|
|
Graduate Record Examination
The Graduate Record Examination or GRE is a standardized test that is
an admissions requirement for many graduate schools in the United
States. It is created and administered by the Educational Testing
Service and is similar in format and content to the SAT.
GRE Section in Detail
GRE General Test
Format
Unlike the SAT, the GRE is a computer-based test. It is a
computer-adaptive test: while the number of questions in any given
section is fixed, the difficulty and scoring value of those
questions varies according to the previous responses provided by the
test-taker. Rather than having a fixed point value, questions of
varied difficulty are used in order to 'zero in' on the level of
question that represents the upper bound of the test-taker's
ability. Because of the way in which the score value changes over
the course of the test, early questions are much more important in
determining the final score than those that appear near the end of a
section. Questions cannot be skipped or returned to.
The General Test consists of three graded sections, and one research
or experimental section that is not included in the reported score.
Multiple-choice response sections are graded on a scale of 200-800,
in 10 point increments. The writing section is graded on a scale of
0-6, in half- point increments. Sections may appear in any order on
the test, with the exception of the Analytic Writing section, which
always appears first.
One graded multiple-choice section is always a verbal section,
consisting of analogies, antonyms, and reading comprehension
passages. This section primarily tests vocabulary, and average
scores in this section are substantially lower than those in the
quantitative section.
The quantitative section, the other multiple-choice section,
consists of problem solving and quantitative comparison questions
that test high-school level math, including algebra and basic
geometry. The problems in this section must be solved without a
calculator. Average scores on the quantitative section are generally
higher than those on the verbal section, though the material may
present a challenge for students who have not studied mathematics
since high school.
The analytical writing section requires the testee to write two
short essays: one presenting their perspective on a statement, and
the other analyzing and pointing out flaws in an argument. Each
essay is scored by at least two readers on a six-point holistic
scale. If the two scores are within one point, the average of the
scores is taken. If the two scores differ by more than a point, a
third reader examines the response.
Use in admissions
Many graduate schools in English-speaking countries (especially in
the U.S.A.) require GRE test results as part of the application
procedure. The GRE test is a standardized test intended to measure
the abilities of all graduates in tasks of general academic nature,
regardless of their fields of specialization. The GRE is supposed to
measure the extent to which undergraduate education has developed an
individual's verbal and quantitative skills in abstract thinking.
Unlike other standardized admissions tests (such as the SAT, LSAT,
and MCAT), the use and weighting of GRE scores varies considerably
not only school by school, but department by department and program
by program. Programs in liberal arts topics may only consider the
applicant's verbal score to be of interest, while math and science
programs may only consider quantitative ability. However, since most
applicants to math, science, or engineering graduate programs all
have high quantitative scores, the verbal score can become a
deciding factor in even these programs. Some schools use the GRE in
admissions decisions, but not in funding decisions; others use the
GRE for the selection of scholarship and fellowship candidates, but
not for admissions. In some cases, the GRE may be a general
requirement for graduate admissions imposed by the university, while
particular departments may not consider the scores at all. Most
graduate schools provide information to potential applicants about
how the GRE is considered in admissions and funding decisions, and
about the average scores of previously admitted students.
In general, schools do not place a great deal of weight on the
analytical writing section. Most programs that involve significant
expository writing require the submission of a prepared writing
sample that is considered more useful in determining writing
ability. However, the writing scores of foreign students are
sometimes given more scrutiny and are used as an indicator of
overall comfort with and mastery of conversational English. |
|
