GRE PREPARATION – FALL, 2013
SCHEDULE OF VERBAL TOPICS
Time/Location:
Mon, 6:00-8:00pm
Instructor/Email:
Katie O’Neill
Burke 203
kao5129@psu.edu
Basic Course Structure
Practice Exams
 We will take mini practice exams in accordance with the schedule below unless
students ask otherwise.
Practice Books
 Practice books are not well suited for a classroom setting, and you do not need to
purchase one for this class. However, they can be very helpful for individual study,
so you might consider getting one for yourself.
Vocab Building
 Each class will contain a vocabulary-building session from majortests.com. We will
also work through the root word, prefix, and suffix exercises at
wps.ablongman.com.
Quizzes
 Most classes will also consist of verbal reasoning quizzes from majortests.com.
Essays
 I am happy to look at any writing you do on your own and offer advice on how you
could improve, but I do not anticipate any in-class writing.
 Please type and double space anything you would like me to look over.
 We will discuss tools, strategies, and grammar for essay writing whenever students
ask, but I rarely plan lessons around essay writing.
 I will provide writing prompts similar to those on the GRE.
GMAT
 Although this class was not created as GMAT preparation course, many students
preparing for the GMAT have found it quite useful. The knowledge and skills
required for the two exams are similar, so preparation for the GRE is helpful with
the GMAT. Nonetheless, if the students preparing to take the GMAT greatly
outnumber those preparing to take the GRE, I will adapt the course accordingly.
Course Schedule:
*The schedule is subject to change based on student request and progression but
will try to adhere to the following:
September 9: Intro & Text Completion/Sentence Equivalence Practice Exam
 Introduction to class and instructor
 GRE/GMAT question types overview
 Introduction to text completion and sentence equivalence
 Text completion and sentence equivalence practice exam

Discuss results of the practice exams, what we need to focus on in the coming
weeks, and whether we need to alter the schedule
September 16: Text Completion & Sentence Equivalence Strategies
 Go over any questions you might have about the practice exams
 Vocab building: Beginner Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes
 Strategies for text completion and sentence equivalence
 Quiz: Sentence Equivalence 1, Text Completion 1-2
September 23: Text Completion & Sentence Equivalence
 Vocab Building: Beginner Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes
 Review strategies for text completion and sentence equivalence
 Quiz: Sentence Equivalence 2-3, Text Completion 3-5
September 30: Text Completion & Sentence Equivalence
 Vocab Building: Beginner Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes
 Quiz: Sentence Equivalence 4-5, Text Completion 6-8
October 7: Text Completion & Sentence Equivalence
 Vocab Building: Intermediate Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes
 Quiz: Sentence Equivalence 6-7, Text Completion 9-10
October 14: Reading Comprehension Practice Exam
 Introduction to reading comprehension
 Reading comprehension practice exam
 Discuss results of practice exams, what we need to focus on in the coming weeks,
and whether we need to alter the schedule
October 21: Reading Comprehension Strategies
 Go over any questions you might have about the practice exams
 Vocab building: Intermediate Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes
 Strategies for reading comprehension
 Quiz: Reading Comprehension 1
October 28: Reading Comprehension
 Vocab building: Intermediate Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes
 Quiz: Reading Comprehension 2-3
November 4: Reading Comprehension
 Vocab Building: Advanced Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes
 Quiz: Reading Comprehension 4-5.
NO CLASS NOVEMBER 11
November 18: Reading Comprehension
 Vocab Building: Advanced Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes
 Quiz: Reading Comprehension 4-5.