GRE: Graduate Records Examination
The GRE-CAT represents the
only interactive HPAT because it selects questions for you based on
your performance. F irst, it begins each section with a question of
average difficulty. If you get that question right, then the
computer shows you a harder question next. However, with a wrong
answer, the GRE-CAT asks an easier question. As you choose correct
answers, the questions will increase in difficulty. If you make some
mistakes, the test will adjust and start asking easier problems.
Consequently, the CAT literally adapts to your performance this way.
Each GRE-CAT question will not
affect your score equally . How much a question raises or lowers
your score depends on when the question appears in a section.
Earlier questions affect your score more, than those later in the
section. The computer makes larger scoring jumps in the beginning of
a section to approximate your scoring level. Then, it makes smaller
jumps as it fine-tunes your score. High scores emerge only when a
student answers enough medium problems correctly to see the hard
problems.
A CAT has to be this way
because everyone gets a differ ent mix of easy and hard questions.
The adaptive format allows a score based on the level at which you
answer questions correctly about 50 percent of the time. So the
overall number you get right is not as important as the level at
which you start getting about half the questions wrong.
Unfortunately, you see only
one question at a time on the GRE-CAT. Once you answer a question it
affects your score, for better or worse. Therefore, you can not go
back to any questions. This prevents skipping aro und within a
section. Instead, do your best to get a question right the first
time you see it.
Test Sections
The GRE-CAT contains questions
of the following types: verbal, quantitative (math), and logic. The
test consists of four or five sections. Three sections count toward
your score. The scored sections, presented in any order, appear as
indicated below:
|
Section |
Time (min) |
Questions |
|
Verbal |
30 |
30 |
|
Math |
45 |
28 |
|
Logic |
60 |
35 |
In addition to these three
scored sections, an experimental section that looks like one of the
three scored sections does not count toward your score. Do your best
on all sections because you can not identify the experimental
section. The optional fifth section, called the "Research Section,"
does not count toward your score either. Since it is optional, why
bother completing it? Finally, take as long on any one question as
you like, but pace yourself to answer all the questions in each
section before time expires. With a penalty for unanswered
questions, you should answer every question, even if this includes
random guessing to finish on time.
More: GRE Scoring and
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