GRE Bites

Today's episode is a brief announcement in which I share some exciting news: Stellar is now fully updated for the new, shorter version of the GRE! Not only has the manual and mock exams received an overhaul, but several new features have been added to the product to help students achieve their target scores even faster than before. Get started for free today, and see for yourself! Check out Stella...

In today's episode, Orion solves a single-blank text completion question in real-time using strategies from the Stellar system. With sufficient practice, students should be able to solve vocab-based questions like this in less than a minute -- though active use of the relevant techniques may be necessary to achieve this outcome. Efficient solution of vocab-based questions is essential to bank enou...

The railroad system in Japan is one of the most efficient and complex in the world. It's also one of the safest, and major accidents -- let alone delays -- are almost non-existent. In today's episode, Orion shares one of Japan Railway's secrets for ensuring close attention to detail under demanding time tables: the point-and-call system. The rest of the episode is devoted to discussing the implica...

Since the GRE general test is the most commonly required standardized test for a graduate school application, many people aren't even aware that the GRE subject tests exist. In today's episode, we discuss what these tests are, how they differ from the GRE general test, and why anyone in their right mind might sit for them -- especially if they are not a required component of a grad school applicat...

Davis and Orion respond to another question from a listener in today's episode of GRE Bites. The request is from a student with an arts background who is concerned about his ability to score highly on the quantitative section of the test. Apparently, math has never come easy for him, and he is worried that this time around won't be any different. Is it possible for folks who even struggle with the...

In today's episode, Orion and Davis respond to an email from a listener who is concerned as to whether her GRE goals are attainable, despite not being a "high-performer." While some folks tend to have an easier time of things than others, Orion reassures her that achieving a 160 on each section of the test is within the capabilities of the vast majority of students. In fact, awareness of one's own...

Transfer errors are the second-most common type of careless error on the GRE. Like all forms of carelessness, these errors can be enormously frustrating, as they prevent students from receiving points they otherwise deserve. In this episode, Orion shares several actionable strategies for reducing transfer errors that require absolutely no training. Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated GRE self-stud...

Letters of recommendation are essential components of any grad school application. We all know they're supposed to be glowing endorsements of your ability. But isn't that true of everyone else's? So how can you get your letters to stand out from the rest? In this episode, Orion shares his counterintuitive approach to securing outstanding letters of recommendation. Check out StellarGRE: our top-rat...

For various reasons, many students' undergraduate GPAs might be lower than they would like. Sometimes, these students approach their GRE prep from the perspective that a high score on the test will help to compensate for the "sins of their academic past." In this episode, Davis and Orion will discuss whether this is actually true, and what can practically be done. Check out StellarGRE: our top-rat...

In today's episode, Orion demonstrates how to solve the most common question type on the quantitative section of the GRE: a plug-in problem. He walks through the second-by-second workflow for answering these types of problems in less than a minute, using simple arithmetic. He and Davis then troubleshoot common issues with the technique. Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated GRE self-study program, a...

When they begin their prep, many students struggle to answer every question within the time limit. They rush to do so, which typically increases their careless error rate on problems they "should" have gotten right. In today's episode, Orion and Davis discuss whether it's actually necessary to attempt every question on the GRE. The answer might surprise you. Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated GRE...

In this episode, Orion offers a real-time demonstration of how to solve a sentence equivalence problem on the GRE. He walks through the second-by-second workflow associated with solving these verbal question types quickly and accurately: from scanning the answer choices to forming synonym pairs to performing the word search technique to matching against the forced choice. If he can do it, so can y...

Getting a study buddy to prepare for the GRE can be an excellent idea for a variety of reasons. For example, working in conjunction with a friend can improve compliance and provide accountability. It also creates teachable opportunities, if the two of you possess complementary strengths. Orion discusses methods of structuring social study time to minimize distraction and prevent idle socializing....

This technique is as useful on the GRE writing section as it is in grad school, itself. The secret to good academic writing is to utilize the DRI rubric. This stands for: describe, report, interpret. In this way, students can write well-structured and coherent body paragraphs in a fraction of the time by leaning on a flexible and consistent structure. Orion demonstrates what this might look like o...

Many PhD programs offer their successful applicants a full scholarship and a living stipend in addition to their admissions. What's not to like? The reality of the situation, however, is that there's no such thing as a free lunch. Doctoral candidates who accept these offers can expect to work for the university full-time and with poor boundaries. And that full-time labor would likely be more lucra...

In today's episode, Davis and Orion react to the FAQ recently released by ETS concerning the upcoming revisions to the GRE general test. Among other things, we confirm the time durations of each section of the test, as well as the question splits between the sections. Orion goes on to consider how these changes will impact the balance between accuracy and efficiency, and whether it may be a better...

Different test prep companies have different approaches to preparing for the GRE. However, one thing that our competitors seem to have in common is a reliance on oversaturation as a didactic principle. Whether it's asking students to read a 10-volume manual or solve an endless number of practice problems, most prep companies overshoot the mark. On the other hand, Stellar takes a more tactical appr...

As we recently reported, the GRE will be changing significantly starting in September 2023. Why is this happening? Orion and Davis discuss the official line from ETS, the developers of the GRE, and conjecture as to some other potential motivating factors. As was the case when the GRE transformed into its current version some 15 years ago, there are likely economic forces in play behind the scenes...

Many students find the time limit to be the most difficult part of the GRE. However, there are some hotshots out there who can complete problem sets with a great deal of time to spare. This episode is for those individuals. If students are completing sets with several minutes left on the clock, and if these students are not yet achieving perfect scores, they are likely missing points from careless...

Sitting for full-length practice tests is an indispensable part of preparing for the GRE. Nothing else gives students a taste of the sustained concentration necessary to succeed on the exam, and the opportunity to practice systemic approaches to the test is invaluable. In this episode, Orion and Davis discuss how best to integrate these mock tests into your prep, including: when to do so, how to d...

Big news for future grad students: the GRE exam is changing! The version of the test will be available to students starting in late September 2023. While all of the details are not yet clear, the most significant (and welcome) change is a dramatic reduction in the length of the test: from 4 hours to 2 hours! In this episode, Orion shares everything he currently knows about the changes coming down...

Can you cram for the GRE? This is an easy question to answer: no, you can't. However, it isn't actually immediately apparent why you can't cram for the test. After all, you can potentially memorize all of the quantitative material needed to ace that section in a day, and you can read the entire Stellar strategy manual required for a perfect score on the test in a week. So what's the hold up? The m...

The way in which students accrue points on the GRE is not intuitive. In today's episode, Orion lays bare the abstruse point structure of the test, and how these points are converted into raw scores, scaled scores, and percentiles. Awareness of this information undergirds a good deal of the strategy in the Stellar system, which capitalizes of the fact that no one question is worth more points than...

Life is not a straight line. It often happens that people decide to make a career change after several years in the workforce, and this change requires they sit for the GRE before launching into a new field of study. These folks are often anxious about approaching testing after so many years; however, as Orion explains, such students are often at an advantage over those who take the test immediate...

There are many different test prep resources available to students, who often wonder whether they should engage a private tutor to prepare for the GRE. Like any other option, there are pros and cons associated with this approach. In general, Orion recommends that students attempt to take themselves as far as possible on their own before engaging the services of an expert, as this will reduce overa...