₦airaland Forum

hirschfelder:
Good day people,

I have followed this thread for quite a while now, gained a lot from it and owe a lot to everyone who has contributed here. I recently sat for the GRE and my scores were quite good. It wouldn't have been possible if I didn't get guidance and directions from y'all. I got Q166 V166, analytical scores not out yet, praying for something good (I'm not much of a writer).
I would like to give a brief summary of my studying pattern or experience, I feel I owe it to those yet to take their exams; some may find it useful. I studied for roughly 2.5 months with intensive studying in the last two weeks to the exam. I started with Kaplan, then Manhattan books and finished with the ETS official guides. Each week, I took full-length tests to gauge my level of preparedness (If you have good internet connection, this would be really helpful to develop your own pacing methods). I used the Magoosh vocabulary app and their e-book to learn new words, they were really helpful over a month or so. That's just about all I did.

Thanks once again for all the help guys.

sirRiddy:
Hi ma'am.
My submission came from a discussion I had with a faculty on Monday morning.
He admitted that the Quant section of the test is the most useful factor when
assessing STEM applicants from third world countries apart fom research experience. They already know your grasp of writing and speaking
skills is sub par given that you are not a native speaker even though you had a 29 on TOEFL, they also
expect a horrible paper from you filled with poor grammar. Of what use is a 158 V score for a STEM
application if you cannot make at worst a 160 in quant? I have a colleague from China who just started learning
English less than a year ago and he is a funded PhD student here. His quant score is 168 and his verbal
is 145. Worst still, his speaking score is 18. But he was still accepted. Of course there is something special
about him, he has a co-authored paper in a top AI conference and has reasonable research experience. He teaches
a lab. Yeah you heard that right, he is a teaching assistant. It takes him like five minutes to speak few sentences
as he has to repeat them and sometimes spell.

I agree with you about the need for 155 plus to stand a chance at top 20 schools. But the reality is that
half of us will not get into those schools. It is not that we are stupid, at least not entirely, but we have
horrible UG GPA. We sabi as e go for our unis here na. The bitter truth is if you are not someone who
is an avid reader 'latile' or very versed with the test, your propensity to improve on verbal is not very auspicious.

My rant summarily is that Quant is way more important than Verbal or even AWA for STEM peeps.
It is easier for us to shoot up our scores there than spend needless hours on Verbal with little or no
change in the scores. For AWA, I think Kaplan takes care of it neatly.

Wish you luck in your test, ma'am

sirRiddy:
Please if you are applying to STEM and prepping on the GRE,
focus on the GRE Quant section. Most engineering grad schools
know we are terrible at verbal. Do not waste your time!

ChemEngr01:
Drhopeful, you once mentioned a book on how to write a good SOP...can I get it pls? I just sent you a pm with my email address.

Glowrie22:
Well, I didn't do very well.. Quant messed me up
Verbal -159 Quant - 145
Analytical writing was pretty easy.. issue essay was a topic I had practiced with before.

I wish all those still preparing to write success!

iCool:
Will edit my summary if I remember anything else.

Prepare your mind for noise if writing on a week day (Monday to Friday) in p.h, those school children sabi make noise.
Dress light too, no air-conditioning. Na fan dey there o.


Very key point - after all your practice, conclude with Manhattan and return back to the ETS practice questions for Q and V to get your mind in the ETS model. It is very close to the actual test but requires a lot of reasoning.

How do people score 170 on these tests!??

ChemEngr01:
Well, I didn't exactly blast the GRE. I'm not much of a storyteller so I apologize if this isn't as interesting as you guys would want.

I had 316(Q160, V156)
Issue essay was quite straightforward; something about the government funding indigent students. I was able to come up with 3 solid body paragraphs and even had time to proofread. Argument essay was quite different from what I had learned. The argument was based on only one premise, so I found it hard to come up with three assumptions. However I still wrote a descent essay but didn't have time to proofread.

First verbal was alright but I didn't have time to finish RC questions. First Quant was simple; no traps, no tough questions. Second verbal was not too tough as well(this confirmed my suspicion that I didn't do well in the first ) but still I didn't finish RCs. Second Quant was tough and had mad traps. I ran out of time on the 17th question. Third verbal was just there.

For those that are yet to write the test, please practise with at least 3 full length practise tests to know where u need to work on and how to manage time. All the best!

ChemEngr01:
And me too please

Glowrie22:
Success to all of us writing the GRE tomorrow!

happyday:
Actual GRE Quant is harder. Sorry, which one is ETS Practice booklet?

amofum:
It was time to report scores, I wanted to but, my spirit was weak. Finally, the body and the spirit reach a compromise, I reported the scores. Then came that long 3 seconds, alas my score was here. What I saw made me stare at the screen for another 60seconds then out of shock I signalled to the proctor, as he approached I realised I really didn't have anything to tell him. The screen showed Verbal:160 Quant:161. I was happy, I decided to send it to 3 safe schools and one good school. Kent State, Oklahoma State, Florida Inst of Tech and Uni of Illinois-urbana.

Topiipii:
Not exactly as I'd like: V - 161, Q - 165, but I'm hoping the AW score would be better than the previous one.

TOEFL was sweet and terrible! I had 20 on the speaking section, writing 29, Reading 29 and Listening 30, I wish I can have your speaking score right now. I'm trying to complete my SOPs now, that's the last part of my application.

Topiipii:
They're safe to the best of my knowledge. I registered both TOEFL and GRE with them, saw my TOEFL score today and will be taking the GRE later this week.

sirRiddy:
Wish all Fall 2017 applicants the strength and luck during their applications.
For those taking the tests, either the first time or retaking, I sincerely
wish you get a great score.
drhopeful, I trust your prep is going good. I am praying for you.

