vocabulary-rich
environment from which every family member can learn. You might even hold a contest to see if your family members can guess the vocabulary from the Word List you are adding to that night’s dinner conversation.
b) Challenge yourself to use a word (especially one that you are finding difficult to remember) at least three (3) times in a given day. You might incorporate it, for instance, into an email to a colleague, a conversation with your boss, and a text to your best friend. The more you use the word (appropriately), the more it becomes your own.
c) Make a note of the words from the Word List when you see them elsewhere. You will be pleasantly surprised at how often you encounter them in the reading you do on a daily basis. Whenever you do so, make a note of the word and its use. Doing so reinforces your understanding of the word and its applications.
d) Take every opportunity to practice. Keep your chunked
lists handy for any time you have a moment: while brushing your teeth in the morning, sitting in traffic, waiting for your daughter’s soccer game to start, or even standing in line in the grocery store. The greater exposure you have to the words and their uses, the more you will become comfortable with them and make them your own.
How Can Our Word Lists Help You Beyond the GRE?
The goal of entrance exams, like the GRE, is to anticipate the test-taker’s likelihood of success in the field into which they seek entry. Thus, the long view
of mastering sophisticated vocabulary is that doing so will not only help you prepare for the GRE, but will simultaneously prepare you for what lies ahead: comprehending, analyzing, and evaluating graduate-level materials and writing with the complexity and sophistication expected of a graduate-level student. To put it simply: a fully-functioning, high-level vocabulary is the key to success in your graduate experience.
Prepare for success NOW!
Chapter 1
Overview of the GRE General Test
The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test, while previously required for admission to most graduate programs, is now part of a larger picture. A strong GRE score can provide evidence of a strong scholarship on an application. This book is designed to prepare students for the GRE General Test. The GRE revised General Test was renamed in 2016 and is now known as the GRE General Test, but the content and scoring of the test remain the same. Note that some graduate programs require applicants to take specialized GRE Subject Tests which will not be covered in this book. Before preparing to take the GRE, please review the admissions criteria for the programs that you are interested in applying to so that you know whether you need to take subject tests in addition to the GRE General Test. To learn more about subject tests, visit the Subject Tests section at ets.org.
The GRE General Test is not designed to measure your knowledge of specific fields. It does not measure your ability to be successful in your career or even in school. It does, however, give a reasonably accurate indication of your capabilities in certain key areas for graduate-level work, such as your ability to understand complex written material, your understanding of basic mathematics, your ability to interpret data, and your capacity for reasoning and critical thinking. By using this book to prepare for the GRE General Test, you will not only improve your chances of scoring well on the test, you will also prepare yourself for graduate-level study.
Format of the GRE General Test
The GRE General Test is offered as a computer-delivered test throughout the year. Post-Covid, ETS provides test-takers with the option to take the test from home.
Whether you are taking the GRE General Test at the testing center or at home, the format of the test will essentially be the same. The test consists of three main components: Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. The total time for the test will be about 1 hour 58 minutes.
The first section of the test is always the Analytical Writing component which comprises a single section, after the changes in the test format announced on May 31, 2023. In the section, you will be asked to write an argumentative essay that takes a position on an issue of general interest.
The remainder of the test will be split between sections devoted to Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning. There will be two sections devoted to Verbal Reasoning, and another two devoted to Quantitative Reasoning. You will be given 41 minutes to complete both the sections of Verbal Reasoning and 47 minutes to complete both the sections of Quantitative Reasoning. Section 2 (12 questions, 18 minutes) and Section 4 (15 questions, 23 minutes) will be on Verbal Reasoning, and Section 3 (12 questions, 21 minutes) and Section 5 (15 questions, 26 minutes) will be on Quantitative Reasoning. The unscored section has also been removed for the shorter GRE General Test, along with the 10-minute scheduled break, which was granted to the students after the 2-hour mark of the 3-hour 45-minute test.
Outline of the GRE General Test
The Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections of the GRE General Test are section-level adaptive. This means that the computer will adapt the test to your performance. Since there are two sections each for Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning, the difficulty of the second section will depend on how well you did in the first section. The overall format of the GRE General Test will be as follows:
Note that the GRE General Test at home follows the same format as the computer-delivered version of the GRE General Test.
While taking the GRE General Test, here are some things to remember:
a)You can review and preview questions within a section, allowing you to budget your time to deal with the questions that you find most difficult.
b)You will be able to mark questions within a section and return to them later. This means that if you find a question especially difficult, you will be able to move on to other questions and return to the one that you had trouble with, provided that you stay within the time limit for the section.
c)You will be able to change or edit your answers within a section. This means that if you realize that you made a mistake, you can go back and correct yourself provided you stay within the time limit for the section.
d)You will have an on-screen calculator during the Quantitative Reasoning portions of the test, allowing you to quickly complete any necessary computations.
