How can I improve my math score on the GRE?

[PizzaButt]

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I took the GRE about 3 weeks ago and did awesome on verbal but horrible on math. I got in the upper 400's in math, which was 200 points lower than my verbal score.

I took a commercial prep course, studied for two months, and basically did all my practice materials and questions for math. On my practice tests, I was getting in the mid to upper 500's. I realize that I'm no math genius, but I didn't expect to get such a low score on the actual test.

Part of the problem is that while I've learned all the concepts and formulas, when it comes to questions that require more innate problem-solving ability (mainly word problems), I don't know how to do them. It's like I do not have that innate problem-solving ability to score higher than the upper 500's.

Interestingly, I was a National Merit scholar and rocked the SATs, and I got the same score on both in math and verbal. So maybe I've just gotten dumber, or this math is a lot harder. I've also been out of college for 10 years, though I recently took stats as a pre-req and got an A.

I realize this is a huge problem, and it saddens me that my score will keep me out of grad school next year (though I am still applying with my current score, just in case a school decided not to toss my application out based on my GRE score, because I think I have a strong application otherwise, and I have a very high GPA). I am planning to re-take the test soon and send the schools that score, though I am not sure when I should take it. I'm thinking the first week of Jan.

But I don't know what I can do to improve. I feel that I did all I could to prepare. Unfortunately, this bad GRE score has seriously affected my motivation, because I feel like I did all I could to study, and put in all that effort already.

What materials did you use to do well in math? Since I have already done all my prep course materials, I need more. What materials were particularly helpful? I know all the concepts, but I need good practice problems, preferably with detailed explanations.

 

[jdawgg]

Have you hired a private tutor to go over areas of weakness?

 

[yikes]

did you do ALL the practice problem on the gre site? i found those to be really similar to the questions i had on the test. it can be helpful to learn how to solve those problems so you can just plug in the new numbers on the test. additionally, it helps with guessing. good luck!

 

[JockNerd]

First, I'd suggest you go over a practice test and code what you got right and wrong. I know you said you do poorly on word problems, but did you check that against the real data from your tests? Often people think they're terrible at things they're fine at, and good at things they can improve on 😛

Complete a few dozen of the sort of problems that you're weak at by reading the question, making a quick informed guess, and then read and answer and make sure you understand why that's the correct answer. Try working backward from the answer and through the process, rather than stabbing at dozens of questions.

After you think you have a handle on the process behind getting the answer ETS wants, do a few dozen more questions like you would on the real GRE (i.e. don't spend more than a minute on each one).

I found the Princeton Review book to be excellent prep for the GREs.

 

[deleted176373]

I found the Princeton Review book to be excellent prep for the GREs.

This is the best advice. Work all the problems in the Princeton book. 3 days took my score from a 500 to a 740. Just learn all the little tricks to answering the problems.

The math score is the easy one to fix, so don't be too bummed out.

Mark

 

[wdd]

I found the Princeton Review book to be excellent prep for the GREs.

Definitely. I was completely math-phobic before I read the PR book, and I went from a 540 to a 660.

Highly recommended.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

. The math score is the easy one to fix, so don't be too bummed out.

Exactly. It is all about learning the "types" of questions, and how to answer each one.

-t

 

[JockNerd]

The math score is the easy one to fix, so don't be too bummed out.

Very true. The verbal is a lot more about a lifetime of good reading and a lot of luck with what words you draw. Your math mark is more under your control and much easier to improve.