That sounds familiar
BY RONDA ADDY

The Graduate Records Examination (GRE) is a standardized, multi-choice test that colleges and universities use to decide which students to accept into their graduate programs. While there may be some places that still administer a paper version of the test, the test as a whole is now computerized. Before taking the GRE, it is a good idea to become familiar with the mechanics of it. This will help make taking it a little less scary.

The computerized version of the GRE will only show you one question at a time, which you must answer before moving on to the next one. Unlike the paper version, the computerized version does not allow you to go back and change your answers. The good news is that the computerized version is somewhat personalized. If you answer a question right, the next question will be harder, but if you miss a question, the next one will be easier. With the computerized test, you will also get your results right away instead of having to wait.

While studying for the GRE doesn't require memorization of dates and names, it does test your analytical, verbal and quantitative skills. In the verbal and analytical sections, you must pick from among five choices. The quantitative section gives you four choices. The score range for each section is 200 to 800.

The verbal section consists of 30 questions to be answered in 30 minutes. There are four different types of questions: reading comprehension, analogies, antonyms and sentence completion.

The mathematical section usually doesn't have questions past the high school level, but does include basic geometry and algebra. There are 28 questions that you must complete in 45 minutes. There are two types of questions: five-option questions and quantitative comparison.

The analytical section has 35 questions that you are given 60 minutes to complete. This portion is designed to test your deductive abilities and your ability to understand relationships.

In addition to these tests, there are three more components of the test. There is a computer tutorial, an experimental section and a research section. The experimental section is disguised to look like any one of the other sections-you can't tell it apart from the real test. The good thing is that this section is unscored. The research portion is optional and is also unscored.

Registration for taking the GRE is on a first-come, first-serve basis, but there are testing sites all over the country. There is also a charge for taking the test, with an extra charge for the writing or subject tests. Check out the GRE official Website for specific information regarding costs and locations.

Before taking the test, it is a good idea to get a good night's sleep, eat a good breakfast and arrive at least a half hour early. You will need two forms of identification that have your photo, signature and name on them. You will need to have the names and codes of the schools where you want the results sent. Don't bring food, drinks, a calculator, a dictionary or a cell phone with you.

You can see your unofficial scores on the screen and have those scores sent to four different schools at no charge. If you think you did poorly on the test, you can cancel your scores without seeing them, but once you do that, you can't change your mind at a later date. If you do cancel your scores, you can retake the test once every month.

While there is no surefire way to pass the GRE, it is recommended that you take as many practice tests as possible to become familiar with the type of questions on the test. That way, you won't be wasting time reading directions or figuring out how to answer the questions. After all, there is a lot riding on your answers