More Indians attempted GRE than Chinese

Approximately 44 per cent of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) test-takers in Asia were from India.

This was among the revelations from ‘A snapshot of the individuals who took the GRE revised general test’. This year’s report, the second so far, gives an insight into the GRE test-taker population.

A press release said that data in the report was based on more than half-a-million people who tested between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2013, with valid scores on all three measures of the test.

A total of 1,19,855 examinees tested in Asia, with 99.9 per cent of examinees (119,714) reporting their intended graduate major.

Among the main characteristics of examinees who tested in Asia were: 62 per cent were men; approximately 55 per cent were between the ages of 18 and 22; more than 96 per cent were 30 years of age or younger; approximately 83 per cent resided in China (39 per cent) or India (44 per cent); approximately 32 per cent were in their fourth or final year of college, with another 13 per cent in their third year of college; 19 per cent were un-enrolled college graduates.

Also, the revised general test scores in all three sections of the test remained consistent with last year’s report for test-takers from India.

As for the global data, non-U.S. citizens now represent approximately one-third of the entire GRE test-taking population.

The report also said there were more 18 to 22-year-old candidates this testing year - 37 per cent compared to 34 per cent in 2011-2012.

Significantly, test-takers who identified natural sciences as their intended graduate major increased to 32 per cent from 27 per cent.

(Source : The Hindu)

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GRE (Graduate Record Exam)

About the GRE General Test
A graduate or business degree can give you a big career advantage. An important step toward achieving that goal and the path to thousands of graduate and business programs all over the world is to take the GRE General Test.

What Is It?
Graduate programs and business schools use GRE scores to evaluate your readiness for graduate level work. The GRE General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills that are not related to any specific field of study.

• Analytical Writing Measures critical thinking and analytical writing skills, specifically the test taker's ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively
• Verbal Reasoning Measures reading comprehension skills and verbal and analogical reasoning skills, focusing on the test taker's ability to analyze and evaluate written material
• Quantitative Reasoning Measures problem solving ability, focusing on basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis.

Who Takes It and Why?

Each year, more than 600,000 prospective graduate school applicants from approximately 230 countries take the GRE General Test. Applicants come from varying educational backgrounds and countries, and the GRE General Test provides the only common measure for comparing their qualifications.

GRE scores are used by admissions or fellowship panels to supplement undergraduate records, recommendation letters and other qualifications for graduate study.

Where Do People Take It?

The GRE General Test is offered year round at computer based test centers in the United States, Canada and many other countries. It is offered at paper based test centers in areas of the world where computer based testing is not available

Who Accepts It?

The GRE General Test is accepted at thousands of graduate and business schools as well as departments and divisions within these schools

About the GRE Subject Tests

Show what you know about a specific subject and graduate schools will take notice. The GRE Subject Tests can help you stand out from other applicants by emphasizing your knowledge and skill level in a specific area. If you're majoring in one of these subjects, you might want to take a Subject Test in addition to the GRE General Test. Subject Tests may not be required by schools, but they're a great way to distinguish yourself and show you're serious about your studies and your future.

Each Subject Test is intended for students who have extensive background in one of these eight disciplines:

• Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Literature in English
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Psychology

Who Takes Them and Why?

Prospective graduate school applicants take the Subject Tests. GRE scores are used by admissions or fellowship panels to supplement undergraduate records, letters of recommendation and other qualifications for graduate study.

The scores provide common measures for comparing the qualifications of applicants and aid in the evaluation of grades and recommendations. Some Subject Tests yield sub scores that can indicate the strengths and weaknesses in an individual student's preparation and may also be useful for guidance and placement purposes.

Where Do People Take Them?

The Subject Tests are given at paper based test centers worldwide three times a year, in:

October,   November,   April

Who Accepts Them?

GRE Subject Test scores are accepted by thousands of graduate schools, including individual departments or divisions within these schools. Although the scores may not be a requirement for admission to a particular program, admissions committees are likely to consider the scores if they are submitted. It's best to contact the admissions office or department you're interested in and see exactly what they're looking for.

Scoring: Computer Adaptive Testing

The common (Verbal and Quantitative) multiple choice portions of the exam currently use computer adaptive testing (CAT) methods that automatically change the difficulty of questions as the test taker proceeds with the exam, depending on the number of correct or incorrect answers that are given. The test taker is not allowed to go back and change the answers to previous questions, and some type of answer must be given before the next question is presented.

The first question that is given in a multiple choice section is considered to be an "average level" question that half of the GRE test takers will answer correctly. If the question is answered correctly, then subsequent questions become more difficult. If the question is answered incorrectly, then subsequent questions become easier, until a question is answered correctly. This approach to administration yields scores that are of similar accuracy while using approximately half as many items. However, this effect is moderated with the GRE because it has a fixed length; true CATs are variable length, where the test will stop itself once it has zeroed in on a candidate's ability level.

The actual scoring of the test is done with item response theory (IRT). While CAT is associated with IRT, IRT is actually used to score non CAT exams. The GRE subject tests, which are administered in the traditional paper and pencil format, use the same IRT scoring algorithm. The difference that CAT provides is that items are dynamically selected so that the test taker only sees items of appropriate difficulty. Besides the psychometric benefits, this has the added benefit of not wasting the examinee's time by administering items that are far too hard or easy, which occurs in fixed form testing.

An examinee can miss one or more questions on a multiple choice section and still receive a perfect score of 800. Likewise, even if no question is answered correctly, 200 is the lowest possible.

For more information about the GRE visit the official website: www.ets.org/gre/
(Source: siliconindia.com)

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