I took the general test twice - once on paper, once on computer - about 7 and 8 years ago. I thought it was a blast, but I was just testing the waters back then - soon I’ll have to take it again, For Real. Don’t be scared, though, especially since you’ve already practiced; it should be easy for you to get above 450. (Really. When I took it, I didn’t prepare at all beyond eating breakfast that day, and I did pretty well - 90th (math) and 99th (logic and verbal) percentile each time.) Overall, it’s slightly harder than the SAT, but not terribly hard - and SAT scores are a good predictor of GRE scores, so if you did well on the one, you will probably do well on the other. If you didn’t do well, figure out what happened on the SAT (did you take it sick? on no sleep? worried? no prep? etc.) and fix it for the GRE.
My hints, in no special order:[ul][li]I strongly encourage people to take the standardized tests for fun before they do it for real - it’s nice to get a feel for your strengths and weaknesses before you have to deal with nerves and jitters. (Also, I just enjoy standardized tests, but I realize not everyone does; there are other good reasons to take them before you need them.)[/li]
[li]If you love logic puzzles, you’ll love the test - this is the major thing that makes the GRE far better than the SAT. I had the analytical section first on my first time taking the GREs, and had so much fun I just bopped through the rest of the test. If you don’t love logic, practice with it a lot so you’re comfortable with it. My sister hates logic puzzles (and didn’t practice) and bombed the GREs as a result - she was so frustrated after that section she couldn’t concentrate on the rest of it.[/li]
[li]Also, I realize it’s too late for this, but if you take it again - take the computer version. You are usually alone or at most with just a few other test-takers, you are in a far more comfortable place (one with good seats and working a/c!), you can schedule it at your preferred time rather than having to get up ungodly early, and best of all: you can move on when you’re done! Taking the SAT and the ACT and the paper version of the GRE, the worst part was the endless waiting for the time to elapse so we could move on to the next section. (Hint for killing time on the paper versions: you can play the transform-a-word (BLACK to WHITE and so on) game with just a pencil. It’s one of the few games I know you can play by yourself with no equipment necessary.)[/li]
[li]Review whatever subject is weakest for you - math or verbal. In the verbal section, prepare to have the snot bored out of you with most of the reading passages; those are deliberately selected to be dull. (It is excellent preparation for graduate school.) The vocabulary, AIR, is pretty easy. The math is a bit harder, but I’m very bad at math and I did fine, so don’t worry - just review your basic concepts if it’s been a while.[/li]
Most important: stay calm. Relax. Don’t rush. Remember, it’s only a test, and you can take it again. No one will live or die by your answers or your scores. Have fun![/ul]
Thanks for all the tips. I am taking 2 classes and working right now so I have been concentrating on the vocabulary. I have 2 weeks off right before the test to study, and I have a friend taking the test the same day/time as I am, so I will have a study buddy. I have found that while studying the vocab, a lot of words have completely different meanings. (duplicity, derivative, perfidious) I’m taking the computer version. A few of my grad student friends said it was simple and to not study(I wish I had the natural talent to ace the GRE), and a few of my grad student friends said it was the hardest test they had ever taken.
My deadlines for schools don’t start coming until February, but I won’t have as much time to study once classes start.
Thanks for the tips. (This is my first thread that has gotten more than a couple responses 
)
My verbal and math scores on the SAT and GRE were both EXACTLY the same.
The math section is basically the same thing as SAT math–basic algebra and geometry problems. If SAT math was a breeze for you, GRE math/quantitative should be just as easy and you’ll finish each math section with plenty of time to spare. The verbal section is kind of like the SAT verbal, except that the vocabulary is perhaps a bit more difficult, as you would expect, but it’s not too bad. The analytical section is very similar in format to the LSAT, with a lot of logical puzzles. The key to doing well on the analytical section is to draw up a concise and ACCURATE diagram of the fact pattern at the beginning of a logic problem. Often, a single fact pattern has several questions, so if you diagram the problem wrong, it could throw you off for the whole section.
I think that most people find the analytical section as the most maddening, time pressured part of the exam. I got 750 on the analytical and still found that it took nearly all the time just to finish each analytical section. You could probably help your score somewhat by taking a course in formal logic–though of course, that experience in itself would probably be more stressful than the GRE.
Really, law schools ought to exempt anyone who’s taken the GRE from having to take the LSAT…just take the GRE analytical scores, which are essentially the same thing.
How bad (good) are the computerized versions. Chances are in the next year or so I’ll be taking a computerized standardized test, and it’s scaring me.
On the old forms, if I missed an easy question by coming up with 2+2=3, it wouldn’t penalize me that much - so long as that was the only time I made such a mistake. Or if I didn’t know the meaning of the word “amnesia” I would still get a shot at knowing the meanings of all the other words they threw at me.
On the computerized ones - if I mess up early on, is it possible to recover? Or am I doomed to a low score. Did anyone’s score go significantly up or significantly down changing from one form to the other? And/or how do I make sure my scores don’t drop. (I’ve always tested very well. So I’m sure I’ll do fine, but I want better than fine and I don’t think the format is to my advantage.)
I just took the computer test on July 6. All I did for studying was run over three to four old paper tests that ETS puts out in their book. I also had the Princeton Review book. It gave some good advice on handling the verbal sections (which I suck at compared to the other sections) but not much more.
I only started studying the week of the test. I never even practiced on the computer. Thankfully, I did really well. Of course I test well and am naturally gifted at the analytical stuff.
::under breath:: cough, 800, cough, cough.
I must second the idea of taking the break even if you don’t have to pea. Your body needs to stretch for those couple of minutes in order not to get tired sitting in front of that computer screen.
The point of studying is to familiarize yourself with the test questions: what they’re asking, what they’re looking for, learning to pace yourself properly. Or at least that’s what I needed to do to study.
It feels great! Like the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders. I loved the fact that the scores appeared right away after taking the test. It was a lot harder than I had expected. Anyway, I got:
Verbal - 580
Quantitative - 590
Analytical - 640
I need a 1000 on V+Q to get into my school, so I am good to go! Good luck to everyone else taking it!
Ellen
Congratulations, Ellen! The GRE is a real ordeal (I took it last fall). The lack of waiting is great, though. Anyway, good luck with the whole grad school application process.
You know, that’s exactly what one of my TAs said…
I actually liked the subject tests better, mostly because I took the Literature in English exam, which had lots of Dead White British Men on it. I’m quite conversant with Dead White British Men, so I scored 740, which is 99th percentile for those of you playing the home game.
“I am so smart! I am so smart! S-M-R-T! I mean, S-M-A-R-T!” 
To underscore what others have said: practice.
Cranky is right about the verbal section: practice with flash cards every night. Study the MAT.
Whether you can improve your actual analytic skills is dubious, but you can definitely improve your test scores in the analytic section. Once you learn how to work out the 5-8 variations in analytical tests, your scores should go up.