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GRE & It's Hidden Benefits

Hello, everybody! I was engaged in my test preparation which I appeared today. So I didn't write in last few days. With an expectation of being forgiven, let's begin our conversation on today's topic which is regarding a competitive test naming GRE( Graduate Record Examination). In this text, I will talk about the objective of such tests and the value they add to the test takers.

The GRE test basically consists of an AWA(Analytical Writing Analysis) section, a Verbal Reasoning section, and a Quantitative Reasoning section. The AWA section asks us to write on an issue and on an argument. So a total of two essays is to be written in AWA. The Verbal Reasoning section consists of "Text Completions" by filling the blanks with appropriate option, "Sentence Equivalence" by choosing an appropriate option after reaching a conclusion based on analysis of given text, "Reading Comprehension" which consists of a passage and few questions related to the passage, and Critical Reasoning which demands us to think critically of the given argument. Similarly, the Quantitative Section tests our ability in mathematics which consists of various topics such as Arithmetics, Algebra, Data Interpretation, Statistics, and Geometry. "Verbal Reasoning" stands for 170 points and "Quantitative Reasoning" stands for 170 points. "AWA" is rated on a scale of 1 to 6, 1 being the least score. So, GRE is a total of 340 points and AWA score of 1 to 6.

Ok! That was somewhat summarization of what GRE seeks. Now what I am going to explore is how it seeks. We can just look at above-mentioned topics and just say those topics could be mastered by studying hard for a month. Well, a candidate may secure good score by studying for a month. But that is not always valid. In fact, we must have a lucid understanding of demands of GRE. For example, a topic in Verbal Reasoning Section of Critical Reasoning, this section demand the test taker cognitive sense rather than his/her trained mind to answer the question. Time management on GRE is very, in fact, the most important factor. So you can understand where I am going. Though we are trained to answer many questions, GRE wants us to think, analyze and deliver. So what GRE actually seek is our ability to think i.e cognitive sense. Also, the section such as Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence cannot be mastered without one's ability to analyze the text.A candidate needs to choose the best answer among the multiple right answers, that is where one needs the cognitive sense and that's where a trained mind may fail.

Not just the Verbal Section but Quantitative Section demands the similar attitude. GRE is not made to test one's ability to carry tediously long calculation nor does GRE asks for one's ability to memorize complicated mathematical formulas. So, what does it asks? It asks our clever side of calculating, understanding of the basic meaning of mathematical relations and understanding of some very ground phenomena. On the test, you may be asked a question related to standard deviation which has a tedious formula.Almost all of us have remembered it and mastered it in our high school. If we continue with the similar calculation of Standard Deviation on the test day,  I can guarantee you that we will run out of time. So, why the people who make the test ask such time-consuming question? That's exactly where we must understand that test makers are not seeking our calculating ability neither are looking for the ability to remember the formula. They only want to know how well we understand the concepts. Once we know the actual meaning of Standard Deviation, there is no need to apply any formula or carry any tedious calculation to figure out the answer on GRE.

Coming to the AWA section, we all have written essays since our times from primary school. So, this task will also seem straightforward. But as other sections, this section also doesn't look for the conventional practice of writing essays. But it demands an overall encompassing analysis of given topic and to present a view that is best suitable. The essay written by test takers must be able to persuade or dissuade the readers on a certain conclusion. So, we must be persuasive. Remember, the readers of the essay are the literature experts of universities, so we can imagine how strong analysis of the matter we must put forward. Just writing lengthy and complicated essays will never help.

Great! We now know that GRE wants us not to study hard but to study smart. How this can help us as an individual in our future endeavors of life? Well, there are numerous benefits one can experience. Talking about myself, GRE has made me think critically and now whenever I look into an issue not just in the study but in practical life too, I have started analyzing it from various perspective. That is one of my improvement I love the most. Some of us may lack a solid ability to make a decision. Well, this is also alleviated by GRE. We start to look into the crux of the matter and plunge into the best solution among the many right solutions. Also, we understand the importance of the concepts. This will always urge us to first look for the concept which in-turn will help us to scrutinize any problem of any kind. We feel much more confident as we now have a better perspective of looking to the problems. Vocabulary is one major part we can improve throughout the GRE preparation period. For those who are far from reading books, newspaper or any other form of literature, GRE will surely help in delving into those with ease.

Hmm!! So we looked at what GRE is and what is seeks from test takers. Having said this, one can effectively prepare for GRE by reading books, novels, daily newspapers provided that you have enough time for it. If preparation is to be done in short time, reading vocabulary and continuously practicing actual test questions is the way. But I request test takers not to prepare in a short time rather take proper time developing cognition. For Quantitative section, just have a proper understanding of mathematical concepts and have a sense of being clever when necessary. One can delve into high school math books and once covering those books can look for free tests online of GRE. This will help to implement those known concepts on actual problems. There are numerous free resources available for GRE, you can just google it. So, this is it for now.  I would love to see comments on this blog where you can put any related query. See you soon!!

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