| The GRE, or graduate record examination, tests your | | | | section. You will also have to take an "unscored" |
| verbal, mathematical and critical abilities as part of the | | | | section that includes questions being tested for later |
| graduate school admissions process. Most schools will | | | | exams. The subject tests will test what you have |
| require you to admit your GRE score as part of your | | | | learned so far in a subject to see how well prepared |
| application, similar to what you had to do when you | | | | you are for a graduate program in that field. |
| took the SAT for college. Before you have any | | | | How can I prepare? |
| test-taking nightmares, read these questions and | | | | The Educational Testing Service (ETS), which |
| answers to discover what you need to do to | | | | administers the GRE, provides sample questions, |
| prepare. | | | | strategies and one full-length test at its Web site, |
| Which GRE tests do I have to take? | | | | along with sample subject tests. If you do take |
| Read the school's requirements carefully. Do not | | | | these sample tests, try to take them in conditions as |
| assume that you have to take the GRE at all. Then | | | | close to the actual test conditions as possible, and |
| again, other programs may require the GRE and a | | | | time yourself exactly how you would be timed during |
| subject exam in your specific field. Subject exam | | | | the real test. This way, you are less likely to panic if |
| fields include Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, | | | | you find yourself running low on time on the actual |
| Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Literature in | | | | test day. |
| English, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology. Even if | | | | Several companies offer GRE prep courses, but, |
| you are applying to a program that corresponds with | | | | before you invest in those, you may want to see |
| a subject exam, the program may not require it. | | | | how you do on the ETS sample test or pick up a |
| What does the GRE involve? | | | | test prep book from a bookstore. These books |
| The GRE is similar to the SAT, with a verbal portion | | | | include several practice tests. An alternative to GRE |
| and a math portion. You will also need to write two | | | | prep courses is GRE tutoring, which can help you if |
| essays that show your analytical abilities. The writing | | | | you prefer one-on-one guidance or would like to |
| section always comes first, followed by the other | | | | focus on a specific area of the test. |