Since 2020, there has been a notable change in the difficulty level of the GRE. But exactly how hard is the GRE test in 2022? Based on feedback received from thousands of students who appeared for the exam after having used various famous resources recommended by top test scorers, we have found that the test is becoming increasingly difficult. Below are some important reasons explaining why:
Quantitative Reasoning
Here are a few important changes related to the GRE Quantitative Reasoning Section:
Outdated study material
The study material available today digitally and otherwise is outdated. The official ETS book, also known as, the ‘ETS Big Book’ was last published in 2016 & the oldest one being circulated was published in 2002. Several third party study materials, including online GRE prep courses, are also almost replicas of one another and most companies don’t regularly update the content to reflect the most recent changes.
GRE questions are becoming trickier
Questions in the GRE Quantitative Reasoning Section have become trickier than those seen in preparation books and past exams.
GRE vs GMAT
ETS attempts to bring the GRE standard of difficulty at par with GMAT, or Graduate Management Admission Test, which is a requirement for management and business programs. By doing this, the GRE has also become an accepted requirement for business schools.
GRE questions are now more time consuming
In the recent exams, the questions have long prompts that require more time to spend on understanding each question. Each line of the questions must be carefully read, converted into an equation and then used to find the final answer. The process is lengthy and stressful, making it difficult for students to solve each question in under 2 minutes.
Shorter Time
With the increasing level of difficulty and written length of each question, the test-taker therefore, also has to deal with the risk of having a much shorter time period required to solve the question. Time management is key and in recent years it is becoming increasingly challenging to keep up with the limited time given for each section.
How can one improve:
However, it is entirely possible to get a score of more than 320 in the GRE by focusing on certain things. You can solve any question with clear concepts and knowing the right strategy and logic. Technically, you can solve each question in less than 2 minutes.
In order to do that, one must have a clear understanding of the math concepts. It is important to remember that the GRE doesn’t expect you to work hard, but work smart. It does not ask for advanced math concepts, but rather a strong understanding of the basic school level mathematics. That way, the GRE is not really “hard,” but requires certain set of skills to overcome.
Verbal Reasoning
The GRE Verbal Reasoning Section is set to determine how well test-takers can understand and evaluate written material, and then create connections. The test taker should be able to decipher the structure and contents of the passage.
Complex Passages:
In the recent tests, GRE passages are more dense with complex sentences.
Vocabulary:
In the recent tests, GRE is testing easier words. If you go through the wordlist mentioned on the ScholarDen website, then you should be able to cover 95% of the vocabulary tested on the GRE wordlist. The word list is updated on a regular basis.
How can one improve:
It has now become even more important for the students to improve their understanding of complex sentence structures. The best way to do it is by being a ferocious reader; the more you read, the better you get. American academic articles are a good place to start, you need to understand the context, structure, sentence relationships, and words.
If your English grammar concepts are weak, spend 20% of your preparation time on learning grammar rules. In addition, spend 20% of your preparation time on memorizing words. In addition, spend 60% of prep time on reading American Literature or newspaper articles.
To answer the question in the article topic directly, it is not “hard” to get a 320 score on the GRE—it requires skills and practice. In any case, nothing is inherently hard but requires some effort to overcome. Consider the GRE no exception.
With enough practice of both sections and learning concepts by heart, one will not only be able to get a score of more than 320 in the GRE, but ace it entirely!
Comments