Developing the Skills to Do Your Best on Standardized Exams

1. Developing the Skills to Do Your Best on Standardized Exams Gayle R. Slaughter, Ph.D. gayles@bcm.edu Sr. Associate Dean of Graduate Education & Diversity Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology Director SMART (college) , SMART PREP (post-bac), Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity (Ph.D. students). REACH IRACDA (post-docs) Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX

2. GRE versus MCAT Very different tests General GRE tests general reading, vocabulary, quantitative, writing and reasoning skills MCAT - science specific content, reading (heavy component) and writing

3. GRE versus MCAT Reading, writing and logic skills Important skills for career success Both assess strategy and characteristics Ability to assess status and face reality Ability to develop, revise a plan to improve skills Discipline to enact the plan

4. MCAT Facts MCAT is developed & administered by AAMC Association of American Medical Colleges www.aamc.org click on MCAT Fee assistance (decrease cost from $225 to $85) need approval before register

5. Review of the MCAT MCAT is being reviewed for changes Make it more relevant to knowledge needed for med school Changes expected in 2015

6. Admission and MCAT Scores 70,000 US students take MCAT each year More than 43,000 applied to med school in 2010 130 US schools take 18,000 students/year Chances of getting in are approximately 1 in 3 MCAT scores are a major determinate of admission Not everyone will get their choice of school

7. MCAT Score Relevance + correlation between MCAT scores and performance in classes Will take MANY standardized tests as a med student & physician Are people who graduate from med schools that don’t emphasize MCAT scores, who fail licensing test Average MCAT for all US schools in 2008 was 28 Top schools want MCATs in the 30s; some mid 30s MSTP MD/Ph.D. student average in mid 30s Hard to get in anywhere with MCAT in the low 20s

8. MCAT Facts Computerized test 5hrs, 20 minutes with breaks Questions on details of basic, not advanced knowledge Physical sciences (chemistry, physics) Biological sciences (biology and organic chemistry) 52 questions in 70 minutes (includes 7 reading passages) Can figure out some questions from passages Need outside knowledge to answer 13 others; organic chem

9. MCAT Verbal Reasoning Test A lot of medical school involves learning by reading Important score for many schools Tests comprehension and speed Tests evaluation, application, incorporation of new material 7 reading passages ~600 words/passage Can see the passage and the questions ahead of time 40 questions in 60 minutes

10. MCAT Writing Test Writing sample 2 questions 60 minutes Develop an idea, bring together your ideas, present them logically, write clearly Advice on preparing for writing essays Take courses where your writing will be critiqued Use sample prompts on AAMC site to practice writing Practice discussing essay topics with friends

11. MCAT Advice Take a review course Almost every student I know who made a good MCAT score… has taken a review course Start months in advance Take one less course than normal when study for MCAT Use the summer before you take the test to start preparing If you need major MCAT prep, don’t do a challenging research program at the same time

12. MCAT Review Courses Why take a review course? People study the MCAT; develop material to help you do your best Your college courses many not have emphasized what MCAT tests You need an organized plan of study You need to review effectively You need to do some study with others; help you see things differently

13. Alternate MCAT Prep MCAT Exam Krackers $110 from Amazon.com Review materials (less fear based than Kaplan or Princeton) www.mcat-bookstore.com 10 real 5 hour MCAT tests $35/test- get answers Take a practice test Saturday; review answers on Sunday

14. MCAT Diagnostic Tests Why take practice/diagonostic tests? (Use old tests; AAMC practice test) Need a realistic appraisal of your status Carefully review test results Need to practice the skills and check on mastery of knowledge May need to change your review plan based on 2nd or 3rd diagnostic Need to practice taking the test Manipulations, dealing with stress, building muscles

15. Developing Skills to Do Your Best on the Graduate Record Exam Gayle R. Slaughter, Ph.D. Sr. Associate Dean of Graduate Education & Diversity Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology Director SMART (college) , SMART PREP (post-bac), Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity (Ph.D. students). REACH IRACDA (post-docs) Laurie Connor, PhD. Instructional Manager for Grad School Diversity Programs Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX

