GRE in 8 Days

[mcgarryseanm]

Hi,

I'm taking the GRE on the 15th. I'm looking for some tips about how to prepare/relax. I'm extremely anxious about it. I've consistently scored in the 99th percentile on most standardized tests (even the Massachusetts Teachers Licensing Exam, which most people don't even pass on the first 2 attempts). However, there is SO much riding on this test that I'm psyching myself out. I'm going through the entire 5 LB book between this and next week. I've been studying since July.

Ph.D. programs have around a 6% acceptance rate... so the GRE is CRITICAL. My quant scores are what is really scaring me and Ph.D. programs weight the Quant much more than the Verbal. My last 7 practice tests have yielded the following results:

TEST Verbal Quant

Powerprep test 1 159 (81st) 151 (44th)

Other prep company 153 (59th) 149 (37th)

Powerprep test 2 160 (84th) 146 (25th)

MP test 1 158 (78th) 151 (44th)

Other prep company 154 (63rd) 152 (48th)

MP Test 2 160 (84th) 156 (64th)

Now, I felt great after that test... it was my highest score and it's high enough to get me into any of the 10 schools I've applied to. HOWEVER, test 7:

MP #3 158 (78th) 152 (48th)

I really would like high 80th/low 90th perc. verbal and high 70/low 80 quant. I still have 2 MP tests left and 1 powerprep (the untimed test that I will still time myself on). I plan on taking a MP test tomorrow, the last MP test on Tuesday and the final ETS test on Thursday.

So, any suggestions? And please, whoever responds, please don't suggest the average things that are suggested in the MP class #9. I need some outside of the box thinking regarding scoring higher and anxiety being lower.

PS.... score select does not help me. The 15th is my 1 and only shot at this. My schools all have deadlines of 12/1.

Thanks.

[tommywallach]

Hey Sean,

There's no easy answer for how to improve, unfortunately. (If there were, I'd be out of a job!). I will say this: Just running questions will not make you improve. You have to change the way you do things. So I'm not telling you to get our books, but I am telling you that simply running practice tests and 5lb. book questions will not lead to much improvement (as you're seeing).

I will also say that 8 days isn't really enough to see much improvement (a typical class is 3 months), so I wouldn't really stress about it. Stay relaxed, and hope you have a good test day!

-t

[mcgarryseanm]

Hey Sean,

There's no easy answer for how to improve, unfortunately. (If there were, I'd be out of a job!). I will say this: Just running questions will not make you improve. You have to change the way you do things. So I'm not telling you to get our books, but I am telling you that simply running practice tests and 5lb. book questions will not lead to much improvement (as you're seeing).

I will also say that 8 days isn't really enough to see much improvement (a typical class is 3 months), so I wouldn't really stress about it. Stay relaxed, and hope you have a good test day!

-t

Don't get me wrong; I've already taken the MP course. The 5 LB book is just my way of wrapping things up.

[tommywallach]

OH! That makes much more sense. Then yes, just running questions and the 5lb book is perfect. I still stand by the "don't expect a ton of improvement in 8 days" thing though! Focus on executing your gameplan (i.e. "I'm good at THIS type, so I'll spend extra time there; I'm bad at THIS type, so I won't waste time trying if it seems hard."), rather than trying to really have big improvements.

-t