GRE Preparation | GRE Latest Changes 2023

September 13, 2023 / 03:57 PM IST

GRE Preparation | విదేశీ విద్యను అభ్యసించాలనుకునే విద్యార్థులు, వారు వెళ్లాలనుకునే దేశం, కాలేజీల ప్రవేశ అర్హతలను తెలుసుకోవాలి. విదేశీ విద్యకు సంబంధించిన కొన్ని పరీక్షలు రాయాలి. అందులో గ్రాడ్యుయేట్‌ రికార్డ్‌ ఎగ్జామ్‌ (GRE) జనరల్‌ టెస్ట్‌ ఒకటి. ఈ పరీక్ష STEM (సైన్స్‌, టెక్నాలజీ, ఇంజినీరింగ్‌, మ్యాథ్స్‌) కోర్సులపై ఆసక్తి చూపేవారు రాస్తారు. ప్రపంచవ్యాప్తంగా సుమారు 1300 బిజినెస్‌ స్కూల్స్‌ ఈ స్కోర్‌ని పరిగణనలోకి తీసుకుంటాయి. సుమారు 70,000 వేల మంది భారతీయ విద్యార్థులు ప్రతి సంవత్సరం ఈ పరీక్షను రాస్తున్నారు. అమెరికన్‌ బార్‌ అసోసియేషన్‌ ఈ పరీక్షలను లా స్కూల్‌ అడ్మిషన్స్‌కు కూడా పరిగణనలోకి తీసుకోవచ్చని ప్రకటించింది. GRE జనరల్‌ టెస్ట్‌ మారుతుంది. దీంతో పరీక్ష సమయం కుదిస్తారు. సెప్టెంబర్‌ 22 నుంచి ఈ విధానం అమల్లోకి వస్తుంది. మార్పు అనగానే సహజంగా ఆందోళన ఉంటుంది. ఆ మార్పు వల్ల మంచి కూడా జరగవచ్చు. కాబట్టి GRE జనరల్‌ టెస్ట్‌లో వచ్చే మార్పు వల్ల ఆందోళన చెందాల్సిన అవసరం లేదు.

TEST STRUCTURE
Analytical Writing Section

Previously, it had two tasks: Issue Task and Argument Task. Specific instructions follow each question. Each of 30 mins.
The Revised pattern will NOT include an Argument Task. There will only be ONE essay task of 30 minutes. You need to follow the specific instructions of the task and look into the complexities involved. This change is comfortable for students who need to improve their writing skills. They can prepare for one type of task easily.
This section measures the writing skills of students. The task is designed to evaluate if students can analyze and think critically. Their ability to express complex ideas clearly with apt examples and reasons is also tested.
The overall quality of your essay is evaluated in terms of the relevance of your response and expression of your ideas. In addition to this, the structure of your answer, the examples used, and the clarity and accuracy of your language also matter.
Do not copy, and do not quote others’ works without attribution.
Your essay has to be your original work. If it’s similar to other responses, your scores may be cancelled. And, since the GRE score includes all section scores. Your other section scores will not be of any use.
Verbal Reasoning
Previously, It had 2 sections, each with 20 questions and for 30 minutes.
The Shorter pattern will also have 2 sections. However, the number of questions and duration changed. It will have 27 questions in total. The total test duration is 41 minutes. So, the number of questions per section and the duration of each section may vary.
This section has three question types: Reading Comprehension (RC), Text Completion (TC), and Sentence Equivalence (SE). RC requires you to read a passage and answer the questions that follow. For example, you may have to analyze the given content, summarise, infer, conclude, etc. Reasoning type and Contextual vocabulary-based questions are also expected. SE and TC questions need you to understand the given sentences or group of sentences and complete them.
Reading Comprehension: Based on a sample mock test released, the test may have around 6 passages; earlier, it was around 10. Typically, the word limit of the passages varies from one paragraph to several. The text size of the passages may also be reduced in the revised pattern. The number of questions may range from 1 to 3 at least. Previously, upto 6. Students are advised to be prepared for varying sizes of RC passages and work on reading skills.
Within reading comprehension, you can have three question types. They are: Select a single answer – these are the regular MCQ questions; select one answer from among five answer options; Multiple-choice — Select One or More Answer choices – Three options follow each question; select all right ones. No partial score. Select-in-Passage – You must select the sentence in the passage with a suitable answer. The question types haven’t changed in the revised pattern.
Text Completion: It requires you to fill the text with suitable words from the given options. The number of blanks may vary from 1 to 3. If it is 1 blank, then 5 options will be given. Else, 3 options for blank.
You must find clues from the given sentences and choose the correct option. The sentence’s tone, punctuation marks, conjunctions, additional details in the text, etc., will help you find clues.
Sentence Equivalence: This question type consists of a single sentence with just one blank, and you have to pick the two choices that lead to a complete, coherent sentence that means the same thing. You have to choose from six options.
Work on your vocabulary to score well in SE, TC and Contextual vocabulary-based questions from passages.
Quantitative Reasoning
Previously, It had two sections. Each section has 20 questions and a 35-minute duration.
The Revised pattern has 2 sections and 27 questions total. Test duration 47 minutes. The number of questions per section and the duration of each section may vary.
This section has Quantitative Comparison Questions, Multiple choice questions with select one answer or select more answers and numerical entry questions.
A few questions can be discrete, while others are part of a set of Data interpre tation questions.
Simplify equations properly, be careful with calculations. Understand question types properly.
This section predominantly asks questions from Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, and Data analysis. Brush up your concepts, and you can easily score excellent marks.
There is NO unscored section in the revised pattern.
SCORES
The GRE scoring pattern will be the same in the revised pattern. So, students need not worry. Since the number of questions is coming down, the value of each question increases. The verbal Reasoning section is scored on a scale of 130-170.
Quantitative Reasoning is also scored on a scale of 130-170.
Analytical Reasoning is scored on 0-6.
The Revised test scores can be expected in 8 to 10 days.
You can use the Score Select option to send your scores to the universities.
After you submit your test, you can send your scores to 4 universities free of cost.
The validity of GRE scores is 5 years from your test date. You can retake after a gap of 21 days and 5 attempts in a year.
Students should target at least 152 + in the Verbal and 160 + in the Quantitative section, and AWA-3+ Indians usually score more in Quant. Based on your preparation, book your test slot. Currently, the exam fee for the GRE is around 220 dollars.
Each University in the USA may have its cut-off GRE scores. Students are advised to know the scores required for the colleges they are interested in and target to achieve those scores.
Sectional Adaptive Test
The Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections are section-level adaptive. The first section of each measure (i.e., Verbal and Quantitative) is of average difficulty. The difficulty level of the second section of each of the measures depends on your overall performance in the first section.
Check the official website for further information on fees. Some discounts are available on the current version, as they are moving into a shorter version from Sep 22. https://takethegre.org/summersale/
For information on Test Changes, check https://www.ets.org/pdfs/gre/general-test-enhancement-faqs-for-test-takers.pdf
A shorter GRE version Sample mock is available on Powerprep.
Which test is suitable for you? Old or Revised?
It is an individual’s choice and also depends on your preparation and readiness.
Technically, if you are already preparing for the GRE, the shorter version of the GRE is of little difference. It has fewer questions. The time available per question is almost the same. And the Argument task is removed. Students can readily embrace the change.
GRE has subject tests, too. They are also changing. Interested students can learn about them on the official website.
Website: www.ets.org