What is different in GRE 2011:

As you all know that the pattern of GRE is set to change from 2011. Here is a brief write-up on what actually has changed and how is it going to affect the students appearing for GRE.
The changes made can be described roughly in three major categories:

1. Changes in content

2. Changes in test design

3. Changes in scoring scheme
Read on for a more detailed analysis.



1. Changes in content: The changes in content are done to ensure that they are in line with the expectations of today’s graduate and business schools irrespective of a student’s background.

a. Revised Verbal Reasoning section places a greater emphasis on higher level cognitive skills which is the most appropriate way to assess candidates’ ability to understand what they read and how they apply their reasoning skills.
Following are the salient features of the revised Verbal Reasoning section:

i) Greater emphasis on higher cognitive skills
ii) More text-based materials, such as reading passages
iii) Less dependence on vocabulary knowledge alone
iv) Broader selection of reading passage 
 
b. Qualitative Reasoning  section remains unchanged as far as knowledge expected of test takers is concerned .The change here is that the emphasis is now on  the questions based on data interpretation and real-life scenarios in order to better gauge their skills. Apart from this the test will also have an online calculator to reduce the emphasis on computation .There will be new question types and new computer enabled tasks such  as entering a numerical answer.

c.In the revised Analytical Writing test takers now need to provide more focused responses to the questions so that their ability to respond directly to the task presented can be accurately gauged. So the revised section will have topics that require a more focused response and reduces the reliance on memorized materials.


2.Changes in test design:  Some of the salient features of the new test design are :

a.Questions are such that they reflect the skills demanded by today’s business and graduate school.
b.New format for responses which includes computer enabled tasks such as numerical entry answers.
c.More emphasis on reading skills than on standalone vocabulary questions.
d.Test takers will be able to “mark” and “review” questions within a section.
e.Test takers will be able to change/edit their answers.
f.Introduction of online calculator thereby reducing emphasis on calculations considerably.

As is evident from above ability to “mark” and “review” questions and edit responses within a section means greater flexibility for test takers. Now test takers can strategize how to tackle questions within section .The flexibility ensures that test takers will have more natural test experience now.


3.The new score scale for the GRE revised General Test is as follows:

a.Verbal Reasoning scores will be reported on a new 130–170 score scale, in 1-point increments (versus 200–800 in 10-point increments).

b.Quantitative Reasoning scores will be reported on a new 130–170 score scale, in 1-point increments (versus 200–800 in 10-point increments).

c.Analytical Writing scores will continue to be reported on the same 0–6 score scale, in half-point increments


The revised test will be broken down into following 5 sections:

•One Analytical Writing section with two separately timed writing tasks

•Two Verbal Reasoning sections

•Two Quantitative Reasoning sections

•One unscored section, typically a Verbal Reasoning or Quantitative Reasoning section, that may appear at any point in the test


The Analytical Writing section will always be first, while the remaining five sections appear in any order.

Analytical writing will consist of two tasks and time allotted will be 30 minutes per task.

Verbal Reasoning section will have 2 sections of approximately 20 questions each and time allotted will be 30 minutes per section

Quantitative Reasoning will have 2 sections of approximately 20 questions each and time allotted will be 35 minutes per section.
Apart from this there will be an unscored section that does not count towards the final score .This unscored section can either be a

Verbal Reasoning or a Quantitative Reasoning section.

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