Educational Zones

CAT

2006-09-13T23:57:00.000-07:00

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is conducted by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and is the first step in the process of seeking admission to the IIMs. The CAT is considered as one of the most important national standard for entrance to management institutes. Apart from the Indian Institutes of Management over 40 other Management Institutes use the CAT for short listing candidates.

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is an all-India test conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) as an entrance test for the management programmes of its six business schools.

150,000 students compete for less than 1200 general seats in the IIM's which makes it even more selective than all the Ivy League Universities put together. Even with a top 1% score, a candidate must also win through the equally stringent group and individual interviews.

The IIMs CAT is almost certainly the world's most demanding entrance examination for any graduate institute. The test taker is expected to excel in arithmetical problem solving, geometry, statistics, data interpretation, logical reasoning in solving complex puzzles, and English language skills. The test is held on the third Sunday of November for a duration of two hours (2.5 hours from 2006).

It is neither expected, nor possible, that all the questions be answered, so the CAT also tests the candidates' ability to prioritise under pressure: a quality necessary in the competitive environment of IIMs' courses.Undoubtedly, the mother of all examinations, the CAT has the widest coverage in Quantitative, Verbal and Reasoning areas of testing.

The CAT exam is of 2 hours and generally had four sections till 1998. The format of the CAT paper changed in1999. It had only 3 sections with equal number of questions in each section. There is negative marking for wrong answers. Proficiency in all the sections is essential for getting a call from any of the IIMs.

The CAT is now conducted on the second last Sunday of November and is generally the first management entrance examination of the examinations that last upto June the next year.

Pattern of the test paper

CAT (as it is most commonly known across India) has evolved from a speed based simple test into a test which demands more proficiency in concepts and fundamentals rather than just speed. Earlier CATs used to have 180 questions to be solved in 2 hours. The cutoff (minimum marks needed to get an interview call from the IIM) for such a paper was generally 20 each in the three sections (Mathematics + English + Data interpretation and Logic).

For the years 2001, 2002 and 2003 the paper consisted of 50 * 3 = 150 questions. The cutoffs being 15 marks for individual sections and approximately 55 for whole paper.

The first biggest surprise for the CAT takers was in 2004, when the IIMs introduced the concept of differential marking for the first time. The paper had just 123 questions with the following distribution: (the decimal numbers are marks allocated to each question)

* Mathematics - Total: 50 (10 * 0.5 + 5*2.0 + 35 * 1.0) Cutoff - approx 12
* English - Total: 35 (15*2.0 + 20*1.0) Cutoff - approx 12
* DI and LR - Total: 38 (12*2.0 +26*1.0) Cutoff - approx 17

Overall 123 Questions : 10 of Half marks + 32 of 2 marks and 81 of 1 mark each. The overall cutoff for the paper was nearly 51-52 marks.

CAT 2005 was even bigger surprise. There were just 90 questions - 30 in each section. Each section was further divided into two subsections:

* Math

* Section 1A - 10 Questions of 1 mark each
* Section 1B - 20 Questions of 2 mark each
* The final Cutoff for this section was nearly 11

* English

* Section 2A - 10 Questions of 1 mark each
* Section 2B - 20 Questions of 2 mark each
* The final Cutoff for this section was nearly 15

* DI and LR

* Section 3A - 10 Questions of 1 mark each
* Section 3B - 20 Questions of 2 mark each
* The final Cutoff for this section was nearly 10

* Overall this paper was the toughest in the history of CAT.

CAT 2006, which will be conducted on November 19, is scheduled to be a 2.5-hour exam instead of the traditional 2-hour exam as it was until now. Purportedly, this change has been done by the CAT exam committee to throw in an element of uncertainty in order to reduce the predictability of the exam, and thereby diminish the influence of the ubiquitous educational institutes that run immensely profitable businesses coaching students for the CAT.

CAT Bulletin 2006

CAT 2005 Paper

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Educational Main

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In this zone, you will find the links of almost all the Educational Entrance Examination. This section is purely dedicated towards providing students with all the necessary materials, which are required to clear with them in good scores. Also, Please post your request in Suggestion/Comments/Request Box so that we can post the material requested by you as soon as possible so that this section can serve you in better manner.

