When preparing for an exam, it is important for us to understand the format, structure and syllabus of that exam. So, in this blog, we will try to understand every aspect of the GRE Quantitative Reasoning Section, which will help us develop a very focused approach to ace this section. It will also answer the frequently asked questions (FAQs) that students ask while preparing for this section. So, let’s begin!
Assessing the Content of the GRE Quantitative Reasoning Section
The GRE Quantitative Reasoning section of the GRE mainly evaluates:
- Your basic understanding of the mathematical concepts
- Your ability to interpret and analyze quantitative information
- Your application skills in solving the questions within the given time limit
Understanding the scope of the syllabus for the Quantitative Reasoning Section
- The GRE broadly tests you on four main topics: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Data Analysis. The Math Review (PDF) file provides detailed information about the scope of the syllabus.
- To summarize, it tests you on all your high school math concepts.
- Good news: No trigonometry, no calculus!
Exploring the Structure of the Quantitative Reasoning Section
- The Test comprises two Quantitative Reasoning sections with 27 questions to be completed in 47 minutes.
- The section-wise break-up is as follows:
- Section I: 12 questions to be completed in 21 minutes
- Section II: 15 questions to be completed in 26 minutes
- The following question types are asked:
- Multiple Choice (Single Correct):
- Multiple Choice (One or more correct)
- Numeric Entry Questions
- Quantitative Comparison Questions
- An on-screen calculator is available for the Quantitative Reasoning Section. (It is not a scientific calculator.)
Identifying Resources for Preparation
The following ETS GRE Resources would be the most authentic prep material as they include practice questions straight from the source.
A myriad of publications is available in the market, and a vast resource of material is on the net. But while choosing material, it would be wise to choose GRE-oriented material as it would cater to the format of the exam. At Dilip Oak’s Academy, our books and online practice material have been designed keeping the Test in mind, thus ensuring your focused preparation.
Achieving Success in the Quantitative Reasoning Section: Top Strategies
To get a good score in the Quantitative section of the GRE, ensure that your preparation involves the following steps:
Concept building:
- Get a good grasp of the fundamental concepts
- Memorize your formulae and computational tables to quickly and accurately solve questions.
- Get familiar with the Question Types.
Practice, practice, practice:
- Strengthen your concepts by solving a large number of practice questions specifically designed for the GRE.
- Practice using tricks, shortcuts and time-saving strategies
- Focus on increasing your accuracy and time management.
Testing:
- Testing yourself at regular intervals will familiarize you with the format of the exam.
- Review/feedback will help you understand your strengths and weaknesses, which can be worked upon.
- Taking at least two tests under simulated testing conditions would be a good approach as it would make you comfortable with the testing environment with time restrictions.
Now that we have covered the basics, let’s discuss some other questions you may have.
What if I have ‘Math Phobia’?
Many students are always scared of math and thus experience ‘math phobia’, which probably has no cure. Maybe you are not good at math naturally, but don’t give up. Remember, the GRE covers only the basic mathematical concepts studied at your school level, so your math skills are not being tested in this exam. Your application skills are put to the test, along with your logical and analytical thinking. Focus on your strong areas, not the troubled areas that haunt you. Lingering on these may only increase your anxiety and thus affect your preparation and, consequently, your performance.
What should be my approach if I have a strong Math background?
If that is the case, you may find the questions on this exam very simple. But beware! You may be caught off guard! Instead of becoming complacent, a good strategy would be to brush up on your concepts and use the simplicity of this exam to your advantage. Overdependence on your mathematical abilities may affect your score adversely, narrowing your chances of securing admission to a good university.
What Next?
- Now that you have understood the focus of the exam and its format, start preparing according to the three steps mentioned above.
- Ensure that you have a very good understanding of the fundamental concepts.
- Completing 12 and 15 questions in 21 and 26 minutes respectively is one of the main challenges you will face while answering the Math section. Remember, your speed and accuracy should go hand in hand. You cannot afford to compromise one at the cost of the other.
To summarize, a dedicated and focused approach will surely enhance your test-taking skills, which will guarantee a good score. It’s not necessary to study hard; study smart. Wishing you all the BEST!!!
