Scrap paper and the GRE

[scienceisbeauty]

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When you take the GRE, you get scrap paper right? Do you get it as soon as you begin the GRE (i.e. starting at task directions) or after you've gone through the directions?
When I was reading one of my many GRE prep books, it said : you can use the directions reading time to prepare your scrap paper.
So I'm just wondering...
Could you write all the math formulas on there and then begin?

I don't know if my question is clear...but...I'm confused.

 

[myelin]

You really are worried about the GRE!😉

Yes, you get your scrap paper when you sit at your cubicle before the directions.

 

[HeyJude]

I was also prepared to use my scrap paper during instructions to get organized, as my Kaplan course instructor advised. During the instructions, however, it said something about us keeping our pencils down during that time so I just ended up using that time to try to chill out. This is as of Aug 2007 btw.

 

[scienceisbeauty]

So it comes at the cubicle you sit at. But then as soon as you sit, can you start immediately writing formulas? Right after they talk about not cheating and the rules.
And delay pressing start or dawdle in reading the directions for the GRE test.
And to myelin: Yup yup I AM!

 

[Sarahanne]

So it comes at the cubicle you sit at. But then as soon as you sit, can you start immediately writing formulas? Right after they talk about not cheating and the rules.
And delay pressing start or dawdle in reading the directions for the GRE test.
And to myelin: Yup yup I AM!

I was handed my scrap paper before I entered the computer room, but that could have been an anomaly... You actually get 6 pieces of paper front and back to right on.

A piece of advice that helped me immensely is to fold 5 pieces of paper into 9 parts. Its easy to write real big and all over the place so that you get to a point that you need more paper (which you can ask for but it takes more time)....this strategy will allow you to organize your thoughts, contain your writing and know where each question is on the page. Also, if you used one calculation for one question, and need it for another, its easy to locate. The 6th page you can use for brainstorming and organizing the essay.

Goodluck!

 

[scienceisbeauty]

Can you ask for it during the 1 min break , or ask for more after writing the essay?
What about everyone else? Did everyone get their scrap paper upon entering the room?
Can you use the time before the analytical section -- the issue/argument essays to write down math formulas?

 

[Sarahanne]

Can you ask for it during the 1 min break , or ask for more after writing the essay?
What about everyone else? Did everyone get their scrap paper upon entering the room?
Can you use the time before the analytical section -- the issue/argument essays to write down math formulas?

I think you can ask for it on break. I used the "tutoring program time" where they show you how to use the computer program to write stuff down. I'm not sure if they allow you to or not, but I don't recall being forbidden to write things down during this time.

Instead of focusing on all the little details, try to relax. The more your fret, the higher your anxiety, which may lead to poor test performance. Just go in there and do your best on test day.

 

[JockNerd]

It's been a while since I wrote, but... what formulas are you talking about? The only one I remember being useful is the Pythagorean theorem, and even then it's just better to memorize the simple relationships (3,4,5 triangle, etc) than bother going through the calculations in most instances. Area and circumference of a circle, maybe, but that's not difficult.

You really really really need to relax about the GRE. I know some people act like it's the end of the world. In a year you're going to be around some people who act like every milestone in grad school (first year, first client, Masters defense, quals, diss proposal, internship apps, etc) is the end of the world, and it's a really exquitely unhealthy attitude. The GRE verbal is simple, the math section is a "find the ETS trick" puzzle game, and the essays are graded mostly on length. 🙂

 

[cara susanna]

It might not be the best idea to write down math formulas. The quant section is a race against time, and if you have to keep looking up the formulas, it will drag you down.

 

[paramour]

Wait a sec! We were supposed to get scrap paper?! 😱 Perhaps that was my problem.

Er, or not. 😉

I'm with JN in that I have no idea what formulas you would even be fretting about writing down. I also agree in that you may wish to calm down before taking the GRE. Staying in such a tense/anxious state will only help to decrease your performance on the exam. You don't need that. Cara has a good point as well. Writing down formulas may only hinder you if you have to continuously search for the desired one. And, if you're too focused on jotting down formulas during other sections of the exam, your mind may not transition as well to what is actually being asked for/required in nonquantitative portions of the exam.

