General Test-Taking Strategies

Question 1

5 Barron’s Math Tactics

Answer 1

1. ) Draw a Diagram
2. ) Don’t trust that a diagram has been drawn to scale.
3. ) Exaggerate or change a diagram.
4. ) Add a line to a diagram.
   5) Subtract to find shaded regions.

Question 2

Robust Notetaking Process

Answer 2

1. ) In a long passage the first paragraph often has the most important content = “the defined skull”
2. ) The limbs of the Skeletal Sketch are short headlines or one-sentence summaries of each of the remaining paragraphs. To write down the nitty gritty is counter productive in terms of time.
3. ) Once you have finished the passage, identify the Point.

Question 3

Timing for long passages

Answer 3

1:30

Question 4

Using the Skeletal Sketch

Answer 4

Don’t look for general questions and one can use the skeletal sketch as a general sketch.

Question 5

General Questions Examples…

Answer 5

1. ) The primary purpose of the passage is…?
2. ) The author is chiefly concerned with …?
3. ) A good title for the passage would be…?
4. ) The passage as a whole can best be characterized as which of the following?

Question 6

Strategy for a General Question when stuck between two answer choices…

Answer 6

Use a SCORING SYSTEM to assign a value to each one, which is based on the presence of pertinent data in the selection.

Question 7

Specific Question Examples…

Answer 7

1. ) According to the passage…?
2. ) It can be inferred from the passage that…?
3. ) All of the following statements are supported by the passage EXCEPT…?
4. ) Which of the following would weaken the assertion in the passage…?

Question 8

Strategy for wording of specific questions?

Answer 8

JUSTIFY EVERY word in the answer choice

Question 9

Strategy for strength of statement

Answer 9

AVOID EXTREME words if possible. The GRE prefers moderate language and ideas.

Question 10

Strategy for interpretation..

Answer 10

INFER as LITTLE as possible. I should eliminate answer choices that require any logical stretch or leap. I must be able to prove the answer, just as if the question asked you to look it up in the passage.

Question 11

What are the two types of GRE Essays?

Answer 11

There is one ISSUE essay and one ARGUMENT essay.

Question 12

How to structure the essay -

Answer 12

I. Intro.
II. Body - Write 2 - 6 paragraphs
III. Conclusion

Question 13

Don’t forget to strengthen the Argument & Just Flip the Flaw…

Answer 13

1.) Nothing is Quantified? - Quantify X,Y,Z…
2,) Possible Alternate Causes?
3.) Correlation does not equal causation?
4.) No control group, non-representative sample, too-small sample?

Question 14

If a quadratic appears in one or both quantities of a quantitative comparison question then?

Answer 14

a. ) FOIL the quadratic,
b. ) eliminate common terms, and
c. ) compare the quantities.

Question 15

If a quadratic appears in the common infrastructure:

Answer 15

a. ) factor the equation and find BOTH solutions, and

b. ) plug both solutions into the quantities.

Question 16

Quantitative Comparison: How to try prove (D)

Answer 16

1. ) use -1, 1, 0
2. ) Use positive numbers greater than 1 and fractions between 0 and 1.
3. ) Use negative numbers less than -1 and fractions between 0 and -1

Question 17

Quantitative Comparison: Use the Invisible Inequality

Answer 17

a. ) Add or subtract to both quantities.
b. ) Multiply or divide both quantities by a positive number.
c. ) Square or square root both quantities if they are positive.

Question 18

Quantitative Comparison: When to use Quantity B as a benchmark.

Answer 18

Use when Quantity B is a number (no variables.)

Question 19

3 - step process for tackling Geometry QC ?’s

Answer 19

1. ) Establish what you NEED TO KNOW
2. ) Establish what you KNOW
3. ) Establish what you DON”T KNOW

Question 20

When should one pick a number?

Answer 20

In a Quantitative Comparison question when the variable in both A and B is within a defined range.

Question 21

One thing that can help with symbolism math questions is to…

Answer 21

put the definition of the symbol into words.

Question 22

The Units Digit is…

Answer 22

the number located in the ones digit location.