GRE Biology Subject Test – Tips and Strategies
Cracking the GRE subject biology paper is not an impossible task. Following a few simple facts will go a long way towards ensuring your success:
- Familiarize yourself with the GRE subject test pattern.
- It is best to go back to your own texts books that you studied at the undergraduate level and brush up the familiar and fundamental concepts.
- Have a thorough idea of the content/ syllabi of the biology paper. You can cover the remaining topics from other texts once you have gone through your own text books.
- An overview of the sample papers will help you to have a better understanding of not only the pattern but also the weightage that is given to every topic so that you can make your selection of texts accordingly.
- Since the GRE biology subject test is objective, it is necessary that you cover the topics in great detail. You will have to keep in mind terms and names and more importantly, get their spellings right.
- As you will see from the practice booklet of ETS, the questions towards the end of the paper will concentrate on the interpretation of graphs, comparison between graphs, labeling diagrams as well as interpretation from the results of experiments from given data. While revision, it is necessary that you simultaneously chart the diagrams, figures and graphs that are given in the practice books. This will ensure a clearer understanding of the concept.
- You can also take professional help from the numerous coaching institutes for enhancing practice and time management.
- The biology subject GRE is a paper-based exam which makes it easier for you to glance through the entire paper before you start answering. Moreover, all the questions in the GRE subject biology paper will carry equal weight. Negative marking is a norm for incorrect answers. Hence, it is advisable that you answer only those questions that you are confident of getting right.
- To avoid last minute confusion before the biology GRE subject test, you should complete all the formalities that you need to undertake inside the examination hall.
- A thorough knowledge of the test-taking instructions will be necessary. You will find these in any of the comprehensive sample practice papers.