So I've started to gear up for the GRE exams (Graduate Tests) and I have my books from Kaplan to help me study. Does anyone else have any helpful prep advise? The tests seem simple and straight forward however I know I need to brush up on my vocabulary. I scored a 760 way back when on my math SAT portion but only a 640 or so on the English portion (this was back when the highest combined score was a 1600).
I also am planning on taking the Physics GRE specialty test to get into a physics graduate program, anyone have some helpful advise? Thanks!
Stumble This
I studied to try and boost it, and it went down. So, there you go.
You seem sharp. You should focus on the subject test.
FOR THE PHYSICS GRE:
Get a book of the old questions and go through them.
Take the test once timed without studying. Figure out what you don't know.
You will need:
Griffiths, Sakurai, Goldstein, and Griffiths EM.
Focus on quantum mechanics, classical mechanics, and E&M. The quantum questions are easy. E&M and Classical are hard.
Go through the test with your friends. Work through them slowly. Figure out what areas they are trying to test you on. Review those areas intensely. Invariably, there are scattering questions, and even though it is the toughest topic in introduction to quantum, you need to nail it down. The other areas are pretty obvious.
Know some basic math tricks. Like integrating a guassian to a given power, etc. Know how to integrate by parts quickly.
When you are done preparing for the physics GRE with you friends, and I encourage you do it in a group, take the at least 2 practice tests timed in a battlefield scenario.
Now you are ready to do battle. Unfortunately, this is the second to last test in your entire life that actually matters.
Don't take it with a hangover. Take it seriously, and you will do OK.
About the scores... Here is essentially what the gist of the advice I got and my experience in grad school.
The average American score is in the 50% most years, so that is considered good. The smartest person I have ever met in my entire life told me he got a 76%. In contrast, every Asian(Indian, Chinese, etc) student who I know the scores of got over a 95%, three got perfect scores and they said this was common. Don't expect anything above an 80%, if you get above an 80% consider yourself lucky, but it doesn't really mean anything if you don't. Two people in my class who got above an 80% also failed the qualifier. Your goal should be to get above the 35%. If you don't break that, then you should worry.