the goddamn GRE!

i'm taking the GRE for my PhD next fall and i just started studying for my test in december. i did quite well on my verbal diagnostic test but i got the lowest score possible on the math section. like i've taken math since my required astronomy course as an undergrad! i have well over a month to study and, granted, i was taking the diagnostic test while watching criminal minds on CBS, but i have to break 1200 for my own peace of mind (i need at least 1050 for funding at the university of florida). i went back and discovered some of my mistakes, but 200 on the math section just doesn't cut it. and why do i need a math GRE for a history PhD, anyway?

so, my question is this: does anyone have any studying tips for me? my math is so bad i'm probably mentally deficient in the area. but i need to remember my algebra, trig and geometry for this damn test. help!

did you get that free CD with the testing software? the sample tests and basic primers on math?

His Holiness, The Pope wrote: did you get that free CD with the testing software? the sample tests and basic primers on math?

nope. i'm too cheap. is it worth it?

sorry no, but good luck with it.

AgentWood wrote:

His Holiness, The Pope wrote: did you get that free CD with the testing software? the sample tests and basic primers on math?

nope. i'm too cheap. is it worth it?

um...it's FREE. comes with the registration fee, or it should. actually, you can download it from the GRE website, which is faster because i think they sent the actual CD to me about 2 days before the fucking test!

here

AgentWood wrote: i'm taking the GRE for my PhD next fall and i just started studying for my test in december. i did quite well on my verbal diagnostic test but i got the lowest score possible on the math section. like i've taken math since my required astronomy course as an undergrad! i have well over a month to study and, granted, i was taking the diagnostic test while watching criminal minds on CBS, but i have to break 1200 for my own peace of mind (i need at least 1050 for funding at the university of florida). i went back and discovered some of my mistakes, but 200 on the math section just doesn't cut it. and why do i need a math GRE for a history PhD, anyway?

so, my question is this: does anyone have any studying tips for me? my math is so bad i'm probably mentally deficient in the area. but i need to remember my algebra, trig and geometry for this damn test. help!

The weekend test prep brush ups are cheap and good. Kaplan has one. MAde me remember a lot of math.

That's why I'm not taking GRE. Was about to do so but at the last minute I changed my mind. Nevertheless I have to pass THEA which is more or less the same.

His Holiness, The Pope wrote: did you get that free CD with the testing software? the sample tests and basic primers on math?

They sent it to me, too. They basically offer the same samples and practice tests on their website.

AgentWood wrote: why do i need a math GRE for a history PhD, anyway?

Exactly.

No math on the LSAT.

I would make sure to not study while watching TV. Second, the sequence that I did to study for math in high school was:

Algebra I Geometry Algebra II Trig

Basically one course builds on top of another. I would suggest in getting a textbook on college algebra. After that, then a precalculus textbook. As far as test prep books, I did not buy the ones for GRE. However, I did buy a copy of how to take the SAT II Math Test, which was published by the Princeton Review. Try both the SAT IC and the SATIIC.

Hope that helps, Agent Wood.

AgentWood wrote:

His Holiness, The Pope wrote: did you get that free CD with the testing software? the sample tests and basic primers on math?

nope. i'm too cheap. is it worth it?

If math is the problem just check this out from the library

Math

Also, schedule the test on a busy day. Your score is averaged against everyone who takes it on that day.

AW, have you thought of getting a tutor? Maybe you need someone to really motivate you, if you think math is your weakest subject.

I personally find that the more often I did the math problems, the better the concepts stuck. So maybe you need to either do more math problems, have a math tutor to motivate/guide you, or do both.

Just a suggestion. :)

thank for the tips. i spent 4 hours today doing math problems. i've forgotten all of my math since the early 1990s and i'm hoping some of it will come back. i ordered a GRE math-only book, so i hope i can teach myself some math before dec. 18. i'm counting on the verbal and the written sections to carry me. i was almost in tears tonight trying to do problems. *sigh*

I'd forgotten everything mathmatical as well. Took the test a year or two ago to get into grad school. It's not as bad as they make it seem. Then again, my math scores weren't great either. The good thing is that they make the questions easier if you do poorly, so I never saw any trig on it. Still, I only got an average score.

AgentWood wrote: thank for the tips. i spent 4 hours today doing math problems. i've forgotten all of my math since the early 1990s and i'm hoping some of it will come back. i ordered a GRE math-only book, so i hope i can teach myself some math before dec. 18. i'm counting on the verbal and the written sections to carry me. i was almost in tears tonight trying to do problems. *sigh*

You can do the problems. I have faith in you! :)

Do the reward system too. Do a lot of problems, and then reward yourself. And then repeat. But make certain to take breaks too.

Believe me, it works! :) You won't feel so burned out if you do it that way.

I'm sorry your review is not going so well. :\ohwell: If you have a good local library, you might find some review books there (like Kaplan or Princeton Review), which can step you through how to solve common types of problems. I used to teach SAT math review at Kaplan and am a certified (although not practicing) math teacher here in NJ, so if there's any way I can be of help, drop me an e-mail.

Good luck!