At Dilip Oak’s Academy, we understand the significance of this journey. Thus, we offer comprehensive GRE coaching in Pune, both online and classroom, to support you in this crucial aspect of your academic journey. Further, our admission counseling services can guide you through the entire process from Shortlisting Universities to Visa Counseling. With our expertise, we have successfully sent 32,000 students to various prestigious American universities like MIT, Stanford, Cornell, and Carnegie Mellon. To enroll in our comprehensive services, book a free consultation or call us at 91-020-67444222.
We offer GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS coaching, GRE Self Prep and guide students with university selection, application essays, and visa counseling under our Admission Counseling Services for USA, Germany and Canada.
The GRE Verbal Reasoning section is often perceived as a challenging hurdle for many test-takers. Within this section, Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions can be particularly challenging but fear not- we’re here to guide you. Our expert faculty members have curated valuable tips and strategies to help test-takers like you conquer these question types. By honing your skills in Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence, you can confidently tackle the GRE Verbal Reasoning section and achieve your desired scores.
Understanding Text Completion:
Text Completion questions present a passage with one to three blank spaces, and candidates must select the correct words or phrases to fill these gaps. The challenge lies in choosing the most appropriate words that maintain the coherence and meaning of the passage. To tackle Text Completion effectively, follow these tips:
- Focus on Context: Grasp the passage’s context and main idea to predict the type of words needed
to fill the blanks. - Look for Clues: Analyze surrounding words and sentences for hints about the missing words’
meanings, including transitional phrases and tone. - Eliminate Irrelevant Options: Rule out answer choices that do not fit the passage’s context or alter the intended meaning.
- Consider Logical Flow: Ensure the selected words maintain a coherent and logical flow within the passage.
Mastering Sentence Equivalence:
Sentence Equivalence questions present a single sentence with one blank space. Candidates are tasked with selecting two words from the six given options that create sentences with similar meanings. While the core strategies remain the same for both questions types, here’s how to tackle Sentence Equivalence questions effectively:
- Identify Keyword Clues: Pay attention to crucial keywords in the sentence, as they often provide clues about the missing word’s meaning.
- Antonyms and Synonyms: Consider words with opposite or synonymous meanings that fit the sentence’s context.
- Avoid Extreme Choices: Eliminate answer choices with extreme meanings that do not align with the sentence’s tone or context.
- Utilize the Process of Elimination: Narrow down choices by eliminating unlikely options, increasing the chances of selecting the correct word pair.
Build a Strong Vocabulary
A robust vocabulary is vital for excelling in GRE Verbal Reasoning. Regularly practice learning new words, understanding their meanings, and exploring their usage in context. Dilip Oak Academy offers comprehensive GRE preparation resources, including word lists and mnemonic techniques to aid memorization. Read this blog for more tips to master your vocabulary: 5 Tips from Our Expert Faculty
Read Diverse Texts
Expand your vocabulary and comprehension skills by engaging with a wide range of topics, including literature, academic articles, and news pieces. Read extensively to bolster your language proficiency. Here are some blogs to get you started: GREat Five Minute Reads
Familiarize with GRE Question Styles
Practice with official GRE Verbal Reasoning questions to become familiar with the question styles, formats, and difficulty levels. Analyzing answer explanations for incorrect choices helps you understand common pitfalls and improves your critical thinking skills.
Time Management
Efficient time management is crucial during GRE Verbal Reasoning. Allocate appropriate time to each question, and if you encounter a challenging question, flag it and move on. Later, during the review phase, allocate time to revisit flagged questions. The well-designed study plan and guidance from the expert faculty during the classes will boost your GRE preparation and give you the confidence to ace the test.
Take Full-Length Practice Tests
Simulate the real GRE experience by taking full-length practice tests under timed conditions. Full-length practice tests help build endurance, identify weak areas, and fine-tune your test-taking strategies. This will help you get accustomed to the pressure and time constraints.
By mastering Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence, you can confidently approach the GRE and achieve your dream of pursuing further studies, like MS in the USA.