The following section will briefly introduce the three main components of the GRE General Test.
Analytical Writing Assessment
The first section of the GRE General Test is the Analytical Writing assessment. This component of the GRE is designed to test your ability to use basic logic and critical reasoning to make and assess arguments. The Analytical Writing assessment comprises of a singular assignment, which must be completed within 30 minutes. In the assignment, you will be asked to develop a position on an issue of general interest. You will be given an issue and a prompt with some specific instructions on how to approach the assigned issue. You will be expected to take a position on the issue and then write a clear, persuasive, and logically sound essay defending your position in correct English. You will be assessed based on your ability to effectively defend your positions with supporting evidence and valid reasoning, your skill in organizing your thoughts, and your command of English.
The Analytical Writing assessment tests your ability to:
●Coherently develop complex ideas
●Write in a focused, organized manner
●Identify relevant evidence and use it to support your claims
●Command the elements of standard written English
Verbal Reasoning
The Verbal Reasoning portion of the GRE assesses your reading comprehension, your ability to draw inferences to fill in missing information, and your vocabulary. You will be given two sections on Verbal Reasoning, consisting of 12 and 15 questions and lasting 18 and 23 minutes respectively. Verbal Reasoning questions on the GRE General Test are mostly multiple-choice and will be drawn from the following three types: Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence. Reading Comprehension questions will ask you to read a short passage several paragraphs long, and then answer questions about the passage. Text Completion questions will have a short passage with 1-3 blanks which you will need to fill in by choosing the best of several multiple-choice options. The Sentence Equivalence section will ask you to fill in the blank in a passage using the two words that will complete the sentence in such a way that the meaning will be as similar as possible.
The Verbal Reasoning section measures your ability to:
●Comprehend, interpret and analyze complex passages in standard written English
●Apply sophisticated vocabulary in context
●Draw inferences about the meaning and authorial intent based on written material
Quantitative Reasoning
The Quantitative Reasoning section of the GRE evaluates your ability to use basic mathematics, read and interpret graphs and figures and engage in basic reasoning involving math and numbers. You will be given two sections on Quantitative Reasoning with 12 and 15 questions and 21 and 26 minutes of allotted time for them respectively. There are two basic question types, multiple-choice and numerical entry. For multiple-choice questions, you will be asked to choose the best answer or answers from several possibilities; for numerical entry questions, you will be asked to enter a numerical answer from your own calculations. Some questions will be designed to test your knowledge of basic algebra and geometry; others will be designed to test your ability to read and interpret different presentations of data.
The Quantitative Reasoning section tests your ability to:
●Use mathematical tools such as basic arithmetic, geometry, algebra and statistics
●Understand, interpret and analyze quantitative information
●Apply basic mathematical and data interpretation skills to real-world information and problems
On-screen Calculator
The on-screen calculator in the GRE is a handy tool for you to make computations faster. However, you should only use the calculator for complex equations that will take a longer time to do manually such as square roots, addition, subtraction, and multiplication of numbers with several digits.
Guidelines for using the on-screen calculator
● The on-screen calculator follows the order of operations (PEMDAS). This means that it computes equations in the following order - parentheses, exponentiation (including square roots), multiplication and division (left to right), addition and subtraction (left to right). So, for an equation like 2 + 3 * 6, the on-screen calculator will give the answer 20 but some calculators will give the answer 30 as they first add 2 and 3 and get 5 which is multiplied by 6 to get the final answer 30.
● The Transfer Display button will be useful for Numeric Entry questions. The button will transfer the number on your calculator display to the numeric entry answer box. But remember to check the transferred answer as sometimes you may be required to round up your answer; adjust it accordingly.
● The Memory Recall (MR), Memory Clear (MC), and Memory Sum (M+) buttons work as per normal calculators.
Registering for the GRE
Before you register to take the GRE, be sure to consider your schedule and any special accommodations that you may need. Be aware that the availability of testing dates may vary according to your location. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to prepare for the GRE and be sure that you know the deadlines for score reporting and application deadlines for all the schools you are applying to. For general information about deadlines and the GRE, visit the GRE section at ets.org. For more information on how to register for the GRE, visit the Registration section at ets.org. For information on special accommodations for disabled students, visit the Disability Accommodations section on ets.org.
If you are taking the GRE General Test at home, there are certain equipment, environment, and testing space requirements that you need to fulfill before you can start the registration process. For more information on these requirements, read the At Home Testing section on ets.org.
How the GRE General Test is Scored
Scoring for the Analytical Writing Section
In the Analytical Writing section, you will be scored on a scale of 0-6 in increments of 0.5. The Analytical Writing measure emphasizes your ability to engage in reasoning and critical thinking over your facility with the finer points of grammar. The highest scores of 5.5-6.0 are given to work that is generally superior in every respect - sustained analysis of complex issues, coherent argumentation, and excellent command of the English language. The lowest scores of 0.0-0.5 are given to work that is completely off-topic or so poorly composed as to be incoherent.
