April 2011 Test(Thoughts)

[Napot]

I went into the test feeling pretty confident, but I found it much more difficult than the practice tests. I answered 54 questions. I already know I missed 3 minimum. I felt pretty confident on at least 40 of them, not so sure about the rest. Anyone else have their opinion?

[aeginotu]

I found this one much easier than the practice tests, but I have no (or next to no) knowledge in number theory, probability, combinatorics, and graph theory, which I felt the exam did not emphasize. I was worried after taking some of the practice exams which had many questions on those subjects.

I answered 64 of the questions, and I am fairly confident with the answers. I did guess on maybe 10 of those, but those were "educated" guesses(namely, I eliminated some of the potential answers so only 2 or 3 remained, then guessed what felt right).

[umbertoyxo]

I found this one much easier than the practice tests, but I have no (or next to no) knowledge in number theory, probability, combinatorics, and graph theory, which I felt the exam did not emphasize. I was worried after taking some of the practice exams which had many questions on those subjects.

Looks like a third rate bravado... If you had next to no knowledge in the subjects your scaled score would be next to zero.

Anyway! I totally agree to Napot. I am curious about people who passed the exam twice: in the fall 2010 and now. How does they compare to you?

Here is my experience:
(Oct. 2010)
seemed more difficult as compared to the practice tests, but I answered 65 and had 30 minutes in the end to check about 20 of my answers. Nevertheless my result wasn't that satisfying:
15 mistakes => scaled score = 46 => 780 (whereas I needed 820 at least).

(April 2011)
seemed to me more like a gestapo execution... It was incomparably harder than the October exam. I answered 62 and had no time to check anything.

I am almost sure that my scaled score this time will be even lower than before, but I do hope that (as the exam seemed difficult not only to me) ETS would lower their scale.

What's your experiences?

[le6tan]

The new GRE Math test contains usually at least 2-3 probability/combinatorics questions, at least 1-2 number theory questions(congruences,etc.) - so not knowing anything about these areas will mean that next to perfect score(64 answered questions) will be almost impossible to be attained... Anyway - I think that ETS are starting to formulate some of the questions really vaguely - even ambiguously - but whatever - there is no other way than to comply

[aeginotu]

The new GRE Math test contains usually at least 2-3 probability/combinatorics questions, at least 1-2 number theory questions(congruences,etc.) - so not knowing anything about these areas will mean that next to perfect score(64 answered questions) will be almost impossible to be attained... Anyway - I think that ETS are starting to formulate some of the questions really vaguely - even ambiguously - but whatever - there is no other way than to comply

It did have a few that I was able to do manually(e.g. I don't know the formula, so I'd have to manually count)

For example one question was something like, if two distinct numbers are chosen from (set of numbers) what is the likelihood their sum is divisible by (some other number). I manually went through every possibility to calculate it.

And as far as perfect scores, I sincerely doubt I got more than 55 points(unless I was _very_ lucky). More likely 47-52, but we'll see in 6 weeks.



And when I meant easier, I meant in the type of material covered. The level of the questions was harder than the practice tests. I should've been clearer about that

[le6tan]

The new GRE Math test contains usually at least 2-3 probability/combinatorics questions, at least 1-2 number theory questions(congruences,etc.) - so not knowing anything about these areas will mean that next to perfect score(64 answered questions) will be almost impossible to be attained... Anyway - I think that ETS are starting to formulate some of the questions really vaguely - even ambiguously - but whatever - there is no other way than to comply

It did have a few that I was able to do manually(e.g. I don't know the formula, so I'd have to manually count)

I think that all questions should be answered "manually" - otherwise this math test is not testing logical capabilities, but how good we memorize certain algorithms and formulas - there is some kind of internal contradiction in the GRE test - it should test the way candidates think, but now it is obvious that it tests how the test takers "study" - originality is quite a marginal asset for taking this test ...

[dasgut]

I took it again yesterday too. Anyone have any idea how adcoms look at multiple scores?

[Napot]

Alot of people take it multiple times. I am already thinking of taking it again in October.

[johnrichard]

Yes..most people following the same procedure..