As a premier study abroad institute in Pune, Dilip Oak Academy is committed to helping students excel in the GRE exam. Our comprehensive GRE preparation resources include coaching- classroom & online with our experienced faculty members, online prep resources with access to over 2000 questions and a self-prep module which includes video lessons. With a focus on excellence, Dilip Oak Academy is your partner in achieving GRE success.
We also offer TOEFL, and IELTS coaching, and guide students with university selection, application essays, and visa counseling under our Admission Counseling Services for USA, Germany and UK. To enroll, call us on 91-020-67444222, 91-8007878495
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, GRE test centers across the globe faced closures, leading to a significant disruption in test-taking opportunities for aspiring students seeking to study in the US. To counter this, ETS introduced the option to take the GRE from home, but many students didn’t opt for this alternative. Consequently, numerous American universities granted GRE waivers for admissions during Fall 2020 and Fall 2021. However, the landscape has since shifted, with an increasing number of universities now requiring GRE scores for applications, especially in the highly sought-after Computer Science department. As we approach Fall 2024, the trend toward recommending the GRE is expected to continue, necessitating thoughtful consideration from prospective applicants regarding their application strategy.
The Shift in GRE Requirements:
Based on our data for Fall 2023, it’s evident that nearly 55% of universities offering MS programs in Computer Science in the US mandated the submission of GRE scores. This percentage is projected to rise even further in the upcoming application cycles. Notably reputable universities, especially those situated in states like California and Texas, have leaned towards making GRE scores an important component of their application evaluation process. Given this scenario, it is strongly advisable to take the GRE as it significantly broadens your application prospects.
Insights from Recent Surveys:
A survey conducted among 306 students at our academy between May 2023 and July 2023 provided valuable insights into score distribution:
| Score | Number of Students |
| 330 and above | 9 |
| 320 – 329 | 41 |
| 310 – 319 | 87 |
| 300 – 309 | 74 |
| Below 300 | 95 |
Note: Many universities require a GRE score of 300+, and most students who got a score below 300 in their first attempt are retaking the GRE and are confident that they will be able to achieve scores above this threshold in their second attempt. Of course, a few universities do accept GRE score of 292+ if the academic records are strong.
Ease of GRE Preparation and Upcoming Changes:
Contrary to misconceptions, the GRE is not an insurmountable challenge. With roughly three months of focused preparation, achieving your target score is attainable. The forthcoming new GRE format, scheduled to launch on September 22, 2023, aims to streamline the test. The duration will be reduced to two hours from the previous four hours. Changes include reduced number of questions in each section and the removal of one essay section, resulting in a more efficient and less tiring test experience. These modifications make a strong case for considering the GRE. Read what ETS, the people who create the GRE, have to say about the new test format.
Advantages of Submitting a GRE Score:
Enhancing GPA: A robust GRE quant score can offset a lower undergraduate GPA, bolstering your prospects of admission to esteemed universities.
Scholarships and Financial Aid: Many institutions tie GRE scores to scholarship eligibility. A quant score exceeding 165 and a Verbal score surpassing 160 may qualify you for tuition waivers or financial assistance.
Deciding whether to take the GRE:
Explicit Requirement: If a university explicitly states that GRE scores are mandatory, taking the GRE is imperative to achieve your dream of pursuing an MS program in the US.
Recommended: Universities suggesting GRE submission on their websites imply its importance in the application process.
Avoiding Last-Minute Regrets:
Over the past two years, many students have initially opted against taking the GRE, only to find that their desired universities require it. This realization often occurs during the shortlisting process, leaving inadequate time for preparation. To circumvent such scenarios, careful planning and early GRE preparation are highly advisable. Click to know more about the upcoming GRE batches.
Navigating the choice of applying for an MS in Computer Science without a GRE score warrants thoughtful consideration. Evolving trends underscore a growing preference for GRE scores among universities. As demand for Computer Science education remains robust, planning ahead, recognizing the GRE’s significance, and seizing the opportunities it presents are prudent steps.
At Dilip Oak’s Academy, we understand the significance of this journey. Thus, we offer comprehensive GRE coaching in Pune, both online and classroom, to support you in this crucial aspect of your academic journey. Further, our admission counseling services can guide you through the entire process from Shortlisting Universities to Visa Counseling. With our expertise, we have successfully sent 32,000 students to various prestigious American universities like MIT, Stanford, Cornell, and Carnegie Mellon. To enroll in our comprehensive services, book a free consultation or call us at 91-020-67444222.
