GRADUATE RECORD EXAMINATION

Comparison of Old vs New Pattern Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning & Analytical Writing Abilities

GRE Old vs New Pattern ANALYTICAL WRITING

New GRE Pattern
Scores Range Types of Questions Score Increments Sections Question 0-6 2 Questions 0.5 One Section 2 Questions or Tasks

Old GRE Pattern

0-6 2 Questions 0.5 No Section Concept 2 Questions or Tasks

- One Analyze and issue task -One Analyze an Argument Task

Time Allocated
30 Minutes per task Total 60 minutes for two tasks

-One Issue task Choose from two -1 Argument task- No choice.

45 minutes for Issue task 30 minutes for Argument task

or questions An unidentified Unscored section is same in both old or current and the new GRE pattern. This section may be included or may not be, it dependsif included, it will not counted towards part of your score. An identified Research section is also the same case, it will be at the end of the test in both new and old/current GRE.

VERBAL REASONING
New GRE Pattern
Scores Range Types of Questions 130 - 170
Text completion Questions Sentence Equivalence

Current/Old GRE Pattern

200 - 800 Analogies Antonyms Sentence Completions Reading Comprehension

Questions
Reading Comprehension

Questions.
NO Antonyms & Analogies

Score Increments Sections Question per section Time Allocated

1 Point increments 2 Sections Approximately 20 30 Minute Per section, total will be 60 Minutes

10 point increments 1 section Exactly 30 30 Minutes

QUANTITATIVE REASONING
New GRE Pattern
Scores Range Types of Questions 130 170
Multiple Choice questions

Current/Old GRE Pattern

200 800
Quantitative Comparison Problem Solving Data Interpretation

Score Increments Sections Question per section Time Allocated

- Select One answer Choice -Select One or more answer choices Numeric Entry questions Quantitative comparison Questions 1 Point increments 2 Sections Approximately 20 35 Minute per section Total will be 70 Minutes

10 point increments 1 section Exactly 28 45 Minutes

Structure of the GRE revised General Test

(Computer Based)

Section

Number of Questions

Time

Analytical Writing (One section One "Analyze an Issue" task with two separately timed and one "Analyze an Argument" tasks) task Verbal Reasoning sections)

30 minutes per task

(Two Approximately 20 questions per section 30 minutes per section

Quantitative Reasoning (Two Approximately 20 questions per sections) section 35 minutes per section Unscored or Research Section* Varies Varies

GRE 2012 Test Validity

The GRE test scores are valid for FIVE years. Validity research and analyses establish that the test measures what it is supposed to measure. The GRE Program has documented evidence the following types of validity in GRE tests: Construct validity (the test measures the skills / abilities that should be measured) Content validity (the test measures appropriate content) Predictive validity (the test predicts success) Consequential validity (the test demonstrates that adverse consequences are minimal) External validity (the test has the expected relationship with other measures of the same construct)

Content on the GRE revised General Test

The skills measured on the GRE revised General Test include the test-taker's ability to do the following: Verbal Reasoning

Analyze and draw conclusions from discourse; reason from incomplete data; identify author's assumptions and/or perspective; understand multiple levels of meaning such as literal, figurative and author's intent. Select important points; distinguish major from minor or relevant points; summarize text; understand the structure of a text. Understand the meanings of words, sentences and entire texts; understand relationships among words and among concepts. Text Completion / Sentence Equivalence / Reading Comprehension Text Completion Text Completion questions test the ability to interpret and evaluate a passage when crucial words in the passage are omitted. These types of questions consist of a short passage with one to three blanks followed by THREE answer choices per blank (5 choices in case of a single blank). You need to identify the correct answer choices for all blanks. Sentence Equivalence Sentence Equivalence questions test your ability to arrive at a conclusion about how a sentence should be completed while focusing on the meaning of the whole sentence. These types of questions consist of a single sentence with just one blank, and you have to find two choices (out of six choices) that lead to a complete, coherent sentence while producing sentences that mean the same thing. Reading Comprehension In Reading Comprehension, the objective is to read the passage given and answer the questions that follow based on the information provided in the passage. Reading Comprehension is very important because Educational Testing Service (ETS) promises to devote half of the Verbal Reasoning questions to Reading Comprehension which should mean out of 40 questions in the Verbal Reasoning sections combined, 20 questions will be based on Reading Comprehension passages. Hence, the speed with which one grasps the gist of the passage and ones critical thinking abilities to answer the fact and inference based questions that follow will determine the Verbal Reasoning score one can get. In toto, there might be 4 to 5 passages per Verbal Reasoning section. The passages may range anywhere from one paragraph to 4-5 paragraphs. The passages may be drawn from varied sources ranging from Philosophy to Scientific periodicals. With only 30 minutes per section and other question types (Text Completion & Sentence Equivalence) being equally tough and time consuming, quick reading and answering questions & proper time management is essential to secure a good score.

