The GRE or the Graduate Record Examination is a crucial step to be taken if one needs to apply to graduate schools in the United States, Canada, and some European countries. This exam qualifies you as eligible for spending your period of higher education in these countries. This exam, like any other competitive exam, requires hard work and consistent practice to crack. It has three main sections: Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. The Quantitative section especially can be a little tricky. However, with the right tips and preparation methods, one can breeze through it. Here are some things you should keep in mind and the steps you can take to make sure that you ace the GRE quant section:
How to get the perfect score in GRE Quants:
However, before we dig into how to get a perfect section, you must first know what qualifies as a good GRE score. Here is a complete guide to help you out: https://www.inspiruseducation.com/good-gre-score/
Now, let us take a look at how to get a perfect score in Quants.
- Marking scheme: In GRE, the marking is different for each section. Quantitative Reasoning is measured on a point scale of 130-170. Within the Quantitative Section, there are two sections with 20 questions each, for which one will be given 35 minutes respectively. Planning and preparation are crucial to obtain a good score in this section. The Quant section is notorious for being section adaptive, which means that one’s performance in the first of the two sections decides the difficulty level of the next section composed of 20 questions.
- Basic question plan: The Quantitative Reasoning section is actually divided into four- quantitative comparison questions, multiple-choice questions (MCQ) with both one-answer option and at least one answer option, and numeric entry questions (which are free-response questions that involve a box into which you can enter the answer that you have arrived at). A question may either be an independent one or part of a larger set of questions based on a passage that requires the interpretation of its data.
- Hone your math: This is where the practice comes in. How clear are you with fundamental mathematical formulae and concepts? Have you spent time developing your aptitude in math? How well can you tackle real-life issues with quantitative strategies? If you’re seriously thinking about higher studies in the US or some European country, you might as well start brushing up on some high school math. Practice as much as possible in the areas of Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry andData Analysis. Let’s see these areas in detail:
- Arithmetic: Relevant topics would be number theory, which includes factorization, prime numbers, and methods to prove divisibility. This section also includes basic mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and also the methods to arrive at exponents and roots. The calculations of percentage and ratio values are also important.
- Algebra: This involves the manipulation of algebraic expressions using certain arithmetic methods, and good command over relations and functions. You will be required to solve linear and quadratic equations, as well as simultaneous equations. Questions regarding this are usually given in the form of word problems. Some graph work such as the calculation of intercepts and line slopes also comes under this section.
- Geometry: Memorize and learned to apply different principles of parallel and perpendicular lines, as well as polygons and circles. Learn the basic formulae for the volume and area of different three-dimensional shapes such as the sphere, the cylinder, cube, and cuboid. The good application level of the Pythagorean theorem and different kinds of angles and their laws are also necessary.
- Data Analysis: This includes different methods of statistics, such as mean, median, mode, quartiles, and interquartile, range and standard deviation. One should be able to interpret the information provided in all kinds of mathematical representations- bar and line graphs as well as pie charts. Frequency distribution tables will be either provided or need to be constructed to answer certain questions. Probability is also a key topic that needs to be kept in mind. From this area, learn compound and independent events, conditional probability and random variables. Venn diagrams and other forms of statistical representations also have a good chance of turning up in the exam.
Basic formulae and concepts may seem silly at first sight, but they will be what allows you to build more complex models that will ultimately help you solve the kind of questions you get in the exam, which will be application-based. Solve all the sample papers you can get your hands on.
- Quantitative Comparison Questions: This section can be particularly challenging. Here, you will be required to analyze two items or quantities, say, A and B. The conclusion should be one among these:
- A is prominent.
- B is prominent.
- Both A and B are equivalent to each other.
- The exact nature of the relationship between A and B cannot be resolved from the data that has been provided regarding them.
Some tips to solve this section well:
- Try to simplify the quantities of A and B and their comparison as much as possible.
- Practice as much as possible, so that you will have a general idea of what the appropriate answer is even before you have started to solve the question.
- If you find yourself making unnecessary or irrelevant calculations, keep the question aside for a while and see if you come up with a different perspective or idea when you get back to it.
- You can insert simple numbers into the variables of the quantities so that you can have a closer idea of their values.
There are some of the best advice that will guarantee that perfect 170 in the quant section- provided you put in enough dedication, practice and hard work. Acing this section is one large step taken in the direction of making sure that that you dominate the exam as a whole and land your dream college abroad.