We offer GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS coaching, GRE Self Prep and guide students with university selection, application essays, and visa counseling under our Admission Counseling Services for USA, Germany and Canada.
If you are applying for Fall (August) 2024, the clock has begun to tick. So, don’t delay. To help you streamline your application process effectively, we have prepared a detailed timeline. Take a look at the steps you need to take:
Begin Your Preparation: October-December 2023
Register for GRE and TOEFL/IELTS: Take the first step by registering for the GRE and TOEFL/IELTS exams. We recommend completing these exams by 15th December 2023. Dilip Oak Academy can assist you with your preparation for these exams. We are also now an ETS Authorized Test Center for GRE and TOEFL exams.
Research and Shortlist Universities: September-October 2023
Explore university websites and make a preliminary list of universities which meet your requirements considering:
Broad specializations you are interested in: while shortlisting, ensure that the programs offered by your selected universities align with your interests.
Expected GRE score: depending on your GRE score you can choose rank of the universities where you want to apply.
Academic record: your academics play an important role in the entire application process and a good academic record can compensate for a low GRE score.
Budget: select universities keeping your finance in mind; however, there are many universities and financial institutions that offer financial assistance to deserving students.
Recommendations by seniors studying in American universities: first-hand reviews from your seniors who are currently studying can prove useful in shortlisting rather than depending on the information given on the university website.
Gather Necessary Documents: August-November 2023
Craft a Stellar Statement of Purpose (SOP): SOP is a crucial document that provides insights into your purpose of joining the course and university, your personality, experience in the field and long-term goals. It should be around 500 to 800 words long, precise, interesting, grammatically and technically sound.
Arrange Transcripts: Prepare four sets of college and university transcripts.
Request Recommendation Letters: Choose your recommenders, preferably college professors, project guides, or employers, and request recommendation letters. Most universities require three recommendation letters.
Finalize University Choices and Apply: October-December 2023
Shortlist 8 to 10 Universities: After thorough research, finalize your preferred universities.
Complete Online Applications: Ensure that you complete the online application process by 31st December 2023. While many universities accept online applications, some may require physical documents via courier, so be mindful of deadlines.
Apply Early: While many universities accept applications even till 31st March 2024, we recommend that you apply before 31st December.
Forward Test Scores: Request ETS to send your GRE and TOEFL scores to the selected universities (scores take a minimum of 2 weeks to arrive).
After Sending Applications: Await Decisions and Prepare for Visa
Admission Decisions: You can expect to receive admission decisions around February/March 2024. Once you receive an offer, promptly email your acceptance, especially if funding is involved.
Obtain I-20: Upon acceptance, complete the documentation formalities, and the university will send you the essential I-20, an immigration document required for obtaining a visa.
Prepare for Visa: Review the total cost of one year mentioned on the I-20 and prepare the necessary visa documentation.
Visa Application Process: Apply for a visa interview date after receiving your I-20. Generally, students start applying for a visa from the third week of April. Once you get the visa date, proceed with the interview and complete the remaining formalities until your departure date.
Time waits for no one, so start your preparation now and unlock a world of opportunities for your academic journey in the USA!
At Dilip Oak’s Academy, we understand the significance of this journey, and our admission counseling services can guide you through the entire process. With our expertise, we have successfully sent 32,000 students to various prestigious American universities like MIT, Stanford, Cornell, and Carnegie Mellon. To enroll in our comprehensive services, book a free consultation or call us at 91-020-67444222.
We offer GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS coaching, GRE Self Prep and guide students with university selection, application essays, and visa counseling under our Admission Counseling Services for USA, Germany and Canada.
For many years, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) has served as a crucial first step for students planning to pursue graduate study in the United States. This year, the GRE will be shorter thanks to a series of reforms. The test will have shorter versions of each section, but will still accurately assess test takers’ verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills. If you plan to take the GRE General Test after September 2023, you should familiarize yourself with these changes and prepare accordingly. The following is a comprehensive summary of all the key modifications to the new, shorter GRE:
Change 1: Reduced Number of Questions and Shorter Testing Period
The length of the GRE General Test has been reduced from 4 hours to 1 hour and 58 minutes. This is a significant change aimed at improving test-takers’ concentration and decreasing test fatigue. The reduced time has been achieved by implementing the following changes in the test.