Question types in Reading Comprehension: In revised GRE, 3 types of questions can be asked in Reading Comprehension. Multiple choice One Answer correct In this conventional question type, ONE answer choice out of FIVE will be correct. Multiple choice One or more correct Three answer choices will be provided out of which one or more can be correct. Select In Passage The question asks one to highlight a sentence in the passage that meets a certain description. Quantitative Reasoning

Understand quantitative information. Interpret and analyze quantitative information. Solve problems using mathematical models. Apply basic mathematical skills and elementary mathematical concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, probability and statistics. There are TWO QR sections in revised GRE and each section consists of 20 questions with a maximum time limit of 35 minutes. The math concepts tested include Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Data Interpretation. The question types include Quantitative Comparisons and Problem Solving Single correct answer choice, One or more correct answer choices and Numeric Entry.

Analytical Writing

Articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively. Examine claims and accompanying evidence. Support ideas with relevant reasons and examples. Sustain a well-focused, coherent discussion. Control the elements of standard written English. Analytical Writing Is always the first section in revised GRE. Here one needs to write an essay on two topics Issue topic & Argument. Each topic will have a time limit of 30 minutes. Issue Topic Issue topic is the conventional essay, where a topic is given and one need to logically agree or disagree with the given topic by presenting cogent and coherent analysis. Issue topic essay assesses the ability to think critically and clearly express thoughts in writing. The emphasis is on clearly focused essays that are based on the instructions given along with the topic. The score ranges from 0 to 6 from both Issue and Argument Topics. The average of these two will be the overall score once gets in Analytical Writing. The score for Analytical shown separately.

Argument Topic Argument topic is one of the two topics on which one needs to write an essay. The time limit is 30 minutes as above and there is no choice of topics. In Argument Topic, a brief passage is already provided where the author builds a case for some course of action. The objective of the Argument Topic essay is to critically analyze the logic of authors point of view by examining the authors line of reasoning and use of evidence. The score ranges from 0 to 6. The average of these two will be the overall score one gets in Analytical Writing. The emphasis is on clearly focused essays that are based on the instructions given along with the topic. MODE OF PREPARATION Toughest part of the GRE is definitely Verbal Reasoning followed by Quantitative Aptitude. Analytical Writing is also important but the intensity is less as regards toughness. Time Management is the KEY. Verbal Reasoning Vocabulary plays a vital role. The first step is to get accustomed with the high frequency words. If you feel comfortable with the words, your next step is to start Practice Questions in Sentence Equivalence, Text Completion & Reading Comprehension. As regards Sentence Equivalence & Text Completion, Understand the logic of the sentence Recall the high frequency words Get the right answer. In case of Reading Comprehension, it is only practice that can increase your accuracy. Please note that Fact-based and Inference-based questions will be there. It is easier to answer Fact-based questions when compared to Inference-based. You can go back and forth between the questions. Quantitative Reasoning Be thorough with the basic concepts of Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Probability and Statistics. Practice short-cuts & tricks vigorously and master them. Solving is easy and scoring is easier. Analytical Writing Focus should be on introductory paragraph and then structuring. One should maintain the logic throughout. Clarity in argument and usage of vocabulary helps in gaining top score.