adroitish:
I did my GRE today, and I thought i should share. It wasn't a very pleasant experience at the Surulere centre... We started a little late, and while typing my argument essay, the network disconnected causing me to lose part of what I had typed and disrupting my thought process.
The first set of verbal and quantitative were fine but I was unusually slow in my quantitative. I couldn't answer the last question. I took a break after that and my network disconnected again. This was also unsettling. I was already developing a headache by this time.
I pushed on till my second quantitative where I was so much slower not answering at least four questions properly. I was devastated by this. It was destabilized for my final verbal section and I managed to stay focused. The verbal and quantitative sessions I did after the initial two were so much harder.
Final scores VR - 158, QR - 158, awaiting AWA. I want to appreciate everyone on this group cos tho I've never commented, I gained a lot. Now unto the applications

RexCheeng:
Recently took the GRE.

Big kudos to those who constantly via this thread, sew into our lives. (pun intended)
I am equally honored to add my little quota to the existing plethora of information on this thread.

The GRE isn't a test of intelligence (as they say at the beginning of most texts), it is a test of how well you can take the GRE (Cliche right?).

I started preparation about three months ago; getting acquainted with the structure of the exam, reading the tales of those who performed excellently and those who didn't. I also got the necessary materials suggested; magoosh GRE flashcards app and Memrise app; Even though it might seem a daunting challenge to study and remember 1000 new words in a matter of months, these apps ease you into it. IF you assiduously study a meagre 20 words per day(2 words an hour), you would consummate the GRE vocabs in 50 days. Also it helps that these apps are intertwined, so if you exhaust the magoosh word list (which you should), going to another app (say memrise) would be more or less revision. For those who have ample time to prepare, you can also take time to go through word power made easy by norman lewis; it is a thorough book that helps you really understand etymology and co.
Another wonderful app is Ready4GRE; this not only has vocab flash cards, it simulates the real GRE syllabus and walks you through vital topics and concepts which are pertinent to your learning. I also combed through a lot of Sentence Equivalence and Text Completion Questions on various platforms; Manhattan 5lb, magoosh videos, barrons 6 tests, and princeton 1014 questions. I learned new words in the process and further got acquainted with the strategies and formats to tackle questions; the most efficacious being the Process of Elimination (IMO). For the Reading Comprehension; one key to acing this section is a cultivated reading habit. This can be improved by dedicating time to surfing academia texts, aldaily, nytimes, aeon, and the likes- ameliorating reading speed in the process.

For the Quantitative section, this also requires practice. IMO, the quantitative comparison is perhaps the most important; as this incorporates all other concepts (Geometry, Combinatorics,algebra etc). It also makes up 16/40 questions of the test, and is the only section that would strike most as new. I read the books by manhattan on the various topics, revising old & forgotten concepts. I then went on to solve most of the questions in the 5lb pack. After doing this, I still had a major problem with certain topics such as combinatorics and probability (we all do ) and I went on to nova GRE bible; they had over 100 questions on each topic. I watched magoosh videos too; learning short cuts and more basic concepts. The Ready4GRE app also had a myriad of really tough questions that was a similitude of the actual exam.

I practiced the Analytical writing section with each practice test; so I had a rigid format, and I was a becoming a virtuoso in the art of using linking words and GRE vocabs. I also went through the question pool during leisure; taking time out to generate at least three points for each question.

The test day was overwhelming!
I had QVQVQ; my dream format, and I proceeded to tackling the question. I cannot overemphasize the effect of adequate practice. I had almost no problem with pacing, even though I saw a few TOUGH traps disguised as questions. I was not so lucky with the verbal section. The Devil himself assisted ETS in setting the questions. Even the TC and SE I though I was good at, they proved to be too hot to handle. I barely had time to finish my last RC set and I had to make lucky guesses. I then had my break; quickly devouring my meal and from my conversation with other test takers, ETS was just in a bad mood that day. The second quant was quite tougher as expected, and I did my best and readily moved on to the verbal section; which seemed relatively easier, same as the last Quant.
I reported scores; 163Q, 157V.
Sent scores to four schools (major key).
And I left feeling elated.

I can't but appreciate the likes of Sirriddy, Time2Smile, topiipii, OGreene, fredoricko, iekene, scholastica16, happyday, Alan (I cant spell that your long german name ) et al. for taking time out to give encouragement, tips and advice. God bless you guys real Good!

Pardon my verbose epistle and malapropist use of recondite and esoteric words. I barely saw 20 words on the exam; and I dont know what to do with the rest of the words in my head.
tescoman90, ezeeche, temmitarts, et al. You are next folks!
#Selah

InfoTej:

“Whatever I am now it is all because God poured out such kindness and grace upon me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10a TLB)

If you’ve grown up in the U.S., you’ve probably heard all of these statements before:

If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
We make money the old-fashioned way — we earn it.
There’s no such thing as a free lunch.
There is no gain without pain.
God helps those who help themselves.

Everything about the American way of life teaches you that you get what you earn in life. We value work, sweat, effort, and performance. It’s called the American work ethic.

Overall, I like such a strong work ethic. God wants us to work at our jobs as if we are working for him. But God never relates to us based on our performance. The Bible tells us that everything God does in our lives — every blessing we have, every gift we receive — comes through his grace.

In other words, he gives us what we don’t deserve....

InfoTej:
1. Our blessings should flow to others.

The Bible teaches us that we are blessed not just so that we can feel good, not just so we can be happy and comfortable, but so that we will bless others. God told Abraham in Genesis 12:2, “I will bless you … and you will be a blessing” (NIV). This is the first law of blessing: It must flow outwardly.

How do you bless others? By serving a need, whether it is physical or emotional support, financial help, or practical advice. “Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand” (Philippians 1:4 MSG).

2. When we bless others, God takes care of our needs.

God promises that if we will concentrate on blessing others, he’ll take care of our needs. There’s almost nothing that God won’t do for the person who really wants to help other people. In fact, God guarantees this blessing. In Luke 18, Jesus says, “I guarantee this. Anyone who gives up anything for the kingdom of God will certainly receive many times more in this life and will receive eternal life in the next world to come.”

When you care about helping other people, God assumes responsibility for your problems. And that’s a real blessing, for he’s much better at handling your difficulties than you are.

InfoTej:
InfoTej is an online social reading platform.
We know reading can be boring, that is why we are creating ways to make reading interesting.
You read, and when its boring, you meet people of like mind on InfoTej, discuss what you’ve read and become motivated to get back to reading!