So I took the GRE® today

[Suchibansal]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Okay, so now i am going to get down to using your tips and the internet resources you mentioned!

will def. keep in touch.

hope u enjoy the rest of the day!

[Sugeni]

Hi Dakini,

I took the diagnostic exam and it didn't go very well. I got 400 in verbal and 600 in quant.
Can you help me what should I do? Also, I was practicing the analogies from the blog. You told me that I can compare those with you. Do you have solutions or bridges with you? Should I post bridge between analogies so that we can compare.

Hey Suchi bansal, As you mentioned you are also preparing for the analogies in the blog. If you like can we compare that with each other, I think it will be helpful for both of us.

Thanks,
Sugeni

[Suchibansal]

Hi Sugeni,

I am happy to compare notes on anlaogies with you but to be honest, I haven't started working on the website stuff yet. I am focussing a bit more on the math but, i will def. work on them next week. will post my answers asap.

In the meantime, please do post your answers- it will motivate me to get to the analogies more quickly!

thanks!

[Suchibansal]

Hi Sugeni,

I am happy to compare notes on anlaogies with you but to be honest, I haven't started working on the website stuff yet. I am focussing a bit more on the math but, i will def. work on them next week. will post my answers asap.

In the meantime, please do post your answers- it will motivate me to get to the analogies more quickly!

thanks!

[Suchibansal]

Hi Sugeni,

I am happy to compare notes on anlaogies with you but to be honest, I haven't started working on the website stuff yet. I am focussing a bit more on the math but, i will def. work on them next week. will post my answers asap.

In the meantime, please do post your answers- it will motivate me to get to the analogies more quickly!

thanks!

[Sugeni]

Hi Suchi,

Even I haven't done all of them, but I did a few. Should I post them now as it may disturb your preparation. Please confirm then I will post it so that you can give your suggestions.

Thanks,
Sugeni

[Suchibansal]

Dakini,

Sorry to bother you again but I have a quick question about the verbal prep site you mentioned - you said that the questions on your actual gre appeared in the same order- you mean you actually saw many of those analogies and words on your test?!!!

also, any idea how prachi is getting access to this list? its doesn't say on the website that the words are from the real gre's or does it?

thanks again!

[Dakini]

Hi Sugeni,

Good, you did the diagnostic ... its okay if it didn't go as well as you want. Now you can improve. DON'T PANIC. I didn't do well on the diagnostic either - I got 590 Verbal 540 Quant my first try.

First, you need to take note of what scores you need so you can aim for them.

Second, now that you know where you are weak you can work on that. Note that in my experience, Quant is easiest to improve on, Verbal is much harder.

For the verbal, I wonder if you have seen my message on the yahoo groups re the analogies; the msg has "TO THOSE W/ VERBAL PROBLEM please READ". My post should help you in this regard. I wrote out all my analogy answers by hand and don't have time to type them up cos of the move but I can help you with specific ones when you need. Just post them up here, or on the yahoo group. My post there also gives you tips on antonyms and a little on Reading Comp.

Third, now you must practice practice practice. Do all the material you have at hand, and the important thing now is NOT to do those questions timed. Take your time w/ each question and treat it like a matter of life and death. If you don't get it right away, keep trying until you are happy w/ the answer. This means you might not get through a lot during one day, but the results will be worth it. Trust me. For example, I was struggling with some analogies and some I figured out a couple of days later. You need to learn to anticipate how the examiners think, and when you do, you will do well! Oh, the same happened with a couple of math questions too =)

Be patient with yourself and know that practice makes perfect. How the examiners think may be completely different to what you have been taught at university so far. I had to learn a whole new way of reading and at first found the reading comprehension the hardest in the verbal.

I know the above is rather general, but if you tell me specifically what you find difficult I can help with suggestions. I know right now you must be quite stressed ... like I was when I did my diagnostic ... but its good to stress out a little I think, cos it will motivate you to work hard. But don't stress to the extent you can't do anything, cos you CAN do something about this. The amount of work you put into the GRE will get you the results you deserve. You just need to beat the exam and the examiners at their own game and I really believe after my own experience that this is doable.

One last thing, when are you going to do the GRE? The important thing is to allow yourself enough time to do it well. I delayed mine one month when I realized that I couldn't get the score I needed. I studied for a little over 2 months. Let's talk again when you've read this post! I have some errands to run today so I may be out for a couple of hours, but when I am home, I check my emails regularly and will respond to your new posts then =)

Good luck and be positive!

[Dakini]

Hi Suchibansal, another beautiful day in Boston!

Well you know I asked Ms Prachi that same question - how she got it - but she didn't really reply. I thought it was too good to be true, but I thought even if they didn't appear, it would be good practice for me. I got - from what I remember, it was really so hazy after the exam - fustian:bombast (bridge = Y is a defining characteristic of X) on my exam. The antonyms I can't remember too well, but it was either from her blog and from the Kaplan top 200 for sure (you have those flashcards, right?).