16. Graduate Record Exam This PowerPoint will be posted on http://www.bcm.edu/smart next week, Nov 15

17. Graduate Record Exam GRE is developed and administered by ETS (Educational Testing Service) www.gre.org Check frequently for updates on changes Select General GRE details; News; Revised test

18. Graduate Record Exam Skills you develop in preparing for the GRE can be crucial to success as a scientist Reading skills More sophisticated vocabulary - new vocab in field Logical, quantitative skills Writing skills - analyze issues and arguments

19. Why Do GRE Scores Matter? Graduate school applicants’ majors, courses, difficulty and currency of courses differ greatly A 3.6 GPA is not equal from all schools GRE scores are the only data that are consistent between schools

20. Why Do GRE Scores Matter? GRE scores have limited predictive value in identifying talented scientists, but graduate schools and fellowship committees use GRE scores to varying extents to make decisions regarding selection of students.Very low GRE scores do have predictive value in identifying deficits in skills and knowledge.

21. How Much Do GRE Scores Matter? Varies with school; ask dean at school Only one component of your application Research/practical experience very important Letters of recommendation from people familiar with intellectual ability familiar with research potential Strength and breath of courses

22. General Graduate Record Exam Given year-round currently Testing centers (listed on web site) On computer, unless special circumstances May take multiple times in a year 15 day delay in getting official verbal & quantitative scores; unofficial scores when take test Results on writing sent later

23. What is a good GRE score? Analytical writing is scored 0-6; 6 is best 5 is a good score; solid scientific writing 5.5-6 is a great score, but 6 is not necessary Scale for verbal and quantitative have changed Now 130-170, so schools will use percentiles 70th percentile is strong A few schools want 90th percentile scores

24. Can I Raise My GRE Scores?

25. Can I Raise My GRE Scores? Many students who use the SMART GRE Prep strategies gain points on the V,Q, writing components by increasing test familiarity and skills Some students gain many points on verbal score: some only study 20 minutes/day, but study for weeks

26. Resources for Preparing for the GRE ETS website:http://www.gre.org Changes, information, sample questions, diagnostic tools GREPowerPrep software: free download Take tests and get scaled and percentile scores ETS Diagnostic service ($15): ~85 questions No scaled score;feedback on strengths and weaknesses ScoreItNow! ($10) Online Writing Practice for two essays Review books: many with CDs of practice tests ETS, Cambridge, Kaplan, Princeton, Cliff’s Notes Prep courses: commercial or on-campus

27. Preparing for the GRE Rule # 1Understand the test; know what to expect Check-out the GRE web site (updates on changes) Understand the structure and rules of test Take diagnostic test(s) Make a personalized study plan: work on weaknesses Build your skills and knowledge Take practice tests - some on a computer

28. Effective Use of Scratch Paper You cannot take calculators into the test You cannot take paper into the test Testing center will provide 6 p scratch paper You may write anything you can remember on the “scratch” paper, even before the test starts (math formulas) You must turn in your “scratch” paper

29. Effective Use of Scratch Paper Need to prevent confusion about your decisions Make a “grid” before the test starts Mark out each answer that can’t be right a b c d e X X ? X ? Choose If answer is obvious, don’t need to review all choices a b c d e X yes

30. Rules for Answering Questions Answer the questions in any order Confirm each answer Can skip a question and come back to it, but need to keep straight what you skipped; list Can change answers anytime Best Strategy Answer the easiest ? first, then harder

31. General Strategies for Improving GRE Scores You can improve your GRE scores with study Skills you develop preparing for the GRE will benefit you Use results of diagnostic exams to focus study -- analyze your test results Create a personal study plan Some individual study, some group study

32. General Strategies for Preparing for the GRE Use multiple review books, CDs: share Take as many practice tests as feasible Learn the directions Learn how to recognize answers you can eliminate (Power Of Elimination) Train physically as well as mentally Strengthen back, neck muscles and stamina

33. Diagnostic Testing for the GRE Take a diagnostic test; study your responses Do not freak out and give up if your first scores are disappointing Need more than just a score, need to know what areas to strengthen; analyze what you missed - geometry?, author’s perspective? Develop a plan designed to strengthen your weaknesses

