GRADUATE SCHOOL
ADMISSIONS TESTING
Rosemarie Sena Center
Career Development Services
GRADUATE ADMISSIONS
TESTS
 GRE – Graduate Record Exam
 GMAT – Graduate Management
Admission Test
 MCAT – Medical College Admission Test
 LSAT – Law School Admission Test
 AHPAT, DAT, MAT, OAT, PCAT, VCAT
Computer-Adaptive Test
 CAT adjusts to test-taker’s ability level
 The first question is of medium difficulty
 The level of difficulty for each question is
based on the response to the previous one
 Each question must be answered
 Test takers cannot return to a previous
question to change a response
Graduate Record Examination
General Test
 Computer Based Test
 Verbal (V)
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one 30-minute section, 30 questions
 Quantitative (Q)
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one 45-minute section, 28 questions
 Analytical Writing (AW), two writing tasks
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45 minutes for 1st topic, 30 minutes for 2nd topic
Graduate Record Examination
Subject Test
 Paper-Based Test
 Assessment of knowledge gained through
undergraduate preparation in specific areas of
study
 Subject Tests are currently available in 8
disciplines
 Total testing time = 2 hours 50 minutes
 Test Prep Materials: www.gre.org/pracmats.html
Graduate Record Examination
Subject Tests
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Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Literature in English
Mathematics
Physics
Psychology
Graduate Record Examination
Writing Assessment
 Primarily a Computer-Based Test
 May be taken as a paper and pencil test on a
Subject Test date, but you may not take both the
Writing Assessment and a Subject Test on the
same date
 Consists of 2 analytical writing tasks
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“Present your perspective on an issue” (45 minutes)
“Analyze an argument” (30 minutes)
Graduate Management Admission Test
 Computer-Based Test
 Quantitative
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75 minutes for 37 questions
 Verbal
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75 minutes for 41 questions
 Analytical Writing (2 topics)
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30 minutes for each topic
Law School Admission Test
 Paper-Based Test
 Five 35-minute sections
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Reading Comprehension (1)
Analytical Reasoning (1)
Logical Reasoning (2)
+ One extra unscored section chosen at random
 Writing Sample (30 minutes)
Medical College Admission Test
 Paper-Based Test
 Multiple-choice examination assessing problem
solving, critical thinking, writing skills,
knowledge of science concepts
 Scored in 4 areas:
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Biological Sciences – 100 minutes for 77 questions
Physical Sciences – 100 minutes for 77 questions
Verbal Reasoning – 85 minutes for 65 questions
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Writing Sample – 60 minutes for 2 questions
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Graduate Admissions Tests
Internet Resources
 www.gradschools.com - and
www.princetonreview.com
 program search and information
 www.gre.org
 Graduate Record Exam
 www.mba.com - or - www.gmac.com
 Graduate Management Admission Test
 www.lsat.org - or - www.lsac.org
 Law School Admission Test
 www.aamc.org/mcat
 Medical College Admission Test
Graduate School Admissions Test
Preparation
 Books and printed guides such as Barron’s and Princeton
Review
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available in the Sena Center Career Library
 Software & On-line methods
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ETS will provide free GRE POWERPREP software when you
register for any GRE Test (General, Subject, or Writing), or it can
be downloaded from the GRE Web site at
www.gre.org/pracmats.html.
GMAT is also offering free POWERPREP software when you
register – can be downloaded from www.mba.com.
Sample tests available on-line
GRE Diagnostic Service (on-line)
 Prep courses
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Kaplan (kaptest.com), Princeton Review
Test Taking Strategies
 “To guess or not to guess” – It is better to
guess on all of the tests except for the GRE
Subject Test
 Pace Yourself
 Remember that with a CAT, you cannot
return to a question later on
Score Ranges
 GRE : 200 – 800 (Verbal & Quantitative)
0-6, in half point increments (Analytical
Writing)
 GMAT: 200 – 800 (Quantitative & Verbal)
 LSAT: 120 - 180
 MCAT: 1 - 15
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Writing Sample:
J (low) – T (high)
How to Study for Graduate
Admission Tests
 One hour each day for six
weeks prior to taking the exam
 Take a diagnostic exam
periodically to see how you are
doing
 Consider taking a Kaplan
Course (online or in person)
 Use Software and Books in the
Sena Center Career Library
 Practice using free PowerPrep
Software
 Review specific test taking tips
in either the test bulletin or the
web site of the test you are
planning to take
 Strengthen your vocabulary
 LSAT – take a “Logic” course
via the Philosophy/Religion
Depart.
 *Repeatedly taking the LSAT
does not significantly raise your
score – usually @ 2.7 points on
2nd attempt, and only an
additional 1.5 on the 3rd
attempt.
Good Luck!!!