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My experience with GRE321 (156 V, 165 Q)Exam date: 1 pm, 10th July 2013

This is for all those GRE aspirants who are currently preparing for gre. Rest ofyou probably wont get the drift.

Those in rush jump to tips, skim and buzz off.

Those who are going to read this while surfing, do me a favor. Open this in newtab, finish your surfing and read this at last.

--------------------------------PrologueWhats it like preparing for gre?Test experience: D-dayAfterTips--------------------------------

Prologue

We take a lot from this world gratis (beautiful gre word) and its better if we requite in some way.

As such, when I was preparing for gre similar memoir had inspired me, helped maintain confidence and patience (believe me youll need it, a lot) throughout my preparation.Its now my turn to show my gratitude and here it is.

I could have only posted the tips and leave but what I felt from similar posts is that they are dry, in the sense that you dont really feel them, catch them.So I thought to meld the tips with my test experience, which I think will be more helpful.

Lets go.

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Whats it like preparing for gre?

Have you seen Aankhe movie? Its about how even the blind people can rob a bank. They did it because they had simulated the whole procedure.GRE is exactly that. First, study the materials (thats obvious) and then lots ofsimulated test. I had done almost a dozen of them hence less anxious about the real test.

1 day before greHad saved ets powerpreps second test for this day.I had my test at 1 pm so I usually take simulated test at that time. Got 317, missed 3 questions on first verbal due to my fault in time management.

When you find passage abstruse or long or both better you take it at last. Second verbal was fine as I had learned my lesson about time management.Went out to buy banana for tomorrow. Id read in some gre blog about what to eat at the break and theyd recommend banana, dates and nuts.Banana has high calorie density and potassium ions, they said.Got some best of luck calls and messages. Funny incident, it was difficult to pass the time as the test is near.Though not much of a facebooker myself, I logged into FB, an old acquaintance of gre institute had sent friend request. We chatted for a while.The person on next side had no idea I had exam tomorrow. So when I revealed it,

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there was a moment of shock.

2 days before greEts books second test today. At 1 pm simulated test. Come to realize its only a day left for real test.

3, 4, 5, 6, 7 days before greI had learned in one of gre books about tapering the study hours as the test dayapproached. So I had kept myself to a full length test a day.In addition I did a very light review of some important topics which I deemed important. Pressure had begun to mount and had tried to keep myself calm.Equanimity was what I needed at this moment.

15, 16, 20 days before greYou are bound to get anxious now. You feel gre and really coming to you. Sometimes you may feel like not reading at all or read all the time.Whatever the case it, to keep you motivated,make a mental note of what youll like to do after gre, some fun thing, as an incentive to your work.There was lot of hype about Raanjhanaa and the music was by AR Rahman so, I hadplanned to watch that after gre.--------------------------------

Test experience: D-day

The importance of good night sleep cannot be underrated.It may be difficult to sleep at first but if have a brisk walk at the evening and keep to your usual sleep time youll have deep sleep.Id slept more than usual. The strange dream of teleport had overwhelmed my mind.It didnt leave me until I washed my face and faced some sunlight.After the lunch I prepared myself to leave for test center. Id given mock at thecenter and had no fear about being in new place.

Got my visa for identity requirement. Packed banana, apple and juice for snacksduring break.Had planned to go by public transportation than bike, you dont want the traffic jam to get to your nerve before test.

I was early, its better to be early than late. Had talked to the people at center during the mock about the procedure andtheyd said if the computer are available theyll admit you as soon as you arrive. Idbegin 20 minutes early.

Before that I was made to stay at waiting area. Was briefed about the provisionof 10 minutes break after 3rd section and gave a paragraph to copy.The paragraph was about the confidentiality of test question. I was checked thoroughly before entering the test room.I showed my pocket inside out. Regarding what to wear, put on what you feel comfortable in (no one objects if you wear half pant too).Its better to take a light jacket as the a/c temperature might not be to your preference.

The people are center are usually courteous (ets has trained them) and in my case except one lady supervisor everyone was polite.Prepare yourself for any kind of staff at the center. Dont get nervous if the staff is not polite,(the lady supervisor reprimanded few test takers) they are inured to test takers like you and me.Anyways I was acclimatizing to test center atmosphere by walking around the waiting room, stretching body as if Im going on race. Then, I got in.

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The environment inside the room is really solemn. You can see the supervisors outside the room through the glass partition.There are other test takers in the room deep into their test. The monitor was little far than what I was accustomed to.I didnt rush to exam, it will not start unless I click continue so I took some time to pull the monitor towards me. Got adjusted to chair and the test started.

The AW was easy, usually is. Issue was regarding the beginner bringing new ideathan expert. The argument too was usual.I found the keyboard comfortable than the one at my laptop. The writing went like a breeze.I was anxious about which one will be the experimental section and it turned outto be verbal.