Enjoy yourself! I'm well-aware that everyone can't be me and not study for the exam (as reflected in my "okay" scores) but I honestly believe that it helped me to some extent as I wasn't nearly stressed out about it as most people I know. Just took one item at a time and worked through it. Of course, I may have done better had I been a bit more familiar with the format and actually reviewed some things, but I prefer not to stress myself out unduly. Ooooor, at least's that my excuse! 😛

To each his (or her) own! Do what is best for you, but DON'T overanalyze everything and build it up to be some gigantic obstacle that only students with superhuman abilities could even come close to doing well on it. You'll enjoy everything much more that way.

G'luck!

 

[scienceisbeauty]

Tis is true, tis is true...but I guess, from reading the Kaplan math workbook, the thing was laced with formulas and made me nauseated.

I mean, I memorized the 3,4,5 and 6,8,10 triangles,
the 30 60 90
the 45 45 90

the 1,1,root3
1,root3, 2

but I thought I had to know...other things..

My friend said that there are PERMUTATIONS on there. She got a 730 math score.

 

[cara susanna]

The math on there is seriously basic. If you find yourself doing long and advanced computations, you're approaching the question wrong.

 

[scienceisbeauty]

My friend said that as you do better and better on the math questions, you get harder and harder questions (we all know this)
She said at the end, she was getting word problems involving permutations and computations

She also said that there were finding angles of contorted figures, that took multiple x many steps

She got a 730 on the math section, so I don't know.

Oh, and she said the Kaplan math prep book sucks and is way way easier than any actual GRE problems

 

[cara susanna]

There shouldn't be anything past algebra and geometry on it.

I've taken the real GRE so I'm not just approaching this cold. Kaplan Math book is a refresher of math. It doesn't help you deal with actual GRE problems, but it's good to remind you of what you've forgotten since high school. Barrons is good for actual strategies, but you need the foundation for those strategies. Like I said, Kaplan Math raised me from a 300 to a 500, which I think is pretty good considering how bad I am at math.

Or you could be like my brother and get an 800 without even studying. Ugh.

 

[scienceisbeauty]

I am feeling better about the math section now. I did all the problems in the Kaplan, and it really gave me a strong idea of the areas I'm weak in, and a good refresher of the areas I'm stronger in.
Cara you're correct - the Kaplan *IS* a good refresher.

Also, it taught me great shortcuts 😛

 

[cara susanna]

Great to hear it! Hopefully you don't have to study as much as I did... do. 😀

 

[Terrence Chero]

Hello all!

I'm wondering how much scrap paper I can expect to get when I take the CAT GRE?
The Princeton Review book say 6 sheets but what size are they? Do you guys have any useful tips for budgeting scrap paper?

thanks!

 

[BiopsychStudent]

Hello all!

I'm wondering how much scrap paper I can expect to get when I take the CAT GRE?
The Princeton Review book say 6 sheets but what size are they? Do you guys have any useful tips for budgeting scrap paper?

thanks!

I maybe used one sheet. The quantitative section does go by quickly, and its really in your best interest to estimate and eliminate answers rather than try to actually solve the problem and plug numbers into formulas.

 

[FadedC]

I maybe used one sheet. The quantitative section does go by quickly, and its really in your best interest to estimate and eliminate answers rather than try to actually solve the problem and plug numbers into formulas.

I was going to say that as well, I found that time was really my worst enemy on that test. I understand that everyone has different problem solving styles, but I would think that if you were to actually fill up six sheets of scrap paper that you wouldn't have time to answer more then half of the questions.

 

[PsychPhDone]

Advice: get new scrap during the break if they let you. I raised my hand to get more scrap during the math section, and they wouldn't give me a new book until they took my old one away. They actually refused to bring in a blank book to do a quick swap -- they took mine and came back with a new blank one about 3 minutes later.

Still scored just under an 800 on quant but almost canceled my scores because of it! (glad I didn't cancel)