Scoring for the Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning Sections
The Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning sections are now scored on a scale of 130-170 in 1-point increments.
General Strategies for Taking the GRE
There are strategies you can apply that will greatly increase your odds of performing well on the GRE. The following is a list of strategies that will help to improve your chances of performing well on the GRE:
●Review basic concepts in math, logic, and writing.
●Work through the test-taking strategies offered in this book.
●Work through mock GRE tests until you feel thoroughly comfortable with the types of questions you will see.
●As you are studying for the GRE, focus your energy on the types of questions that give you the most difficulty.
●Learn to guess wisely. For many of the questions in the Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning Sections, the correct answer is in front of you - you only need to correctly identify it. Especially for questions that you find difficult, you should hone your ability to dismiss the options that are clearly wrong and make an educated guess about which one is right.
●Answer every question. You won’t lose any points for choosing the wrong answer, so even a wild guess that might or might not be right is better than no answer at all.
Preparing for Test Day and Taking the GRE
How you prepare for the test is completely up to you and will depend on your own test-taking preferences and the amount of time you can devote to studying for the test. At the very least, before you take the test, you should know the basics of what is covered on the test along with the general guidelines for taking the GRE. This book is designed to provide you with the basic information you need and give you the opportunity to prepare thoroughly for the GRE General Test.
Although there is no set way to prepare for the GRE, as a general rule you will want to:
●Learn the basics about the test - what is being tested, the format, and how the test is administered.
●Familiarize yourself with the specific types of questions that you will see on the GRE General Test.
●Review skills such as basic math, reading comprehension, and writing.
●Learn about test-taking strategies.
●Take a mock GRE test to practice applying your test-taking skills to an actual test.
Remember, you don’t need to spend an equal amount of time on each of these areas to do well on the GRE - allot your study time to your own needs and preferences. Following are some suggestions to help you make the final preparations for your test, and help you through the test itself.
Preparing for Test Day
●In the time leading up to your test, practice, then practice some more. Practice until you are confident with the material.
●Know when your test is, and when you need to be at the testing center or in front of your computer at home.
●Make a practice run
to your testing center, so that you can anticipate how much time you will need to allow to get there. For the at home test, make sure to sign in at least 15 minutes before the test.
●Understand the timing and guidelines for the test and plan accordingly. Remember that you are not allowed to eat or drink while taking the GRE, although you will be allowed to snack or drink during some of the short breaks during testing. Plan accordingly.
●Know exactly what documentation you will need to bring with you to the testing center. If you are testing at home, you will have to provide a valid government-issued identification document as well.
●Relax, especially on the day or night before your test. If you have studied and practiced wisely, you will be well prepared for the test. You may want to briefly glance over some test preparation materials but cramming the night before will not be productive.
●Eat well and get a good night’s sleep. You will want to be well-rested for the test.
The Test Day
●Wake up early to give yourself plenty of time to eat a healthy breakfast, gather the necessary documentation, pack a snack and a water bottle, and make it to the testing center well before your test is scheduled to start.
●Have confidence; you’ve prepared well for the test, and there won’t be any big surprises. You may not know the answers to some questions, but the format will be exactly like what you’ve been practicing.
●While you are taking the test, don’t panic. The test is timed, and students often worry that they will run out of time and miss too many questions. The sections of the test are designed so that many students will not finish them, so don’t worry if you don’t think you can finish a section on time. Just try to answer as many questions as you can, as accurately as possible.
●If there’s a question you’re not sure of, don’t panic—the GRE test allows you to skip and return to questions when you are ready, so take advantage of that. Remember, the value of each easy question is the same as the hard questions!
●Remember the strategies and techniques that you learn from this book and apply them wherever possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
What changes have been made to the GRE General Test post Covid-19?
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, test-takers are now able to take the GRE General Test at home. Content and scoring have remained the same. Study materials that reference the GRE General Test are still valid and may be used for test preparation.
What changes have been made to the GRE General Test after the announcement on May 31, 2023?
The main changes to the test are a reduction in the time (from 3 hours 45 minutes to 1 hour 58 minutes), and the removal of the Analyze an Argument
essay task (which was a part of the Analytical Writing section) and the unscored section. The time has been curtailed by decreasing the number of questions in each section from 40 to 27. Furthermore, the removal of the Analyze an Argument
task and the unscored section also aided in shortening the total duration. The official scores will also be delivered more promptly and will now take 8-10 calendar days, facilitating faster applications to the selected institutes by the students. For more information on the changes, visit the GRE section at ets.org.
Can I take the GRE test at home?
