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Experiences of GRE Test Takers: Sheharyar

Here’s Shehayars advice for preparation and test day, based on his exam experience. If you’d like to submit your own expeieces please email us!

Here’s Shehayar’s advice for preparation and test day, based on his exam experience. If you’d like to submit your own experiences please email us at [email protected].

“Asalam O Alaikum. I appeared for my GRE exam today, and would like to share my experience. To let you know I prepared for my exam in just one month of full dedication. I put up 8-9 hours daily.

This was my second attempt at the GRE – my first attempt was last year in September. Then I had scored 152 (verbal) and 159 (maths). I got rejections from almost all good universities I applied to and therefore had to retake my exam.

For verbal I focused on learning vocabulary from Barron’s. I learned almost 2300 words and therefore I knew most of the vocab that came on the test. For maths I mainly used Barron’s as well although I did use a bit of Princeton review for tips and techniques.

Math was easy and it was the first section I got after the AWA. I completed all my questions in time as I had practised a lot of maths and prepared with proper timing. Due to the adaptive nature of the test my second maths section was much difficult and I did not do well on it. Timing became an issue on my second maths section.

On my first verbal section I really screwed it and made a complete mess of it. The reading comprehension as very tough and I had not practised them much so that caused a lot of problems for me on the test day.
In the end I had to guess 7-8 questions on the verbal section. As a result my second verbal second was a piece of cake as I did it well in time and knew all of it almost.

So this time my score was 156 on the verbal and a 167 on the maths. I thought I would get more on maths since I did it very very well. Nevertheless I got the score I wanted with just one month of full dedicated preparation.

What could have I done differently

If I were to prepare for it again I would have worked more on the Verbal timing and practised a lot more reading questions. They make up almost 50% of the total questions so they are a must. The new GRE is much tougher I think because of it emphasis on the analytical and strategic thinking. I think a vocab of 1500 words is more than enough. I over did the vocab – I should have spend that time on practising. Also I would suggest getting hold of some more books and material as Barron’s is not enough. May be Kaplan’s or Princeton review – I don’t know but do prepare from some more material.

Anyway, good luck to all GRE aspirants”

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