MBA CAT                  CET                  XAT              MAT

Others Top B Schools                       GD and Interviews

GMAT                        GRE                  IELTS          TOEFL iBT

VISA Information

VISA

2006-09-13T04:07:00.000-07:00

IMPORTANT INDIAN VISA LINKS

INDIAN VISA Offical Web Site

Download VISA Application Form

INDIAN VISA GUIDE

VISA Fee Sehedule

Other Important VISA Links

Check List for Visa

Obtaining US VISA

Material List to carry for Visa

Question Asked at Interview

Successful Answers of Questions Asked

TOEFL iBT

2006-09-13T04:05:00.001-07:00

TOEFL® - Test of English as a Foreign Language
The Test of English as a Foreign Language™ (TOEFL®) measures the ability of nonnative speakers of English to use and understand English as it is spoken, written, and heard in college and university settings.The TOEFL test is offered in different formats depending on a test taker's location.

The Test Of English as a Foreign Language (or TOEFL, pronounced "toe-full", or sometimes just "toffle") evaluates the potential success of an individual to use and understand Standard American English at a college level. It is required for non-native applicants at many American and English-speaking colleges and universities. A TOEFL score is valid for 2 years, and then is deleted from the official database.

The TOEFL is administered worldwide by Educational Testing Service (ETS). The test was first administered 1964 and has since been taken by nearly 20 million students.

The TOEFL Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) tests all four language skills that are important for effective communication: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The test helps students demonstrate that they have the English skills needed for success.

TOEFL iBT emphasizes integrated skills and provides better information to institutions about students' ability to communicate in an academic setting and their readiness for academic coursework. With Internet-based testing, ETS can capture speech and score responses in a standardized manner.Online registration and online score reporting make it easier for students to register for TOEFL iBT and receive their test scores.

Internet Based

Since its introduction in late 2005, the Internet-based test (iBT) has progressively replaced both the computer-based (CBT) and paper-based (PBT) tests. The iBT has been introduced in phases, with the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and Italy in 2005 and the rest of the world in 2006, with test centers added regularly. The demand for test seats remains very high even after almost a year after the introduction of the test, candidates have to wait for months since shortterm test dates are fully booked. The four-hour test consists of four sections, each measuring mainly one of the basic language skills (although some tasks may require multiple skills) and focusing on language used in an academic, higher-education environment. Note-taking is allowed in the iBT.

1. Reading

After each academic reading passage (out of 3-5), questions are posed about content, intent of the author, and ideas inferred from the passage. New types of questions in the iBT require paraphrasing, filling out tables or completing summaries. Generally prior knowledge of the subject under discussion is not necessary to come to the correct answer, though a priori knowledge may help.

2. Listening

Questions refer to the content and intent of the phrases, as well as to the speakers' attitude and meaning, either in short conversations or in lectures.

3. Speaking

New to the iBT, this section contains questions relating to personal experiences or preferences, as well as tasks that also involve reading passages and listening to short conversations and lectures. Test takers are expected to convey information, explain ideas and defend opinions clearly, coherently and accurately.

4. Writing

One task requires test takers to defend a position relative to a specified general topic. In the other task, a reading passage and a lecture are presented, and test takers must answer a question relating the main points of both the passage and the lecture.

Computer-based

The computer-based test (CBT) was abolished on September 30th 2006. It is divided into four sections, measuring language proficiency in listening, structure (grammar), reading and writing. Note-taking is not allowed.

1. Listening Comprehension (45-70 minutes)
* Type of Questions: Conversations between two or more people in academic environments. Short conversations between students, and lectures may be possible conversations. Questions are basically of the who said what type.
2. Structure (grammar) (15-20 minutes)
* Type of Questions: Identify the erroneous word(s) in the sentence. Fill in the blanks using the appropriate word.
3. Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary (70-90 minutes)
* Type of Question: Questions are posed about content, intent of the author, and ideas inferred from each of the 3-4 passages given.
4. Essay Writing (30 minutes)
* Type of Question: To write an essay on a given general topic, and take a position towards it. eg: "Is stem cell research necessary? Explain your stance?"

The Listening and Structure sections are computer-adaptive, meaning that the difficulty level of each question depends on the correctness of previous responses.

