GRE - Memory Aide

What are some general strategies during test taking?

1. Take the easy test first: In your first pass of the section, ANSWER the questions that seem EASIEST to
you and SKIP the harder/time consuming questions. On the second pass, answer the SKIPPED questions.

2. Mark and return: On your first pass through, use the mark button to flag questions that seem HARD or
TIME CONSUMING.

3. Use the review screen to navigate: On the second run through, use the review screen to directly go to
questions that were flagged.

4. Use process of elimination: For more difficult questions, use the process of elimination as there are many
more wrong answers than correct ones. Moreover, it helps increase the odds of picking the correct answer.

5. Use the scratch paper: For every single question on the GRE, use scratch paper to solve it. Do not solve
questions in your head.

6. Double-check your answers: Get in the habit of double-checking your answers before you click on your
answer choice. Make sure that you read the problem twice, checked that the information you've transcribed
is accurate, double-check methodology, and reread the question one more time before selecting your
answer.

7. Let it go: Every time you being a new section, focus on that section and put the last section you completed
behind you. Don't think about that pesky synonym or that math problem from an earlier section
ANYMORE. It will distract you and impede optimal performance.

Describe the verbal section?

 There are three main types of question on the verbal section of the test:
o Text completion: These questions consist of short sections of text with one or more blanks and ask
you to select the answer choice that logically fits the blank.
o Sentence equivalence: These questions consist of one question in which you are asked to chose 2 out
of 6 possible answer choices that logically complete the sentence.
o Reading comprehension: These questions ask you to first read 1-5 paragraphs and then answer a series
of questions.

Note: The verbal section tends to follow the following structure: (1) text completion, (2) reading
comprehension, (3) sentence equivalence, and (4) reading comprehension.
What are some general strategies for the verbal section?
1. Prioritize accuracy over speed: You are not rewarded for incorrect answers. Hence, it's better to make sure
you get an answer right than to answer all of the questions.

2. Use the mark button: As mentioned earlier, in your first pass of the section, ANSWER the questions that
seem EASIEST and MARK/SKIP the questions that seem HARD or TIME CONSUMING.

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3. Use the process of elimination: Using the process of elimination is the most effective way of avoiding trap
answers.
 Consider every choice, even if you think you know the answer.
 Eliminate all answer choices that have a concrete flaw.
 If an answer choice seems confusing or doesn't make sense the first time you read it, leave it as an
option.
 Cycle through the answer choices until you're down to only one choice.

4. POOD (Personal Order of Difficulty): Answer the question type you find easiest first. For example, if you
are better at reading comprehension than at sentence equivalence or text completion questions, go straight
to reading comprehension.

What are the steps to solving a text completion question?

1. Find the clues and transition words:
 Clues:
o Who or what is the blank describing?
 Noun: person., thing, or idea
 Verb: action or process
 Adjective: description
o What else in the passage provides insight into that person or thing?
 Transition words: They tell how the clue relates to the blank.

Agreement/Cause and Effect with the clues Disagreement with the clues

Accordingly, also, and, because, consequently, Although, but, despite, even though, however, in
for example, furthermore, hence, in addition, contrast, instead, nevertheless, nonetheless, on
moreover, next, similarly, since, so, therefore, the other hand, or, previously, rather than, still,
thus, too, ; - (semicolon), : - (colon) though, unfortunately, whereas, while, yet.

2. Come up with your own word or phrase for the blank (and write it down on the scratch paper)
o RECYCLE: Use words that are already in the sentence.
Note: If you can’t choose a word, see whether the blank is a positive or negative connotation.
3. Check the answer choices using process of elimination :
 Answer the sort of matches your word.
 Answer the does not match your word.
? Word that you don't know.
Note: Make sure to use process of elimination.
 Never talk yourself into picking a word you've already eliminated.
 If you are choosing between a word you've eliminated and a word you don't know, pick the word
you don't know.
 Never eliminate words you don't know.
 NEVER LISTEN TO YOUR EARS. If an answer choice matches your word but doesn't sound
right when inserted into the blank, it's probably still right.
 Don't forget to mark and move, particularly if you have trouble finding clues, transition words,
or the POE has not yielded a single answer.

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 Practice:

1. The star receiver is widely regarded as one of

the top talents in the game, but his ________
performance as a rookie almost ended his
career.
a) Clues: