We now turn our attention to Graduate Record Examinations or GRE, which is among the important tests or examinations for securing admissions to educational institutions abroad.
The bachelor’s degree certificates obtained from Indian universities may not be sufficient for securing admission to universities or other educational institutions abroad. Your knowledge and skills will have to be proved through scores in globally-accepted examinations like GRE, GMAT, LSAT, TOEFL, IELTS and so on.
GRE is an essential hurdle you should cross to prove your competence for graduate studies in foreign universities. A ‘graduate’ programme overseas would correspond to our postgraduate programme.
There are facilities for writing GRE at various centres in India. The test is conducted under the auspices of ETS (Educational Testing Service, Princeton). ( www.ets.org; e-mail: gre-info@ets.org)
There are two types of GRE tests — General Test and Subject Tests.
The General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing skills. The Subject Tests gauge undergraduate achievement in eight specific fields of study. Usually, competence proved through acceptable scores in the General Test is sufficient for securing admission to most universities. Some others may, however, insist on scores in the Subject Test concerned as well.
General Test
The skills measured are not subject-specific. It evaluates skills from a general perspective. Prospective graduate applicants can take the General Test. The scores are used by admission or fellowship panels to supplement undergraduate records and other relevant criteria while selecting candidates for graduate study. The scores provide a common platform for comparing the attributes of the applicants. They aid in evaluating grades and making recommendations. It may be remembered that the admission panels often face the task of comparing the attainments of students from diverse backgrounds drawn from different continents.
The objectives of the three parts of the General Test and the nature of questions in the computerised version of the test are as follows:
• Verbal reasoning (30 minutes): 30 questions
The skills measured include the test taker’s ability to analyse and evaluate written material and synthesise information obtained from it; analyse relationships among component parts of sentences; and recognise relationships between words and concepts.
• Quantitative reasoning (40 minutes): 28 questions
The skills measured include the test taker’s ability to understand basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis; reason quantitatively; and solve problems in a quantitative setting.
• Analytical writing: two sections, each with one writing task.
Present your perspective on an issue: 45 minutes
Analyse an argument: 30 minutes
The skills measured include the test taker’s ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively; examine claims and accompanying evidence; support ideas with relevant reasons and examples; sustain a well-focussed, coherent discussion; and control the elements of standard written English.
The General Test is offered year-round at computer-based test centres in many countries. The usual test centres in India using the computerised system are Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram. Paper-based test centres include Bangalore, Coimbatore, Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Pilani, Ranchi and Thiruvananthapuram.
In paper-based version of the General Test, the number of questions would be different.
Verbal (two sections of 30 minutes each): 38 questions each
Quantitative (two sections of 30 minutes each): 30 questions each
Analytical writing: same as for the computerised version
Analytical writing
Analytical writing involves ‘writing’ unlike the other two. This segment emphasises critical thinking skills more than fine points of spelling, grammar or syntax. By “thinking skills” we mean the ability to reason, assemble evidence to develop a position and communicate complex ideas. Errors in grammar or spelling are not taken very seriously unless they mess up clarity of expression.
A GRE essay is considered only a rough first draft, since the candidates do not have sufficient time to revise their essays. Essays in computer-based tests must be written using a word processor. But at paper-based centres, they have to be handwritten. Typed essays often appear shorter than handwritten essays. Handwritten essays may appear to be more heavily revised than typed essays. GRE readers are trained to evaluate the content of essays and to give the same score to a handwritten essay as they would to its typed version. A candidate’s final score for the analytical writing section is based solely on the scores assigned by human readers.
GRE essays are administered under standardised conditions. Essay scores can provide important information above and beyond any academic writing samples.
In essay writing, it is important to budget your time. Within the 45-minute time limit for the ‘issue’ task, you will need to allow sufficient time to choose one of the two topics, think about the issue you’ve chosen, plan a response and compose your essay. Within the 30-minute time limit for the ‘argument’ task, you will need to allow sufficient time to analyse the argument, plan a critique and compose your text. You should produce the best possible sample of your writing under the testing environment.
In the ‘issue’ task, you may totally agree or disagree with the claim or agree with some parts only. You can also question the assumptions in the statement. You have to develop your position with reasons, preferably supported by relevant examples.
In the ‘argument’ segment, you are not being asked to discuss whether the statements in the argument are true or not. Instead, you are being asked whether conclusions and inferences are validly drawn from the statements. You are not being asked to agree or disagree with the position stated; instead, you are being asked to comment on the thinking that underlies the position stated. Unless this objective is not appreciated, what you write may turn out to be irrelevant. Be on your guard against such a situation.
Earmark a few minutes at the end of each timed task to check and correct errors, if any. Although an occasional spelling or grammatical error will not affect your score, persistent errors would spoil the overall effectiveness of your writing and thereby lower your score.
Analytical writing measures different skills compared to those measured by multiple-choice questions. Some of those who learn English as a second language may have difficulties in this section unlike native speakers of the language. Since analytical writing is an important component of work in most graduate schools, the scores in analytical writing ensure the validity of the General Test.
The ‘POWERPREP Software’ that can be downloaded from the GRE web site www.ets.org/gre/greprep includes two computer-based GRE General Tests; sample analytical writing topics; scored sample essays and reader commentary; test-taking strategies; a math review; and test tutorials. ‘Barron’s GRE’ available in bookstalls is a popular tool used by several candidates.
Section that does not count towards score: In addition to what is listed above, there will be an unidentified section either in verbal or quantitative that does not count towards a score. However, you should complete all the sections, since you do not know which ones are counted for your score. In the computerised General Test, there may be an identified research section that is not scored.
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(Source: The Hindu)
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