Three subscores are obtained, each of which is given on a 0-30 scale: Listening, Structure/Writing (combined), and Reading. These subscores are averaged to obtain the final score, which is in a 0-300 scale. The Writing score is also reported separately, on a 0-6 scale.
[edit]

Paper-based

In areas where the iBT and CBT are not available, a paper-based test (PBT) is given. The PBT tests essentially the same skills as the CBT, albeit with some differences, noticeably the number of questions (which is higher in the PBT) and the score scales. The final PBT score ranges between 310 and 677, and is based on three subscores: Listening (31-68), Structure (31-68) and Reading (31-67). Unlike the CBT, the score of the Writing section (referred to as the Test of Written English, TWE) is not part of the final score; instead, it is reported separately on a scale from 0 to 6.

IELTS

2006-09-13T04:05:00.000-07:00

IELTS is International English Language Testing System .

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a test of English language proficiency. It is jointly managed by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, British Council and IDP Education Australia. Candidates may choose either the Academic Module or the General Training Module:

* The Academic Module is intended for those who wish to enroll in universities and other institutions of higher education.
* The General Training Module is intended for those planning to undertake non-academic training or to gain work experience, or for immigration purposes.

IELTS is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian, Irish, New Zealand and South African academic institutions, by an increasing number of academic institutions in the USA, and by various professional organisations. It is also a requirement for migration to Canada.IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. It measures ability to communicate in English across all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking – for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication.

Since 1989, IELTS has been proven and trusted worldwide to provide a secure, global, authentic and customer-focused test which measures true to life ability to communicate in English. Over 3800 educational institutions, government agencies and professional organisations across 120 countries around the world recognise IELTS scores as a trusted and valid indicator of ability to communicate in English.

With over 500,000 tests taken every year, IELTS is one of the fastest growing English language tests in the world, and sets the standard in integrity, research and innovation.IELTS is the English test you have to take before applying to enter many universities in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. IELTS is also now accepted by more than 200 universities in the USA.

There are around 300 test centres worldwide. The number of candidates has grown from about 100,000 in 1999 to about half a million in 2003. The top three locations in which candidates took the test in 2003 were Mainland China, India and the United Kingdom for the Academic Category, and India, Mainland China and Australia for the General Training Category.
There are up to 48 test dates available per year. Each test centre offers tests up to four times a month depending on local demand.

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GMAT

2006-09-13T04:04:00.000-07:00

The Graduate Management Admission Test® (GMAT®) is a standardized assessment—delivered in English—that helps business schools assess the qualifications of applicants for advanced study in business and management. Schools use the test as one predictor of academic performance in an MBA program or in other graduate management programs.

The GMAT® exam measures basic verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills that you have developed over a long period of time in your education and work. It does NOT measure:

* your knowledge of business,

* your job skills,

* specific content in your undergraduate or first university course work,

* your abilities in any other specific subject area, or

* subjective qualities—such as motivation, creativity, and interpersonal skills.

The GMAT is one of many factors schools use when reviewing applications for admission; it is typically balanced with work experience, application essays, an interview, and, somewhat less important, college or university GPA. Although a candidate's performance on the test will go a long way towards determining whether or not he or she is admitted to his or her school of choice, these other admissions criteria also play a pivotal role.

The fee to take the GMAT is currently US$250, worldwide

In the United States, non-citizens are required to present a passport or permanent resident card to gain admission to the test.

During the GMAT, the test taker will not be allowed to use paper and pencil; dry erase books will be given to the test taker and a fine tip dry erase marker will be used. This is something to think about as it causes many to panic on test day. This is the way things are in the U.S., however, some other sources lead one to believe it is different overseas.

As of January of 2006, paper and pencil will no longer be available to use as scratch notes during the exam. The test proctor will give a wet erase booklet and special wet erase pen. The test takers will be required to raise their hand and ask for a new book or pen if either one is needed. This change has been of much surprise to many. It is said the change is for 2 reasons, one being the fact people were getting actual test questions out of the testing center through paper and pencil, another reason is to save paper.

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CET

2006-09-13T04:00:00.000-07:00

The Common Entrance Test Maharashtra (CET) is conducted by the Directorate of Technical Education and is accepted by over 80 Institutes in Maharashtra.
The written test was previously held in May or June , however for the last three years it is being conducted in the month of February. The GD / PI are conducted in June / July.

Common Entrance Test, (CET), Karnataka is a competitive exam conducted for the purpose of admission of students to the first year or first semester of full time courses in Medical, Dental and Engineering Courses in professional colleges within the State of Karnataka, India.

The professional colleges in the state offering such courses are affiliated to the state run universities, and admit students through the CET annually. The fee structure varies from year to year.