Yes. ETS now provides students with the option to take the test from home. If your local test centers are closed or you prefer a familiar testing environment, you can take the GRE from home. You will have to check the equipment, environment, and testing space requirements for the at home test and whether it’s an option for you. For detailed information on the requirements for the home test, check the At Home Testing section at ets.org.
Are there any changes in the format and content of the GRE test due to COVID-19?
No. The format and content of the GRE General Test remain the same.
How do I get ready to take the GRE General Test?
To take the GRE General Test, there are several steps you’ll need to take:
●Find out what prospective graduate/professional programs require: Does the program you’re interested in require additional testing beyond the GRE General Test? What is the deadline for receipt of scores?
●Sign up for a test date. You need to sign up for any GRE testing. Act in a timely manner so that you have plenty of time to prepare and are guaranteed that your scores will be sent and received on time. For the in-center test, testing dates are much more restricted, so if you know that you will need to take the GRE General Test at the center, make arrangements well in advance of the application deadline for your program. There are additional requirements if you’re taking the test at home, so make sure to check the requirements well in advance.
●Use resources provided by ETS and Vibrant Publishers to familiarize yourself with the format of the GRE and the types of questions you will face. Even if you are confident about taking the test, it is essential to prepare for the test.
Does the GRE General Test measure my proficiency in specific subject areas?
No. The GRE General Test is designed to measure general proficiency in reading, critical reasoning, and working with data, all abilities that are critical to graduate work. However, you won’t be tested on your knowledge of any specific field.
Where can I get additional information on the GRE General Test?
Educational Testing Service (ETS), the organization that administers the GRE, has an informative website entirely devoted to information about the test at the GRE section at ets.org. There, you can find links that further explain how to sign up for testing, fees, score reporting and much more.
Preparing for the Test
How should I prepare for the test?
The first thing you should do is thoroughly familiarize yourself with the format of the GRE General Test. Read about each section of the test, how many questions are there per section, and the required format for answers. You can find general information about the structure of the test earlier in this chapter.
How do I prepare for the questions I will be asked on the GRE General Test?
There are plenty of resources by Vibrant Publishers, including this book to help you prepare for the questions you will face on the GRE General Test. A list of books is provided at the beginning of this book. For the most updated list, you may visit the Test Prep Series section on www.vibrantpublishers.com.
How much should I study/practice for the GRE?
Study and practice until you feel comfortable with the test. Practice, practice, and practice some more until you feel confident about test day!
Are there additional materials I can use to get even more practice?
Yes. ETS offers a free full-length practice test that can be downloaded from the GRE section at ets.org. Also, after you have signed up for testing through ETS, you are eligible for some further test preparation materials free of additional charge.
Test Content
How long is the GRE General Test?
The overall testing time is about 1 hour and 58 minutes.
What skills does the GRE test?
In general, the GRE is designed to test your proficiency in certain key skills that you will need for graduate-level study. More specifically:
●The Analytical Writing section tests your ability to write about complex ideas in a coherent, focused fashion as well as your ability to command the conventions of standard written English, provide and evaluate relevant evidence, and critique other points of view.
●The Verbal Reasoning section is an assessment of your ability to understand, interpret and analyze complex passages, use reasoning to draw inferences about written material, and use sophisticated vocabulary in context.
●The Quantitative Reasoning section is an assessment of basic, high school-level mathematical skills and knowledge, as well as your ability to analyze and interpret data.
What level of math is required for the Quantitative Reasoning section?
You will be expected to know high school-level math: arithmetic, and basic concepts in algebra and geometry. You will also be expected to be able to analyze and interpret data presented in tables and graphs.
Scoring and Score Reporting
How are the sections of the GRE General Test scored?
The GRE General Test is scored as follows:
●The scores of the Verbal Reasoning section are done in 1-point increments on a scale of 130-170.
●The scores of the Quantitative Reasoning section are done in 1-point increments on a scale of 130-170.
●The scores of the Analytical Writing section are done in increments of 0.5 on a scale of 0-6.
When will my score be reported?
It depends on when you decide to take the GRE General Test. In general, scores for the test are reported in 8-10 days. You can find your scores in your official ETS account. An email notification from ETS is sent when the test scores are made available. ETS will also send an official Institution Score Report to the institutions you’ve chosen to send the test scores to.
Check the GRE section at ets.org for updates on score reporting and deadlines.
How long will my scores be valid?
Your score for the GRE General Test will remain valid for five years.
Other Questions
Do business schools accept the GRE instead of the GMAT?
An increasing number of business schools accept the GRE as a substitute for the more standard test for admission to an MBA program, the GMAT. Before you decide to take the GRE instead of the GMAT, make sure that the programs you are interested in applying to will accept the GRE. You can find a list of business schools that currently accept the GRE in the GRE section at ets.org.
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