I had got my lesson about time management in verbal on ets test so I went on with my usual pace.As you do that much simulated test you get the feel of whether you are taking more time than necessary for certain question. The words were familiar ones.Id consulted with test takers before my test and they had said not to worry aboutthe words. The structure of some three blank TC was really tough.

You have no idea whats the blank want when you reach the bottom of the text. Short length and middle length passage were relatively easier than the long ones.Quantitative was my forte when compared to verbal. Id some minutes to spare when

I completed Q which I used in revision.

The 10 minutes break started and I rushed out to get my snacks. After snacks, went out to wash my face. The cold water did the magic of refreshing me.I stayed out for a while getting some air.Take your mind off the test as far as you can. Human brain has the tendency to lose concentration after continuous mental work of few hoursso you need to refresh it every few hours. This is your chance to do so. Takingthe simulated test at home I had the feel of how long the 10 minutes is.I got in and there were three sets to go.

Next set, verbal, had to be strict with time now. The second set tends to be tougher than first one,

unless you perform worse in first set.So youll have to change your pace too. Then came quantitative which was much tougher than first, meaning Id performed better.The data interpretation questions were like out of the world.Id been warned about this by my friends who had already taken the test so I didntpanicked.Whatever the situation you have to maintain your composure,otherwise you are at risk of colossal damage, i.e. failure to do one difficult question will affect your ability to perform on other questions too.All you have to do is, deal one question at a time and forget about it once youclick next.The time at gre is too precious to ponder whether you answered correctly on previous question. You can always return if youve time to spare at last.

The last set was verbal and I was ready to tackle whatever comes my way.The questions were not much difficult than earlier test.As the time approached towards the end of test I saw its 10 minutes to end thetest. I was happy as well as felt to need to concentrate 10 more minutes and Im done.Finally, test is over. Score time now.

There was some fear inside me when I clicked report score.I was content when I saw the score. I was hoping for 320 or above and it was 321

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. 156 V and 165 Q. Eager to get out of the center I quickly filled the names ofthe university. The name of the university is not enough as two universities could have similar name, get the full name along with the location of university.

Got out of the center. There were some missed calls. Called home. Folks were happy to hear the score. Came to Collins,the gre institute where friends were waiting me. It was already beginning to getdark. Partied hard. Slept at around 0100 in morning.--------------------------------

After

Day after testHangover was bittersweet and helped me to get out of gre. Didnt believe that greexam is over. Freshened up. Went out to watch Raanjhanaa.

Next dayMet friends whom I hadnt met since a month.

Next dayNext dayNext day

1 week after test

Thought to write the experience down while still sleeping. GRE AW had guided into outlining before writing, which came handy.Took nearly 4.5 hours from conception to completion.--------------------------------

Tips- Simulation is the key to perform better at gre. Take as many simulated test aspossible. (Simulated test is full length test with AW, V, Q sections.)- You can hardly do better at gre if you hate gre. You may not love it at the beginning but slowly youll like it.Try not to be hostile to gre. Its for your own good. Your chance to prove yourself. Utilize it to your favor.- You have to have gre mindset, meaning; gre gets priority in your life.

This doesnt mean dont meet your friends, dont watch movies but gre needs to be your priority.- As the date approaches try to turn down the volume of the distractions. It means less interaction with world or simply more concentrated to gre.- They say gre is test of aptitude and yes it is.You cannot rote the lesson and throw up on test day.You need to change the knowledge into skill, meaning; it should be your reflex.You dont think when you remove your hand away from fire, its instinct; similarlyyou should think automatically when you are presented a gre question.It should be fast because time is crucial factor in gre.You are bound to get tired in 4 hours of testing so if you train your brain toshort circuit the thinking process youll solve the question in any condition.Practice is the key to such skill.

- Everyone had different mark requirement. Different subjects require differentmarks so know what you need first and put only the required effort.- The test can easy make you impatient, anxious and exhausted. Maintain your composure at all times. Key is simulated test.- Take mocks if available at the testing center.- Practice vocabulary much before the test day. Get your siblings to quiz you. This way they too enrich their word power and its fun to learn this way.- Taper your reading as you approach your test day. Dont change your general routine of sleep and other stuff as the test day approaches.- Stay away from distractions weeks before test day.

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- Follow the gre groups on fb. Some of the them are listed. Preparation For TheRevised GRE, GRE, New gre, all of these groups had helped me.Thanks to the creators of those groups.- Remember at all times, equanimity is the word.

Thanks to teachers, book writers, family, friends, internet, google, fb gre groups for making gre less formidable.Hope this piece of writing can assist in your conquest of gre.

Roshan Poudel17th July, 2013