Academic Eligibility

For applicants applying for

Engg/Tech/Architecture courses :- Pass the Karnataka 2nd PUC/12th standard or equivalent exam with Physics and Mathematics along with Chemistry/Bio-Tech/Computer Science/Electronics/Info Science/Biology as optional subjects with English as one of the languages of study and obtained at least 45% marks in optional subjects (35% for SC/ST/Category-1) Students wanting to enter Architecture course have to pass an aptitude test.

Medical/Dental/Ayurveda/Homeopathy/Unani/Naturopathy/Yoga courses :- Pass the Karnataka 2nd PUC/12th standard or equivalent exam with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as optional subjects with English as one of the languages of study and obtained at least 50% marks in PCB group (40% for SC/ST/Category-1) For dental courses, 50% marks in optional subjects including English subject is required. Also, applicants should have completed age of 17 years.

The Total marks are 240 and the distribution is as follows

Written Test 200 marks
Group Discussion 17 marks
Personal Interview 17 marks
Academic record 4 marks
Work experience 2 marks

CET 2005 was a 2-½ hour paper consisting of 200 questions. Each question carried 1 mark, with no negative marking. It tests the following areas:

Reading Comprehension
Verbal Ability
Logical Reasoning
Quantitative Ability
Analytical Reasoning
Mathematical Reasoning
Visual Reasoning
Data Interpretation
Data Sufficiency

List of Institutes Under CET

CET Materials

Analysis of CET Papers for Year 2006

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XAT

2006-09-13T03:59:00.002-07:00

For more than 50 years XLRI is conducting Admission Test on All India level to select the most appropriate students for management education.There are 42 other Management Institutes who are selecting students from XAT 2006
The XAT is conducted for admission to Post-Graduate degree programmes in Management at XLRI, XIM, XISS, LIBA etc. The XLRI is ranked amongst the top 5 B-Schools in India and XIM Bhubaneshwar is ranked among the top 20 management institutes in India.

The Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI), Jamshedpur conducts the Xavier Admission Test (XAT). The advertisement for form appears in late August. The entrance exam is usually held on the first Sunday of January and the Interviews are in the month of March.XAT 2007 (Xavier Admission Test), the entrance exam to XLRI (Xavier Labour Research Institute, Jamshedpur] is also the entrance test to be taken by MBA aspirants seeking admission to many other reputed Top B-Schools in the country such as XIM [Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar], LIBA [Loyola Institute of Business Administration, Chennai], BIM [Bharathidasan Institute of Management, Trichy] and most recently SP Jain, Mumbai.

The XAT is a two-hour duration paper, with number of questions being 200. The paper divided into 3 sections with sectional timings being enforced.In the last 20-min you are expected to write a 250 – 300 word essay with topics ranging from those of social relevance to propositions to abstract.

XAT usually comprises 3 Objective type sections and an essay writing section.

1. Verbal Reasoning (English) - (Objective Type Multiple Choice)
2. Quantitative Ability and Reasoning (Math) - (Objective Type Multiple Choice)
3. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning - (Objective Type Multiple Choice)
4. And an essay writing section

The duration of the test is 120 minutes for the objective type section and an additional 15 minutes at the end of the 2 hours for essay writing.

List of Institutes Under XAT

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Others

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FMS

The Faculty of Management Studies focuses on management education more than just business management. The commitment is thought leadership with a deep understanding of business. The approach to pedagogy combines fieldwork, case studies and instrumented feedback with a strong emphasis on concepts and theory. The intent is to encourage intellectual curiosity and open minds to the adventure of ideas.

But much about the school is not just about what is taught with in its confines. FMS has the unique privilege to be part of one of the premier universities world – the University of Delhi - with some of the finest departments in Economics, Law, Sociology, Commerce and Operations Research. Our collaborative approach involves inputs from various departments that gives the benefit of a much wider view and deeper understanding. This is indicated by the success of our alumni who are in positions of leadership in industries & governments across the world. The network of more than 9000 alumni gives students unmatched access to information, mentors and careers.

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IIFT

The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) was set up in 1963 by the Government of India as an autonomous organisation to help professionalise the country's foreign trade management and increase exports by developing human resources; generating, analysing and disseminating data; and conducting research. Today it is one of India's most prestigious business schools.

MISSION

To globally strengthen, sustain and professionalise business knowledge through creative research and teaching and learning and by integrating with organisations, institutions and universities both within and beyond national boundary.

