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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">Subject: </th>
<td>GRE info for students</td>
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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">Date: </th>
<td>Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:50:46 -0700</td>
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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">From: </th>
<td>Carla P. Espana <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:carlaespana@umail.ucsb.edu"><carlaespana@umail.ucsb.edu></a></td>
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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">To: </th>
<td><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:mcconney@psych.ucsb.edu">mcconney@psych.ucsb.edu</a></td>
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<pre>Hi Catherine,
I figured all the psych students could gain from learning about the
GRE so is there any way you could forward this to the listserve
whenever you come back from break? Thanks, hope all is well! Carla
Dear Carla,
As part of our commitment to providing the highest quality test
preparation in the industry, and to ensuring that students are up to
date with the latest GRE information, we'd like to provide Psi Chi with
the following information about the GRE exam, what students have been
seeing on test day, and the latest updates to our GRE preparation
programs. Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions
about this information.
What changes were introduced into the GRE exam recently?
* New question types added this past fall: Two new question types
were introduced to the GRE exam beginning in Nov 2007, Numeric Entry and
Text Completion. At the present time, the inclusion of these questions
is limited, with test-takers only seeing one, or possibly none, of these
un-scored question types, but ETS has said that as soon as they have
sufficient data they will begin to score these question types, and they
have advised that students treat the questions as if they are scored.
It is important that students are familiar with these new question
types, as many will find these to be more challenging than other GRE
question types. Please see <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.kaptest.com/newgre">www.kaptest.com/newgre</a> for examples of the
question types with explanations.
* Increased frequency of 3 Reading Comp passages: Many GRE
test-takers over the past six months have been reporting seeing 3
Reading Comp passages on Test Day, where previously most students only
saw 2 passages.
* Experimental Analytical Writing Section: In recent months GRE
test-takers have been reporting an increasing incidence of their
experimental or un-scored section of the test being in the form of an
essay/analytical writing section. In order to be fully prepared for
the challenge of test day, prospective test-takers should be ready to
face any type of experimental section, including Analytical Writing.
* Updated formatting of Reading Comp questions: In January 2008,
ETS began implementing a minor formatting change to Reading
Comprehension passages. Currently, passages accompanying Reading
Comprehension questions contain line numbers that reference specific
parts of the passages. Those line numbers will be gradually replaced
with highlighting when necessary in order to focus the test taker on
specific information in the passage. Please note that this is a minor
change, which only some students will encounter initially, but is
indicative of more changes to come.
What do these changes mean for students?
The trends and minor changes are indicators that the ETS is actively
working to make more thorough changes to the GRE. These changes, such
as the addition of two new question types in November, will make the GRE
more challenging for many students. We recommend that students sign up
for test dates now and take the GRE before ETS begins scoring the new
question types, and before they introduce additional question types and
format changes.
When should students take the GRE exam?
Beyond these updates, ETS has continued to state that additional changes
are planned for the GRE exam in the coming 1-2 years, with the details
yet to be determined. Overall it is in students' best interest to take
the exam sooner rather than later, so that they will not be faced with
continued uncertainty and/or more difficult question types. GRE scores
are valid for 5 years, so even if students are considering applying to
grad school in the coming years, they can still prep for the exam and
take it now, and have it out of the way by the time they are ready to
apply. Most students prepare for 2-3 months for the GRE exam, so it's
important for students to lay out a study schedule in advance and work
towards a specified target test date.
How has Kaplan updated its GRE courses?
Kaplan's GRE preparation programs will continue to provide the most
realistic practice for the GRE exams, and our courses and strategies
prepare students for any of the question types they will see on test
day, including these new question types. In March 2008 we re-vamped our
GRE prep curriculum, as we do on an annual basis, to reflect these
changes that students have been seeing on test day. We also enhanced
our course materials to provide a more comprehensive and streamlined
classroom course experience, primarily addressing improvements to the
Analytical Writing lessons and the addition of more advanced materials
for our most competitive students.
Kaplan GRE Course Improvements:
* New Target 800 Workshops and Quizzes for Math and Verbal provide
review of the most advanced topics which appear on the GRE.
* Expanded and enhanced Analytical Writing lessons thoroughly
cover all of the elements of writing successful essays, including sample
essays and a grading rubric for assessing essays.
* New in-class lessons addressing the new GRE question types
prepare our students for all question types on the GRE.
* New in-class lesson on Permutations/Combinations offers more
advanced math review.
* More Vocabulary drills provide further vocabulary building
practice.
For any students interested in taking a free practice test, they can do
so on online on our website, or at a Kaplan center or on-campus event,
by registering at <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.kaptest.com/practice">www.kaptest.com/practice</a>.
Please forward this information to your students who are interested in
applying to graduate school in the future. We will continue to keep
you updated on information that will be helpful to you and your students
regarding the grad school application process.
Sincerely,
Parker Fox
Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, Santa Barbara
Marketing Manager
p: 805.685.5767 | f: 805.685.4350
----- End forwarded message -----
--
Carla Espana
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:carlaespana@umail.ucsb.edu">carlaespana@umail.ucsb.edu</a>
</pre>
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<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
******************************************************************
Catherine McConney
Undergraduate Advisor
Department of Psychology
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660
(805) 893-2844
(805) 893-4303 Fax
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:mcconney@psych.ucsb.edu">mcconney@psych.ucsb.edu</a></pre>
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