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The facts are simple: these tests are a good measure of absolutely nothing except how well you take these tests. And they certainly have little or nothing to say about how well prepared you are for graduate school. So you're going for an MFA in creative writing and the GRE test-makers in their infinite wisdom think the key to your creative success is understanding how to apply your profound knowledge of probability. Or you're up for a Ph.D. in engineering and you absolutely must know what the word "egregious" means in order to get in. Ridiculous. And of course, among many other things, the GMAT requires a command of English grammar that will never be expected of any business document you're likely to write in this reality. As for the verbal portion of the MCAT...we'll leave it at this: it's a much more difficult test of higher order verbal reasoning than the exam most English Ph.D. prospectives have to take to gain admission to the program of their choice.
The facts are simple, and so is the reality. You can succeed at these exams, but optimal performance requires both a solid combination of content review and a good sense of test-taking savvy. For most students, neither one alone is sufficient. My personalized approach to these tests focuses on your individual strengths and weaknesses. We will thoroughly cover what you need to know for the test--nothing more and nothing less. Combining a review of content with an array of test-taking strategies, our studies together will give you the knowledge, insight, and confidence you need to beat the tests and prove your academic merit where it really counts: at a graduate school of your choice. TIMELINE: How long you should prepare for your exam depends heavily on your current scores and individual abilities, but studies should begin a minimum of 6 weeks prior to your test date. From over a decade of experience, however, I've learned that very few students have sufficient free time to prepare optimally in these six weeks. If you are currently employed full-time or are a full-time student, I would suggest a 10 to 12 week program. A typical student will spend approximately 20 hours with me preparing for the examination. EXPECTATIONS: Test-taking is a skill like any other, and as such it requires practice outside of the tutoring sessions. In addition to the 2-3 hours per week of one-on-one work with me, you should plan to spend at least an hour a day reviewing and practicing your skills. |