VISION

An internationally acknowledged and networked institution in delivering globally competitive business education and research for individuals, corporates, government and society.

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IMT

The Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad is rated among the top 10 business schools in India. It is widely recognized as a center of excellence in management education, having moulded itself according to the fast changing business and social environment over the last 25 years.

The institution is strategically located in Ghaziabad, near the national capital.

IMT boasts of one of the best infrastructure in the country which is evident from its consistent high ranking on infrastructure parameter. Its strength lies in its eminent faculty and the quality of its courses that have in many cases, been trendsetters.

IMT graduates, equipped with energy and drive, take this same teamspirit and individual skillbase to the work place, demonstrating a passion for excellence and a characteristic IMT brand of commitment and go-getter attitude.

The success of the past inspires confidence in the future - confidence in its ability to continue to nurture those special skills and attitudes that produces leaders capable of changing the world of business. The consistently 100% placements bear testimony to the demand for this combination as personified in all our student managers.

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IRMA

Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA) is an autonomous institution with the mandate of contributing to the professional management of rural organisations. It was founded in 1979 at the initiative of the National Dairy Development Board and, the support of Government of India, Government of Gujarat and Swiss Development Co-operation. Ever since inception IRMA has been working closely with Co-operatives, NGOs, Governments, National and International agencies.

IRMA is managed by a General Body which consists of co-operative and developmental organizations as institutional members. The General Body meets once a year to review the performance of the institute and decide on the future plans. The General Body is represented by the Board of Governors. The Board meets every quarter to oversee the functions of the Institute more frequently. The members on the Board are drawn from the representatives of the general body, and eminent personalities from the field of education, public administration, development and co-operation.

The day to day functioning of IRMA is overseen by the Director, who is also the Member-Secretary of the IRMA Board of Governors. The Director is assisted by other faculty members and staff who work as co-coordinators and oversee the functioning of individual activities.

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SCMHRD

Established in 1993, as a part of the Symbiosis family, Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development has strived to bring Indian ethos, management concepts and technological advances together in an effort to redefine the management paradigm in the new age.

Vision
To become a Centre of Excellence for global leadership and learning – setting the standards by which others are measured.

Mission
To create leaders and entrepreneurs of tomorrow, their dedication to excellence, absolute.

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MAT

2006-09-13T03:59:00.000-07:00

Centre for Management Services (CMS) is the specialized division of AIMA undertaking testing and other management services. The testing services have been in operation since 1988 under the trademark All India Management Aptitude Testing Services (AIMATS) facilitating academia, industry and government to screen and select candidates for higher studies, recruitment, promotion etc. Hundreds of organizations and lakhs of candidates have availed these services. AIMATS has the unique distinction of being the first to be awarded with ISO 9001: 2000 Certification for the range of services under its scope.

MAT is usually conducted 4 times in a year. i.e in January, May, September and December, in all major cities in the country and in about 12 leading cities abroad. For further clarification, see the MAT bulletin or contact the information centre at
All India Management Association, Management House, 14, Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi 110003.
Phones: (011) 24617354 (4 Lines), 24618107, 24618127
Fax: 24626689 PAN No : AAATA1644A .
Activation of specific test centres is subject to registration of sufficient candidates. For further details of examination you can contact : E-mail

The two and half hour test usually comprise of Language comprehension, mathematical skills, data analysis & sufficiency, intelligence & critical reasoning and Indian & global environment.

The validity of the MAT score is for that particular session for most management institutes, but for AIMA Centre for Management Education (CME) postgraduate programmes, the score is valid for one year.

Eligibility: Graduation in any discipline from any recognized university. Candidates studying in the last year of the qualifying degree may apply provided their results will be declared by August 10, 2004.

Admission Procedure: Candidates will have to appear in any of the following entrance tests:

1. Common Entrance Test conducted by Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi on January 11, 2004. Last date for receipt of completed application form: November 17, 2003. For details log on to www.iift.edu

2. Management Aptitude Test conducted by AIMA, ATMA. For details log on to http://aima-ind.org/index.html

The candidates should also apply to the PSG Institute of Management at http://www.psgim.ac.in/ separately. Candidates will be short-listed based on the test scores of the examinations. The group discussion and personal interviews will be held in February/March.