34. Diagnostic Testing for the GRE Computer tests From GRE web site or PowerPrep, CDs From review books (old tests OK) Timed pencil and paper test Untimed pencil and paper tests

35. Why take paper and pencil diagnostic tests? Types of questions are the same Easy to check your answers Timed pencil and paper test follow same rules for computer test Untimed pencil and paper tests tests knowledge base no “I ran out of time” excuse

36. Comparing Diagnostic GRE Scores Compare computer, timed and untimed test results If computer is lower than timed paper… need practice on computer test taking If untimed is much higher than timed… need to improve test taking skills If untimed is not higher than timed or computer… need to focus on skills building If scores <30% on all test forms: need skills building

37. CAT Verbal Test A test of verbal reasoning skills. This test requires knowledge of vocabulary words, the ability to use them appropriately in context, and knowledge of the relationship of words. This test requires reading about topics and ideas and answering questions about them.

38. Components of the GRE Verbal Test Sentence/text completion Sentence equivalence Reading comprehension Much more focus on reading (10 passages) Use computer to highlight some answers No analogies or antonyms

39. Components of the GRE Verbal Test Sentence completion has been structured to decrease guessing Sometimes 9 choices, not 5 Reading comprehension has been emphasized more: read a lot as a scientist

40. Doing Well on the GRE Verbal Test Build vocabulary Practice reading passages

41. Improving Verbal GRE Scores Building Vocabulary Learn the most commonly encountered words Learn root words, prefixes, suffixes Learn relationships of words Make flash cards! It works!! Practice your new words; speak GREse Read at a more advanced level (dictionary in hand)

42. Improving Verbal GRE Scores If you start with a low verbal score (<30%) …read Tooth and Nail by Charles Elster and Joseph Elliot Mystery novel set on college campus Written for helping students improve SAT verbal scores (glossary in back) Order from Amazon.com or other site

43. Vocabulary Building for the GRE Learn prefixes, suffixes, root words mis- (wrong) mistake, misplace, misappropriate, misconstrue, miser Create tree relationships of words - use flash cards store Similar relationship (nouns, verbs, adjectives) stock reposit accumulate hoard depository Opposite relationships waste consumption deplete exhaust ephemeral

44. Vocabulary Building for the GRE Encourage each other to use their new words with each other - in regular conversation or just come up and say a sentence with a new word. Use more sophisticated vocabulary in talking, but explain what the word means. For example, the erudite scholar often presented explanations that were so obtuse that no one understood them.

45. Sentence/Text Completion Goal: Find the best word or set of words that completes a sentence based on the context cues Vocabulary building is still the key Can read the sentence(s) Look at choices given to select answer(s)

46. Sentence Completion Need to focus on “signal “or “cue” words similar: and, comparably, likewise, similarly, therefore, thus correct choice will be like words contrasting: although, but, despite, however, in contrast, or, on the other hand, rather, unfortunately, unless, while, yet correct choice will be words that differ in meaning time frame: afterward, heretofore, previously, subsequently versions of no: no, not, not ever, never, under no circumstance

47. Sentence Completion For two or three blank sentences you may need to start with one answer and see if it fits, then see if the other fits Can eliminate some choices because first obviously doesn’t fit May fill in the second or third blank first Careful, some choices make sense for one half of the sentence, but not the other

48. Sentence Completion Some questions have two or three blanks Some questions may have a chart from which you click on the right answers The -----scholar presented-----that were so ------that no one understood them. erudite rationales smart persuasive explanations clear dispirited information obtuse

49. Sentence Completion Think about “good” versus “bad” words Even if you don’t remember the meaning of a word exactly, you may know if the word represents something good or bad The tone of the sentence will give you clues as to the right “emotion” If you don’t know the meaning of some of the words, eliminate any choices that you can; use prefixes, suffixes, root words for clues

50. Reading Comprehension Test appearance The GRE reading sections will be passages of different length; most are short Some will be too long for all of the passage to appear on the screen at once. You may have to scroll up and down on the screen the see parts of the passage. The questions will appear one at a time.