I think it would be safe to say that of the antonyms and analogies around 50-75% were from the list. That's quite a lot, but I think the best thing about the blog is that you can get more practice in. Some are tricky, please see my post on the group website for my take on some difficult ones its the - SOME RECENT ANALOGIES thread ... *SUGENI please refer to this too for now*

Gotta go out now, so speak soon! Hope this allays your concerns somewhat. Also, note that Ms Prachi updates regularly so check back often ... she doesn't change the date of the update at the top of the blog though, but when you scroll down you'll see more questions added!

[Suchibansal]

Thanks Dakini! I was just curious about her source but oh well, in any case you are right it does serve as good practice.

I will check on the forum to tally my answers with yours but, i am still waiting to get approval on the forum. hopefully, it will come through soon.

i am doing the kaplan flashcards -- good to know that the words were on your test!

thank you again for all your help! and yes, enjoy another grt day in boston:))

[Sugeni]

Hi Dakini,

Thanks for providing moral support. However, As per the diagnostic exam I have problem in RC and SC. I think I need practice in both. I just checked your post on the blog. It is really helpful. Further, Can you please tell me from where I can get the Kaplan top 200 flashcard. I didn't get them in the group.

Thanks,
Sugeni

[Dakini]

Sugeni, please check your private msgs. Have sent you sth!

[Dakini]

Sugeni, please check your email a/c. Sorry, I gotta go out now but I will send you the stuff after getting your reply this evening for sure. Don't panic in the interim ... I'll send you stuff that I am sure will help you =)

[Sugeni]

Thanks a lot,
Sugeni

[Sugeni]

Hi,

I am posting the analogies. We can tally these with each other. Tell me where I am wrong so that I can improve that.
ANALOGIES

1. quatrain:stanza
A part of Y is X
2. bootless:futile
Y is intensified version of X
3. fustian:bombastic
Synonyms
4. infinitude:measure
Maximum Y of sth is X
5. cistern:liquid
X is used to store Y
6. lock:secure
lock is used to keep things secure
7. vivid:intensity
X is defining chrs. of person with Y or Synonyms
8. debase:status
lower of Y is X
9. glacier:ice
mass of Y (which moves slowly) is X
10. resonant:sound
amplification of Y is X
11. judge:laws
X is a person who acts on the basis of Y
12. unswerving:vacillate
antonyms
13. cajoling:reluctance
antonyms
14. slothful:assiduity
antonyms
15. fence: livestock
behind the X, we will get Y
16. reliable:fail
X reduces the chances of Y
17. frill:superfluity
X is a kind of Y
18. obsequious:toady
Synonyms
19. allay:relieve
Synonyms
20. exhaust:energy
the loss of Y is called X
21. dissembler:forthright
Antonyms
22. mirror:reflectivity
function of X is to provide Y
23. bolster:support
Synonyms
24. book:appendix
supplementary material of X is Y
25. still:movement
Antonyms
26. stolid:impassive
Synonyms
27. martinet:lenient
Antonyms
28. school:learn
We go to X to get Y
29. overture:introduction
Synonyms
30. futon:bed
We use X to cover Y
31. miscreant:wretched
Synonyms
32. epic:poem
X is long & great Y
33. saga:anecdote
X is lengthy or long Y
34. raucous:harsh
Synonyms
35. orchestra:musician
Y is a member of X
36. bumptious:assertive
X is maximize form of Y
37. daguerreotype:photograph
X is an obsolete type of Y
38. mirror:reflective
purpose of X is to provide Y
39. miscreant:criminal
Synonyms or Y is maximize term of X
40. anachronistic:time
X is lack of Y
41. fervor:zealot
Synonyms
42. terseness:superfluous
Antonyms
43. disinfectant:germ
X is used to destroy the growth of X
44. percipient:discernment
Synonyms
45. envelope:enclose
X is used to enclose sth
46. obliterate:unnecessary
If sth is Y, we can perform X on that
47. nimble:clumsiness
Antonyms
48. fluvial:river
X is pertaining to Y
49. soothe:calm
Synonyms
50. enfeeble:strength
Antonyms
51. lock:secure
X is used to keep things Y
52. sedulous:diligent
X is of higher intensity than Y
53. allay:relief
Synonyms
54. vault:valuables
X is an enclosure to keep Y
55. stature:tall
One of the measures of X is Y
56. toady: flatter
Synonyms
57. pique:assuage
Antonyms
58. piquant:insipid
Antonyms
59. dormant:vigor
Antonyms
60. reticent:garrulous
Antonyms
61. bumptious:assertive
X is higher intensity of Y
62. saga:narrative
The function or quality of X is Y
63. lucid:understand
Synonyms
64. abate:status
X means to reduce Y
65. firefly:insect
X is a kind of Y
66. brute:urbanity
Antonyms
67. car:chrome
X is also made up of Y
68. indolent:vivify
Antonyms
69. querulous:complain
The one who is X always tend to Y

Thanks,
Sugeni