New GRE format: Time to stop 'mugging'

The Graduate Record Examination format has changed.

And everywhere I turn, there's panic. Students are frantically calling in to ask about the changes, complaining about dates not being available to take the test.

• GRE registrations begin in July

For those of you who not in the know, here's what the fuss is all about:

1. The pattern of the GRE is being overhauled.

2. Registration for the taking the exam in its existing avatar is no longer open (in India).

3. The earliest the test will be offered (in the new avatar) is mid-September 2007.

So, what's the big deal? Let us look at the impact of each of the three points one by one. First, the change.

• Improving English: Grammar comes first

What has changed?

The test has moved to being one that lays more emphasis on inference-based reasoning.

In fact, the names of the sections have also been changed from 'Verbal Ability' and 'Quantitative Ability' to 'Verbal Reasoning' and 'Quantitative reasoning'. 

What this change translates to: It has become almost impossible to crack the exam by 'mugging up'.

For instance, in the existing pattern, it was possible to learn by heart a host of words, and armed with this, get a good score in the verbal ability section.

But now, with more emphasis on complex reasoning, this is not possible.

Therefore, as the new pattern requires more constant practice than overnight cramming, the amount of time that one needs to commit to prepare for the test has shot up.

If you are thinking, "That's it? What's all the fuss about?", think again.

Then and now

In the current pattern, the mean score that Americans get in the Verbal Ability section (out of a maximum possible 800) was 470, with the international mean being 439. Lower, but not significantly.

Here's the interesting part. In the Quantitative Ability section, however, the American average was 593, with the international average being -- believe  it or not -- 686! What this means is that the rest of the world, on an average, is much better than the average American when it comes to hardcore number crunching.

Source: GRE web site

The new test however, reduces emphasis on this, and increases, albeit relatively, the emphasis on:

a. English language skills

b. Context-based inference skills

What this translates into: The Americans are suddenly (apparently) smarter, all over again!

How to prepare

The average Indian is so used to 'mugging up' information that he or she stops analysing. On the other hand, Americans, at least at college level, are encouraged to come up with original work and question the existing thought.

Therefore, they are much better prepared to present critiques, analyse situations, read between-the-lines and work on complex reasoning based problems.

Thus, while on the face of it, it looks like the revised GRE is going to make it difficult for the Indian candidate, the test actually holds a lot of promise for everyone because it is based on reasoning, which is considered by the world to be one of the main strengths of the Indians.

Registering for GRE slots

Point number two and three will impact late risers.

If you were planning to go to the US in September/October 2007 or February/March 2008, and have not yet booked slots for the GRE, then you will have to postpone your trip to either May or September 2008. 

I guess this should be lesson enough to reinforce the adage 'a stich in time saves nine'. After all, it is recommended that one apply to the universities at least six to nine months before the start of the semester in which one desires to enroll.

In a nutshell, the changes in the GRE offer a lot to people who are serious about the basics and their basic reasoning abilities, unlike the earlier GRE test that could be cracked based on your memorisation ability.

Keeping in mind all the pros and the cons, I'll sum it up with the age-old cliché: That which doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.

Table of changes

Credit: This table is adapted form data available on the GRE web site.

-- The author is Program Head, GRE, T.I.M.E Pvt. Ltd., an organisation that prepares candidates for courses like the MBA and the MCA and competitive examinations like CAT, GRE and GMAT.