gre hell

[quellers]

So I'm scheduled to take the GRE on the 25th, which is now a week-ish away. I'm doing fine with verbal, but the quantitative section is really killing me. I haven't taken a math class since high school, haven't done math without a calculator since middle school, and generally feel math illiterate. I've been working primarily with Barron's GRE book

Comments

[signsoflife]

Do you have any friends who would be willing/able to sit down with you and walk you through the stuff you have trouble with?

Do you know what kinds of problems you specifically have difficulty with, and why?

Are you running out of time because you get stuck on harder (or tricksy) problems?

Learning to identify and handle some of the specific kinds of questions they ask, and learning to pace yourself, can help a lot. So can some time spent interactively with someone who explain things to you will help more at this point than powering through prep books (many of which actually are more sucky and confusing than helpful, in my opinion.)

[quellers]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been trying to get my uncle to help me, but he's more of a number-cruncher than a math strategizer. I just sent a friend a message asking for help. Hopefully we can get together soon.

I have problems with everything. I'll read over the review and the tips/tactics and genuinely feel like I've understood them and can go forward... but then I'll start answering the questions and either I'll a) draw a blank or b) feel very confident but end up picking the wrong choices anyway. It's very discouraging.

But hopefully my friend will be able to help out. thanks.

[gangur]

Moving from the low 400s to 600 is a pretty big leap. A week off though? Well, I'd say do problems and problems and problems and really read the explanations for those that you get right and wrong.

[quellers]

yeah, probably too big of a leap. I'm not getting my hopes up, but I'm going to work towards it anyway.

[mallyns]

My suggestion, which I know you might not like, but it might be the best way to do what you want is, don't take the GRE right now. Instead, take some more math classes so you can really learn this stuff. If you are taking a look at school, make sure your area of study doesn't include math.

I'm not great at math and I'm taking the GRE in about a year. That's the route I'm taking.

[gangur]

Do universities offer basic math courses? The GRE covers middle school and early high school math.

[mallyns]

Yes, but not for credit towards your math in order to graduate.

[gangur]

Okay, but as far as GRE prep, it's probably best to focus on what's on the test.

[gangur]

Is your problem that you can't do the problems or that you can't do the problems quickly?

And, I'm not trying to shill for Kaplan, but I found that their backsolving/picking numbers REALLY worked for me for speed.

[quellers]

oh, I can do the problems, and quickly... it's just that when I do actually understand the question and think I've solved it, it turns out to be the wrong answer. I'm still trying to figure out if it's because I make dumb mistakes or if I never *really* understood the questions in the first place. There's also always questions that I can't do too, but I think that's been decreasing with practice.

and yeah, that was one of the tactics that I really liked a lot, the backsolving. I read about that and a light definitely went off... and that was only like a week and a half ago, so I'm still incorporating that into my strategy. yay backsolving.

[gangur]

If you're falling for the wrong answer, it looks like backsolving/picking numbers might be the way to go.

[ohjenny]

I found the Barroon's math section to be AWFUL and not very comparable to the section on the GRE. I really liked the Kaplan book. Did you try the powerprep practice tests? they are pretty telling of your actual scores (usually!). Good luck.

[quellers]

really? What was awful about it?
I wonder if it makes sense at this point to switch books...

[diva_tami]

I haven't taken the GRE (yet), but I found the math review on the PowerPrep to be helpful. I have the Kaplan book too...but I don't like it as much. My practice tests (from PowerPrep) were good the last time I them, but their review looks similar to the practice test.

[ohjenny]

I just thought it was more frustrating and complex than the test and other books. Since you are so close, I probably wouldn't switch books but you can probably use the free Kaplan resources on their website and I would definitely go by the scores you get from powerprep practice tests. good luck