For further information contact PSG Institute of Management, PB No. 1668, Peelamedu, Coimbatore 641004. Telefax: 0422-2572375. Phone: 0422-2577252, 2590946. Email: info@psgim.ac.in

MAT has become popular with over hundreds of AICTE approved Institutions & University departments and over lakhs of MBA aspirants having availed AIMA’s testing services in the past six years and now MAT is approved as a National Entrance Test vide Government of India, Ministry of HRD letter no. F.17-20/2003-TS.I dated 23 November 2004.

MAT is usually conducted 4 times in a year in January, May, September and December. The last MAT exam was conducted on 4th September 2005. The minimum qualifications for appearing in MAT is graduation in any discipline from any recognised University or equivalent recognised degree. A final year student in any undergraduate (i.e. B.A, B.Sc., B.Com., B.Tech., etc) can also appear provisionally. Usually, there is a minimum percentage requirement in graduation which is different for different MI’s / Universities.

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GD/PI

2006-09-13T03:58:00.000-07:00

Group discussion allows you to exchange information and ideas and gives you the experience of working in a team. In the work place, discussions enable management to draw on the ideas and expertise of staff, and to acknowledge the staff as valued members of a team.

A personal interview not only gives your potential employer an opportunity to evaluate you in depth and you a chance to sell yourself, but it also gives you the opportunity to learn much more about the employer and the company. It is important to be able to demonstrate your abilities to the interviewer and to show him/her that you are an asset. By knowing what is expected of you and by undertaking a few simple preparations, you can make a more favorable impression and minimize any nervousness you may feel.

This section will go over everything that you will need to prepare for your Group Discussions and Interview.

GD and PI Material 1
GD and PI Material 2
GD and PI Material 3
GD and PI Material 4

GRE

2006-09-11T23:03:00.000-07:00

The Graduate Record Examination or GRE is a standardized test that is an admissions requirement for many graduate schools in the United States. It is created and administered by the Educational Testing Service and is similar in format and content to the SAT.

The GRE® General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills that have been acquired over a long period of time and that are not related to any specific field of study. The GRE® Subject Tests gauge undergraduate achievement in eight specific fields of study.

Unlike the SAT, the GRE is a computer-based test. It is a computer-adaptive test: while the number of questions in any given section is fixed, the difficulty and scoring value of those questions varies according to the previous responses provided by the test-taker. Rather than having a fixed point value, questions of varied difficulty are used in order to 'zero in' on the level of question that represents the upper bound of the test-taker's ability. Because of the way in which the score value changes over the course of the test, early questions are much more important in determining the final score than those that appear near the end of a section. Questions cannot be skipped or returned to.

The General Test consists of three graded sections and one research or experimental section that is not included in the reported score. Multiple-choice response sections are graded on a scale of 200-800, in 10 point increments. The writing section is graded on a scale of 0-6, in half- point increments. Sections may appear in any order on the test, with the exception of the Analytic Writing section, which always appears first.

One graded multiple-choice section is always a verbal section, consisting of analogies, antonyms, and reading comprehension passages. This section primarily tests vocabulary, and average scores in this section are substantially lower than those in the quantitative section.

The quantitative section, the other multiple-choice section, consists of problem solving and quantitative comparison questions that test high-school level math, including algebra and basic geometry. The problems in this section must be solved without a calculator. Average scores on the quantitative section are generally higher than those on the verbal section, though the material may present a challenge for students who have not studied mathematics since high school.

The analytical writing section requires the testee to write two short essays: one presenting their perspective on a statement, and the other analyzing and pointing out flaws in an argument. Each essay is scored by at least two readers on a six-point holistic scale. If the two scores are within one point, the average of the scores is taken. If the two scores differ by more than a point, a third reader examines the response.

In addition to the General Test, there are also eight GRE Subject Tests testing knowledge in the specific areas of Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Literature in English, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. At one point there was also a GRE Engineering exam, but as most engineering graduate schools did not require the exam (many felt it was far too broad) it was discontinued as of April 1st 2001. [1] Subject tests typically have 70-100 multiple-choice questions that must be answered in 170 minutes. When an applicable subject test exists for an area of study, scores for that particular test are typically given greater weight than those for the General Test. However, the departments at some universities may not require applicants to take their field's subject test. For example, the English test mostly includes questions regarding canonical British and American literature; as English studies has expanded to include more study of female and minority writers, some departments have deemed that the subject test is outdated and not an efficient predicter of graduate success, and therefore do not require it of applicants. In other fields, however, this is not the case, as the tests might represent things that a superlative graduate should know.

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