GRE 2011 - Change in Format

With start of year 2011, we would like to remind our student community aspiring for admission to graduate schools, ETS will be changing the format for GRE Examination starting August 2011.

The Calculator: good or bad?

This new feature introduced by ETS looks very exciting at first view. The calculator will surely help the students in Problem Solving and Data Interpretation questions. This will make the calculations much easier, but not the overall test.

With the new format in-place, it is expected that a new question pattern will be introduced that will have lengthier calculations. Also, the answers to questions from some topics like Permutations and Combinations, Probability and Algebra, whose answers were left in nCr, factorial or sqrt form will have to be solved completely to match the options!

Advice – Start practicing questions with higher difficulty level. Use New GRE softwares (with calculators) to practice questions. You can practice questions from TopGrecoaching.com with Microsoft-Windows On-screen calculator.


Changes in Problem solving problems: Practical problems
ETS has constantly been putting efforts to make the test more practical. The new model of the paper will provide it with further more freedom to put in more practical questions. But what difference does it make to a test taker??
Take a look at the following example:-


Question Text:
There are two trains A and B of same lengths. Each starts simultaneously in the opposite direction from two different cities C and D on same track. The two trains meet at a point E. They arrive at their destinations 9 and 4 hours respectively after their meeting each other at E. Assuming that the trains travel at uniform speed and do not stop in between, at what rate does the second train B travels if the first train travels at 80 km per hour?


Answer Explanation:
We form that VA/VB = ?tb/ta
VA/VB = ?9/4 = 3/2
VA = 3/2 x 80 = 120 km/hrs.
To be deleted-(Source: edited question from-http://www.topcatcoaching.com/admin/cms/showQuestion/0/7202/188/107/168 )
The above question is a simple Time-Speed-Distance question. The solution is small. But the practical aspect introduces lots of redundant information and makes the question difficult to comprehend. The questions will further increase in length and complexity of details, though the amount of mathematical calculations needed would remain same.
Advice - Do not skip lengthier questions while practicing. Practice more question on – Time-Speed-Distance, Probability, and Set theory. Avoid direct equation based questions.


Changes in Verbal Ability Section: - More emphasis on Cognitive abilities.
ETS intends to bring more ‘thinking’ into the exam pattern. Earlier the RC questions on GRE were relatively direct and simple. With this new pattern in place, we can expect more of the following types:-

• Inference based questions
• Conclusion based
• Point of view of Author
• Author will support which of the following
• Main Idea of the passage
• Reasoning based questions
• Summary based questions
• Assumption based questions

The answers to above questions require relatively better understanding of passage.


Advice
Read the passage thoroughly.
Do not skim the passage. While reading the passage, take note of changes in author’s style and tone, carefully analyze the turns caused by words, such as – Although, Unfortunately, Sadly, In spite of, likely, etc. Majority of the questions will lie around them.


Changes in Analytical Writing (AWA): - More focused
Again, more cognitive ability is expected from the students. The ETS will be more strict while evaluating the responses in GRE AWA. Students would be expected to write more direct and focused essays. In short, no stories and no out-of-the-topic content.

Your answers should reflect your analytical writing skills, which includes reasoning abilities, critical reasoning and logical reasoning.


Advice
1. Read the Topic carefully and give a good thought before start writing.
2. Try to analyze both pros and cons of the topic; they will reflect your reasoning abilities.
3. Your examples should be more relevant and appropriate to the context.
4. Write a clear and direct introductory paragraph, showing your clarity of the topic

Start Preparing for the Launch in 2011. Here Are Important Dates You Need to Know:

Table with important dates about the GRE revised General Test

MONTH	MILESTONE
2010
JULY	Free test prep available to test takers
2011
AUGUST – SEPTEMBER	August 1: First day of testing for revised test For tests administered in August – September, scores will be reported starting in early November
OCTOBER	For tests administered in October, scores will be reported starting in mid-November*
NOVEMBER	For tests administered in November, scores will be reported starting in late November*
DECEMBER	Score reporting returns to the regular reporting period (10 – 15 days after test date)*

Dates reflect scores sent through SCORELINK® Internet Delivery Service. Scores reported on paper reports will be sent approximately one week later. Check back for a more detailed reporting schedule in early 2011.

*Score reports for paper-based administrations will continue to be reported six weeks after test date.

Source : http://www.topcoaching.com/ and http://www.ets.org

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