Reduced number of questions: The number of questions in the Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning tests will be reduced. The number of questions in each section will drop from 40 to 27. These 27 questions will be broken up into 12 and 15 for for Section 1 and 2 respectively. This change applies to both quantitative reasoning and verbal reasoning. Despite the reduction in total number of questions, the average time allotted for each question has remained unchanged.
Removal of ‘argument’ section: “Analyze an argument” task has been removed from the analytical writing section. Moving forward, the AWM section will only have the “analyze an issue” task. As a result, you’ll only have to write only one essay.
Removal of the Unscored section: The GRE currently has an unscored section that is used for evaluation of questions by ETS. This section will be removed from the new, shorter GRE, as it does not affect the test taker’s final score.
No Scheduled Breaks: The current 10-minute break after the two hours of the test will be eliminated because the new test time will be less than 2 hours. Those taking the GRE at a testing center can still take unscheduled breaks; however, the clock will not stop. Exemptions to this policy will be made for test takers with disabilities or health-related needs.Online examinees are not permitted to take unscheduled breaks during the exam.
Change 2: faster Reporting of Test Results
Official GRE scores will be reported to test takers within 8-10 days after the exam. This is a significant improvement over the previous time frame of ten and fifteen calendar days. In the long run, this will save time for those filling out applications.
What won’t change as the GRE moves from its current format to a shorter one?
Despite the fact that the GRE General Test will be shorter, many features will remain unchanged. Given below are the important aspects of the test that won’t be changing:
- The basic structure of the GRE, including the presence of Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning sections, will remain unchanged.
- Scoring: All three sections will use the same scoring procedure, and the shorter test will use the same performance scales as the current test.
- The shorter GRE will still be section adaptive I. e., the difficulty level of the second section will be based on your performance in the first section.
- Although the GRE has been shortened, testing fees have not changed.
- Graduate and professional schools will use scores from the GRE General Test similarly, regardless of the length.
- As before, you can retake the GRE General Test up to five times in any rolling 12-month period (365 days), with a maximum of one attempt every 21 days.
- Your GRE scores will be considered valid for five years after your test date.
Why the ETS is changing the test format
These changes are based on feedback from previous test takers and are the result of expert analysis about how a better experience could be introduced for test takers while retaining the strong validity and reliability that universities expect.
Applying to graduate and professional programs is time-consuming. While you want to show your potential in a comprehensive way, you also want to get through your application checklist ASAP. Shortening the test will help students to stay focused and reduce fatigue. The shorter test will also allow ETS to deliver GRE scores faster. Students can complete their applications sooner as well.
What is yet to be announced?
Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning have had their total number of questions cut down to 27, but how those questions will be distributed among the subsections such as sentence equivalence, text completion and reading comprehension in verbal section, remains to be seen.
We also don’t yet have details on how the scoring algorithm might adapt to the reduced number of questions.
Which version of the test should you take- Shorter GRE vs. Current GRE
You should weigh your application deadlines against your personal preferences when deciding between the shorter GRE and the current GRE. The current GRE will be phased out on September 22, 2023, in favor of the shorter GRE. If your application deadline is early October or earlier, you should probably take the current GRE. However, if you have more time and your application deadlines are not pressing, you may want to take the shorter GRE because of its streamlined format.
At Dilip Oak’s Academy, We also provide detailed guidance on these processes under our Admission Counseling Services, including a selection of universities, documentation process and visa counseling, and mock visa interviews. In addition, as India’s leading Study Abroad Consultants, we have helped more than 33,000 students to secure their dream admits for various universities in America including MIT, Stanford, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon and other top-ranked universities.
We also offer GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS coaching, GRE Self Prep and guide students with university selection, application essays, and visa counseling under our Admission Counseling Services for USA, Germany and UK. To enroll, call us on 91-020-67444222, 91-8007878495