If you have a good profile and need a safe school for Engineering, please
apply to Kansas State University. Funding is really good here especially in
the Engineering and Agricultural-related courses. Good luck guys!

kessel:
TOEFL result out and scored 78
What can I do with this score now....

baum1:
Your profile looks very good.

What did you study at BSc and MSc? Have you done the GRE and TOEFL? Are you fixed on North America or you would like to consider Europe as well?

iCool:
Beautiful Saturday morning it is... My TOEFL test score just came in.

R28 L26 S26 W26
Total 106

All the preparation paid off. Relieved....

I used roughly 10days, jonsing for a better part of it . Had been preparing for the GRE verbal, so the TOEFL was somehow covered.


How I achieved my score -
Reading: This was straight forward, only got myself acquainted with what I was expecting on test day. Got question answering and time saving tips from Notefull videos on youtube. Previous knowledge of secondary school comprehension passage came into play.
TOEFL Reading easy sha.

Listening: Was also straight forward, Used ETS official test prep materials 3 and 4 (these had audio embedded in the booklet) + Notefull videos.

Speaking: Used majorly Notefull videos for the Speaking part. Other materials were dribbling me, Notefull had a defined formular.

Writing: Used Kaplan GRE booklet that taught about grammar (before the Issue and Argument tasks). Kaplan TOEFL showed me examples of what Writing answers looked like. Helped alot. Here, Notefull and Cambridge dey dribble me.


#MoneyCannotWaste

temi4fash:
Bro,

Am back, I did my exams on Thursday.

Had 300 Verbal 149 and quant: 151

Was quite disappointed with my quant but I give all the thanks to God.

Am unto the next phase.

A family friend wants me to apply to University of Minnesota twin cities says he would paid the application fees.

My course is Electrical Engineering.

WES converted GPA is 3.17/4

Can you suggest some other schools not too far from Minnesota?

jlakesideo:
Yeah, experiencing d same also.. I've sent ETS a couple of mails but no response yet...And my exam is on the 30th of Oct.(Though I have my confirmation slip in my email).


GURUS,
Please, I had a skype interview yesterday with the Prof I mailed, and I must say, it was so smooth (Thanks to happyday for that insightful tips), We spoke for about 1hr (very interactive).. But a little problem...

The problem is, The Prof said I should apply for a PhD program But I must be sincere to myself, I do not have the required cgpa(Though it wasn't stated on the school webpage). I had a cgpa of 3.54/5 but I will try as much as possible to do well on the GRE . I'm kinda scared because I don't wanna waste my time, money and effort on what I knw the percent of it assurance, Am I being pessimistic?(YES, I am) and besides the school is an IVY school (Brown University in Rhode Island)..

Any input from you guys?.. Please what should I do

cuspy:
Verbal is a serious something for most of us o

However, it is not insurmountable.

In addition to the Official Guide, I strongly recommend Priceton Review (either the Verbal section of the main book or the Verbal workout booklet, or both).

Going through the book has increased my confidence as well as performance on verbal section; the book teaches you to indentify and cross out wrong answers first before identifying the right one - a strategy which works out well for me.

If you've got limited time, go through the verbal section of the main book only, it's less verbose.

P.S: Biko don't read Manhattan for TC and SE questions - you might give up on verbal like I almost did. Manhattan is best for RC questions and Quant only (my opinion).

toluwee:
Drhopeful, please send toefl materials to onlinetolu@gmail.com
Thank you.

OluDare01:
If I talk now, some people will start saying I should discern their post before replying. The cost of writing standard tests can't even pay rent.
Just saying

gabbydoncum:
drhopeful please can you send TOEFL materials to me. my email is uchegrandtech@gmail.com. Thanks

OluDare01:

Some people think say dem dey share funding ni.
Funding is contingent upon availability.
All the best to you guys

donald197:
Drhope please this is my email kefalayi@yahoo.com kindly send me materials too for Gre.

ponpon:
FALL 2017 people , how is it going oooh....he no easy!

pete26:
Tnx Drhopeful, here my email puduophori@yahoo.com

Themaths:
Hi guys, am kinda new here and to all this GRE stuff. i'm planning to apply for a grad program in the US next year and hoping to take the GRE general test by november, i have checked the exam dates and venues. Now, my first question is this

REGISTERING AND PAYING FOR THE TEST
1. Should i register and pay online for the test myself? I have a VISA debit card, but what troubles me is the current exchange rate. the price of the test is quoted at $205. Using CBN rate as of this morning amounts to #62,500 approx. and black market rate amounts to #86,000 approx. So, will i be charged CBN rate or black market rate? [/color]Best to pay online by yourself to avoid being swindled. [color=#000000]

2. OR should i register through those bodies that i see their adverts everywhere? i called one in PH, he told me the registration fee is 60k including study materials.

3. How is GRE scored? is there a general score or scores are by section? and what score will you boldly say is a good score for a competitive school and course. Thanks for your time. Scores are by section. [/color]You target scores depending on your field and on the caliber of schools you are looking at. But generally for science/engineering courses, I would say target V155+, Q160+, AW4+, and vice versa on Q and V for non-science courses.[color=#000000]

pete26:
Hello guys Pls can som1 help me with toefl materials or a site whr I can download them. Tnx

Topiipii:
V - 162 Q - 167

Topiipii:
Yes, 2013. I'm writing again in order to better my 3.5 AW score.