Gender and the GRE

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Both GRE and SAT have been well shown to underpredict the performance of females in college and university. That is, females of the same scholastic abilities as males score lower than males well beyond chance on these tests. Studies of the predictability of graduate school grades from GRE scores reveal that women who have been out of school for a while are underpredicted for grad school success by their GRE scores. Such findings have been annoying data that the test maker underplays. Read more

The Left and Right Brain in Testing

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In my online GRE Prep course I want all students to appreciate the synergistic work their two hemispheres do. This gives more versitility to them as they test. Here is a summary: all of us have two major brain processors that work differently according to Nobel-prize-nominated research. We have a linear, rule-based, detail-oriented brain (usually […]

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Beat Pre-Test Stress/Anxiety

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Introduction: In my live and online gre prep teaching I very often encounter students with high test anxiety and I have several ways to help alleviate it. It is a relative of “performance anxiety” brought on by having to respond to other’s perceived demands, whether of an audience or an an authority. The authority here is the ETS test company itself or the graduate department that, using the grade will pass a judgment on the test taker’s worthiness to attend the grad school. At its extreme, test anxiety can cause blanking of even obvious facts, “dumb” procedural mistakes, high stress leading to fatigue, even nausea and irritability. If you anticipate more than the usual bit of controllable nervousness while taking the test, here is a routine which, when done perhaps three times in leadup to the test, can help the subconscious “remember” a successful experience and outcome to the test experience. (Much more detail about this is conveyed in my online GRE prep course.) This summary will give you a sketch and feeling for it: Read more

Tutoring Can Give a “Final Push”

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Mark Wahl doesn’t see tutoring as the main vehicle of your GRE success. It is, however a fabulous safety net to have underneath you as you complete the online course, study the techniques, practice sample questions in recommended resources, and take accurately simulated tests that give important feedback on your scoring progress.  The safety net aspect is this: you know if you get stuck or plateau out on your scoring despite best efforts, you can turn to expert master-tutoring from Mark Wahl (live or by Skype) to dislodge an impasse in one of the test areas or spot the self-defeating beliefs and practices that are not allowing your scoring to rise. His track record in breaking students through in this way is very high. So keep this powerful option in your back-pocket as you go through the other potent processes and it will relax you about achieving your goals whether you ultimately use it or not! The majority of Mark’s online GRE students find they don’t need to take advantage of it.