HOW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS CAN PREPARE FOR THE GRE
As a citizen of Kuwait, you are considered an international student; however, this doesn’t prohibit you from studying at an American University. If you want to get a graduate degree, your first step is to take the Graduate Record Examination, also known as the GRE. This standardized test is one of the most popular examinations for students. A good GRE score will assist you in gaining entrance into a graduate program of your choice.
A High GRE score will catapult you ahead of the competition when it comes to applying to graduate schools. To take the GRE test in Kuwait, contact one of the test centres, and they will provide you with the necessary information to book the test.
The exam is divided into three sections, a verbal section comprised of 30 questions, a quantitative section with 28 questions, and an analytical writing section.
Familiarize yourself with the layout prior to the test. The examination is timed, and the more time you spend on the directions, the less time you will have for the exam.
There are several different question formats for each section of the test, if you are familiar with them, you will easily be able to decipher the question type in order to accurately prepare your answer.
There are several practice tests that you can take online; this will assist you in becoming acquainted with the computerized test format. There are also a range of GRE study guides to help you get plugged into the question formats.
In order to score well in the exam, you are going to have to spend time studying. Here is some information that will assist you in preparing for the test.
Verbal :
The verbal section is made up of 30 questions, which are divided into analogy, reading comprehension, sentence completion, analogy and antonym. Memorize the list of GRE words that are commonly used in the test, you will find the list in study guides, or online.
The style and logic of the sentence completion questions are formulated in a unique way, become fully acquainted with them to give you an advantage on the test day.
For the reading comprehension questions, you will need to be able to understand the subject that is being covered, so that you can answer the given questions. Familiarize yourself with the writing style in this section to prepare for the exam.
Quantitative :
Get acquainted with the way in which this section is laid out. There are 28 questions in the quantitative section which are divided between data interpretation, quantitative comparison, and discrete quantitative questions.
You know what your areas of weakness are; therefore, review your skill set, and ensure that you spend more time perfecting the areas that you are not confident in. The GRE does not require that you have knowledge in advanced mathematics. Having a thorough understanding of your basic geometry, algebra, and arithmetic skills will see you through this section of the test.
The data interpretation questions require that you are able to read and interpret graphs, tables and charts.
Analytical Writing Section :
This section is comprised of two parts; you are required to write an essay on an analytical argument, as well as a point of view essay.
The GRE website provides a list of the topics covered for the point of view essay. Familiarize yourself with the available topics to give you a head start on the day of the exam.
The analytical argument essay does not require that you provide your own point of view. You should practise finding the underlying assumptions in the passage, as well as critically analyzing the available evidence..
Tips :
There are several GRE study guides that provide you with study tips, and practise questions.
When you take the actual computer based exam, the system will generate questions that match your skill level. The harder the question, the more points you will acquire. If you want to get a high GRE score, it is imperative that you answer the first few questions at the beginning of each section correctly.
Never leave a question out, if you are not sure of the answer guess, because you do not loose points for wrong answers.
Now that you know what to do, it’s time to knuckle down and start studying. How long you spend preparing for the GRE test is dependent upon you. Some people are able to retain information better than others; and therefore, will only need to study for a month before the test, some need three months; others may need to prepare for six months to a year. You know what your capabilities are; therefore, arrange a study plan that best suits your needs. The most important thing is that you put your best efforts forward in preparing, so that you will feel confident on the day of your exam. Good luck.
