GRE Quant: You can't trick the test—use “keys” instead

It often seems that, regarding standardized test prep, there is a demand for lists of “tips and tricks” to outsmart the test and improve your math scores with minimal effort.

I like to think of them more as “keys”—a different metaphor, because, in my years of experience tutoring GRE candidates, I have come to believe that the test is actually trick-proof. That said, we can learn about specific “keys” that can help unlock a possible solution to an unfamiliar question.

Here is an example using a Quantitative Comparison question:

Here is a “key:”

Recognize this as a scare tactic. The numerals are switched to create some visual spaghetti.

1. Translate into a Math sentence using: ____% of _____ = _____.

2. Calculate each side of the equation.

Since the quantities are equal, the answer would be “C” on your answer sheet.

While we all are certainly behind employing tips and tricks to get more questions right and improve scores, these are really adjunct to the actual content knowledge and/or skills needed to achieve high scores.

When viewed as more of a boost, though, they really can help. If you already have some knowledge of the math principles, those can provide that key you might need to complete the problem.

The GRE Isn't an Achievement Test

Actually, the GRE is partly an achievement test. But, I chose the above title because I believe that thinking of the GRE as an achievement test doesn’t help much, and can even hinder your preparation efforts.

An achievement test is about what you know, as opposed to how you problem-solve using what you know. This is because the majority of the questions have twists and turns, like spaghetti, and it is our job to unravel it. So, as we study and practice, we learn how to unravel it, learn some strategies, and create a game plan.

It can help tremendously to adjust how we think about the test. (It’s not just a perceived barrier to acceptance into the graduate program of your choice.) What is the test trying to do? What does it (the authors, actually) want to know about me and my thinking skills?

How to Increase your score on the Discreet GRE Verbal Questions

If you have tried some of the “vocabulary” questions on the GRE, you will know what I mean when I say many of them are way out there! Some I myself have never encountered before! But, that said, there is an approach that can maximize your score.

Here are some considerations:

1. Don’t consider it a vocabulary test. A vocabulary test implies you either know or don’t know the meaning of the words. In reality, you will be making educated guesses for many of the questions. I recommend GRE Vocab Capacity, by McElroy and Kotchian, a book of 1300 words commonly seen on previous GRE exams, with mnemonic devices to remember them. The idea is, you don’t try to memorize the words; you just read through the book.

2. You can count on more than half of the questions to need “unpacking.” The GRE brings contextual clues to a new level. On many questions, you will need to unravel some logic, such as double negatives.

3. An effective method for filling in the blanks is to cover up the answer choices and think of your own word or phrase to go in the blank(s). I have seen students almost double their correct answers doing this.

4. Expect to do a fair amount of guessing and using the process of elimination.