I hated the f**king GRE. I did well too on the verbal but bombed on the math and logic since I didn't prep as much as I should. I suppose they try to make the test applicable to as many people as possible, but it is stupid that you have to focus on something that has nothing to do with the subject area. In fact it's one of the reasons why I decided to go to the UK for my MA.

Sorry that's not much of a pep talk! The best thing is to prep as much as possible, be a machine. Hope you do well!

AgentWood wrote: thank for the tips. i spent 4 hours today doing math problems. i've forgotten all of my math since the early 1990s and i'm hoping some of it will come back. i ordered a GRE math-only book, so i hope i can teach myself some math before dec. 18. i'm counting on the verbal and the written sections to carry me. i was almost in tears tonight trying to do problems. *sigh*

I don't understand. Why do you need GRE when you've got a degree and a certification already?

sweetness wrote: I suppose they try to make the test applicable to as many people as possible, but it is stupid that you have to focus on something that has nothing to do with the subject area.

It's a crock of shite.

I took my GRE's last year and hadn't done math in about 5 years. So, I bought a Baron's test prep book and went through the math section using a calculator. Then go back and, after you remember the formulas, don't use the calculator.

This blue-eyed boy that wants to be wrote: I took my GRE's last year and hadn't done math in about 5 years. So, I bought a Baron's test prep book and went through the math section using a calculator. Then go back and, after you remember the formulas, don't use the calculator.

Do you like rockabilly?

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AgentWood wrote: thank for the tips. i spent 4 hours today doing math problems. i've forgotten all of my math since the early 1990s and i'm hoping some of it will come back. i ordered a GRE math-only book, so i hope i can teach myself some math before dec. 18. i'm counting on the verbal and the written sections to carry me. i was almost in tears tonight trying to do problems. *sigh*

I don't understand. Why do you need GRE when you've got a degree and a certification already?

it's required for entrance into the PhD program, although some universities are scrapping the GRE as it's not a valid demonstration of how well a person will do in their graduate studies. still, i have no choice: masters degree and teaching certificate or not.

|| | ||| 6217|| 8 || 3 wrote:

This blue-eyed boy that wants to be wrote: I took my GRE's last year and hadn't done math in about 5 years. So, I bought a Baron's test prep book and went through the math section using a calculator. Then go back and, after you remember the formulas, don't use the calculator.

Do you like rockabilly?

No, why?

GRE? Maths tests??? Bizarre.

In the UK they'll let you onto any degree programme as long as they're convinced you'll be able to pay the fees....

I am assuming you mean this?

If so that's not testing mathematical competence, it's torture!

James Thomas wrote: I am assuming you mean this?

If so that's not testing mathematical competence, it's torture!

the GRE math test is torture. i burst into tears trying to study for it yesterday. a complete nightmare. i don't think they have calculus on it anymore, as my practice book doesn't have calculus. if it does, i'm screwed since i didn't take calculus in high school. i bailed after pre-calculus because i hated math so much and it was ruining my GPA!

and martin: i'd love to go back and do my PhD in the UK, but i need to be realistic and think about my finances. since i live in the state of florida i get in-state tuition and the department pays PhD students between $12,000-$16,000 a year for teaching and research assistantships. i can't live on that, but it offsets my tuition and i can get a part-time job to make up the rest. plus, UF is a good research school so i think it's the best choice for me at this time in my life.

See if this helps, you will probably want the C1 to C4 modules (Core maths) S modules are statistics M is mechanics. Calculus is in the C & FP (Further Pure) modules

Woodsy, I went to the ets site. Seems to me that the General GRE has algebra, geometry, and trig. The Math Subject GRE is the one with the 66 questions that include calculus. Hope that helps.

This blue-eyed boy that wants to be wrote:

|| | ||| 6217|| 8 || 3 wrote:

This blue-eyed boy that wants to be wrote: I took my GRE's last year and hadn't done math in about 5 years. So, I bought a Baron's test prep book and went through the math section using a calculator. Then go back and, after you remember the formulas, don't use the calculator.

Do you like rockabilly?

No, why?

All your avatars show rockabilly-like lads (no matter if they from DM or the Cure, you pick the rockabilly ones).

[magenta]shedmonite61[/magenta] wrote: Woodsy, I went to the ets site. Seems to me that the General GRE has algebra, geometry, and trig. The Math Subject GRE is the one with the 66 questions that include calculus. Hope that helps.

there's no calculus on the general GRE, i know that. i've been studying the GRE for dummies book. :)

|| | ||| 6217|| 8 || 3 wrote:

This blue-eyed boy that wants to be wrote:

|| | ||| 6217|| 8 || 3 wrote:

This blue-eyed boy that wants to be wrote: I took my GRE's last year and hadn't done math in about 5 years. So, I bought a Baron's test prep book and went through the math section using a calculator. Then go back and, after you remember the formulas, don't use the calculator.

Do you like rockabilly?

No, why?

All your avatars show rockabilly-like lads (no matter if they from DM or the Cure, you pick the rockabilly ones).

Should have asked if he likes rockabilly lads then.