Korean Job Discussion Forums

[butter808fly]

Hi there! Happy Holidays!

As my 5th month point here has come and gone I am thinking about my future when and if I go back to the states. I need to take the GRE to get into grad school. I found out that they have it here in Korea! Yes, cool! They are holding a test in June and in October.

Im wondering if anyone is studying to take this test? I think Im going to buy some study books during my break and start studying. Maybe we could study together?

Any information in this area would be great, thanx!

[d503]

Hey first of all if you are planning on taking it in korea I am pretty sure that it is a paper based test (not the computer one you would take back home). Also I took mine before I came and didn't do too shabby, I prepared only using the Company provided study materials. They sent me a free series of practice tests (I took the computer version and they give you several mock tests to take) So once you register you should get a packet in the mail, that includes study materials. Also I know there are books, and I think Kaplan makes a decent series.

Good Luck!

[fondasoape]

d503 is correct, except for the situation regarding taking the test in Korea. Unless things have changed, the test in Korea is 2/3 paper based
(analytic and math) and 1/3 computer based (writing). It also costs more than elsewhere.

http://www.cbtkorea.or.kr/english/etsnews/ets-gre-twoformats.html

I decided to take the exam in Osaka -- the test center is computerized so you can take the test any time you want (2 sittings a day, 6 days a week). The Saturday I went, at least 50% of the test-takers were Korean. I saw a number of them on my return flight that evening. They apparently had flown in that morning (somehow arriving at the test center at 8 am). I flew in the night before, got a good night's sleep, and flew back directly after the test. The trip cost me about 400,000 (flight + the nice hotel across the street from the testing center, so no worries), but in my opinion, that's a small price to pay for not havingg to deal with two test sittings, mixed format, all the rest of it.... If you went to Guam or KL, you could turn it into a mini-holiday if you had time.

In general, overseas, you have more dates, better conditions, no two test-date BS... As I remember, other 'local' centers are in Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur and Guam.

My personal experience was that studying for the test was pointless (as it is supposed to be). Before I began working with the Kaplan book, I took the computerized practice versions of the A & M sections. Several months later, when I actually took the exam, my grades were essentially unchanged: my combined score was the same, and I dropped one percentile on on a math score I always knew would be completely dismal. Although my score went up on the analytical section, it was not enough to move me into the next higher percentile.

The best resource for me was the list of essay questions published by ETS. There are too many questions to write the essays beforehand (45o ir so?), but I put them on cards, carried some around with me all the time, so whenever I had a bit of downtime, I'd read a question and spend 5 minutes planning an answer. I didn't remember my plans when I actually sat the test, but for some reason, I suspect the planning helped. It certainly didn't hurt: I got a 6 (the top score).

[Derrek]

I know I would bomb the math test. I haven't had any math since I was a Junior in High School, and was poor at it then.

How heavily does the Math weigh compared to everything else? How many Math questions are there, etc?

[fondasoape]

I don't know how many math questions there are; the weighting is equal to the analytic section (eg out of 800). A look at the ETS site should give you the info.

Whether the schools you apply to give a poop about your math is another story.

A particular univerity's concern with your math score also may depend on your scores on the other sections. For example, my math score absolutely bit the big one, but my writing and analytical scores were so good that even if the programs had cared about the math, my other scores would have almost certainly influenced their feelings about it.

[butter808fly]

Thanx for your help and comments.

Hrm, well I dont know to much about the different formats. I know I have some research to do before hand. I definatly know I want to study. I havent analyzed much for a long time! And writing, wow, I read that you have to have a high vocab to score better on the writing part. For my field (social work) I dont need to take the GRE, but I do have to prove that that 2.0 I got for my BA is not only what Im capable of. I wasnt interested in college then but now my thrist for knowledge is neverending! I need to prove that I am smart enough to make it through a Masters program and that the 2.0 is my past, not my present ability.

[Rather_Dashing]

2.0 GPA out of a possible 4.0? Most schools require a 3.0 GPA in order to get accepted... good luck my friend, getting accepted into grad school for you will be very tough unless you have a godly score and some excellent references.

GRE is 50% math, 50% english. Each section is worth 800 points. Be ready to see some real obscure and archaic words in the vocabulary section. Ablution? Who the hell knows what that word means? Cornucopia? Who the hell uses that word nowadays?

Yes, you CAN study for the GRE. You need to memorize all the basic formulas for areas and volumes of geometric shapes, the formulas for a circle, slope, midpoint, as well as the rules of exponents and logs for the math part. The verbal part is where a big vocabulary is important. Studying words and learning the prefixes/suffixes will be a big help for you. GRE study courses like Kaplan do indeed work, but they are expensive!

[butter808fly]

rather dashing ( interesting name)... yeah, 2.0.. really really sux. thank you for your tips and tricks in this area... yes, Im sure I need to study... it sounds kinda fun actually Thanx!

[Daechidong Waygookin]

God, I think I brought 10 GRE books with me to Korea when I came. I too had the intention of studying for it. That was almost 4 years ago. Pretty much gave up on the idea.

[butter808fly]

hehe... kinda funny, i told myself there is no way in heck i would ever stay here two years.

Im now seriously considering it The money is good and there is no lack for jobs!

If that, of course, is what is keeping you here.

*never give up*

[Rather_Dashing]

To give you a hand, here is something I am using right now to study for it:

http://www.gre-secrets.com/

It will help you a LOT. I personally find the vocabulary section of frequently-appearing words to be invaluable, as well as the prefixes/suffixes list. The strategies are also solid. It's a good deal. It has been shown that you can raise your score by as much as 250 points if you study hard for the GRE, and 250 points is a hell of a lot! Put in 100 hours of study for the GRE and you should be solid.

Once again, good luck!

As for my nick, I got it from a Strongbad video game.

[Daechidong Waygookin]

[Rather_Dashing]

It depends on what you want to study. A master's in economics takes a year, an MBA takes two. But if you're settled into Korea, especially with a good Uni job and a wife, I don't see why you'd want to leave...

[Daechidong Waygookin]

[Rather_Dashing]

Don't forget western obesity rates... ugh