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GRE

GRE is the license to USA, CANADA, SINGAPORE universities and also required for competitive programs of good universities in the UK, Australia, New Zealand etc.
P.S. GRE is not a tough exam and I am saying again this strategy is only for 310 target in GRE. Also keep in mind your educational background and intended majors will be different so you can monitor you need to pay more efforts on both if you are weak in maths and english or just on any one of them. Similarly sometimes you need a higher score on maths or verbal depending upon your intended majors. So you can divide that 310 according to your needs as depicted by desired universities’ class profiles.
 

Resources 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wnKNg7f6f1RwzHgftXjtEL30iqkcizWl?fbclid=IwAR0K6rly3de0drgvb3H2VMXElNlVWGmVs2zwh5pTWzOqkwCM5C-wHzVopaQ

https://www.facebook.com/groups/995864270465566/files/

REMINDER FOR FULBRIGHT 2018-19:
Appear in GRE before 16th of May.
Leave adequate time for filling of application.
I am repeating again GRE is not a tough exam, if people with 291 can get in you can get into it as well. Please do not lose your future for some amount of money or effort. I know it is tough to manage 22000 PKR but as we collect money for phones and what not please have enough intent and Allah will give you a way out.
GRE should be your main goal, anyone who can spend 40 to 50 days with directed hard work can score at minimum in excess of 300. Even if you are above 290 you have a chance.
The official site also says:
“The GRE scores are required for placement at a U.S. university. However, different disciplines have different GRE score requirements. For examples, English literature will require a higher score in the verbal section and engineering fields will require a higher score in the quantitative. It is understood that students coming from private English-medium schools may have an advantage in the verbal portion of the GRE and such factors are taken into account in determining merit.”
(So if you are from less privileged background they will account for this factor and so it is a plus point for such applicants)
Please do apply to Fulbright, it is one of its kind scholarship and you never know when your efforts bear fruit.
Don’t worry about essays, CV etc at this stage, I will help you step by step on all components. We will make CVs and essays together, I will review them and help you to improve them. But for now be patient and spend good amount of time on GRE. If you are done with GRE, start initial drafts of your essays and CV. Believe me in Europe and US people spend time in learning how to write better essays and CVs instead of just relying on help. If you have time please use Google and learn how different experts suggest writing them, how to compile essays. Improve your profile do anything relevant but don’t sit at home in disappointment.
I know for some of you it has been a long journey, many applications with no success. Successful people try one more time than those who fail. Try, try again until you succeed. World has more than enough resources to accommodate all of you but you will have to deserve them.
I am again posting GRE link for material, spend time on PDF I already posted and ace the GRE.
Those of you who are really competent challenge yourself, do your best to get as close to 340 as possible and even why not a 340 for Pakistan in 2018????
Spend time on strategies, books, get submerged into the sea of GRE and you will already find many ways to tackle it. Don’t rely on unauthentic sources and don’t take big gaps in GRE preparation, telling you this w.r.t psychometric properties of the test. Aptitude tests’ scores normally decrease the more gaps you take and the more dispersed is the preparation. So do integrated preparation and ONE IMPORTANT POINT is that instead of wasting too much money on unauthentic sources, if you can buy go for MAGOOSH PREMIUM for one month but only when you spend at least a month on free material given in above link and you are comfortable with it.
Ace GRE and you are half way there. Gain some internships/volunteer/research experience if you can. CGPA is not a barrier, age is not a barrier, not having TOEFL or Degree is not a barrier for now.
KILL GRE ideally before 10th of April if you are to work on application after GRE or spend an hour or 2 on application everyday and also first learn the art of writing personal statement, study objectives, CV etc.
Please also make sure you know how exactly GRE is scored and a common error and a silly one is mismatch of NAME on PASSPORT and GRE REGISTRATION, they will not allow you to sit in GRE EXAM if there is even a mismatch of single letter. Ascertain your first/middle/last name properly and fill GRE form according to Passport.
NOTE: 23rd and 24th FEBRUARY, I will be available whole 2 days for any queries on GRE, I REPEAT any query. The testing, the exam, sections, scoring, payments or whatever.
Then in due course, I will post MATERIAL about FULBRIGHT application like for CV and essays and will post dates about reviews and help in those sections.
Book seats early as seats for March, April will get filled very soon due to Fulbright load. I see people waiting until last hour and then pray that Fulbright should extend deadlines for GRE. Unless you have a very legit reason, if you don’t take GRE by deadline, even if the date is extended you don’t deserve a scholarship believe me! #Be responsible and act well in time.
305-310 RANGE is almost always safe in Fulbright.
Differently able people and incumbents from religious/ethnic minorities must apply.

GRE General is always required
• GRE score around 300 in Quantitative + Verbal section (out of 340).
• Analytical score of 2.5 is OK but more than 3.5 is ideal.
• GRE Subject is optional.

http://www.ets.org/gre/

http://www.usefpakistan.org/Testing/GRE.cfm?Tab=Testing

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What is GRE? Who takes this?
The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is a standardized test that is an admissions requirement for most
graduate schools in the United States. The GRE is owned and administered by Educational Testing Service
(ETS). It is computer-based test, and ETS conduct this almost in all big cities e.g. LHR, KHI, ISB, FSD etc. in
every week Mon-Thr throughout the year.
One take GRE if he/she want to apply in US or Canada, few universities of other countries also require GRE.
–
What is the structure of GRE?
The GRE Test focuses on testing abstract thinking skills in the areas of: vocabulary (verbal reasoning),
mathematics (quantitative reasoning), and analytical writing.
There are three major portions, 1) Analytical Writing 2) Verbal reasoning 3) Quantitative reasoning for details
follow the link (http://bit.ly/2SlTfcv )
–
What is good time to take GRE? And for how long I can use GRE scores?
The best way you can choose is the free time summers or after summers like Sep-Oct. GRE scores are valid up
to 5 years. If you are in 7th semester of BS or 3rd Semester of M.Phil/MS it is ideal time for you to take GRE.
In general, you must appear in the summers before your last year in the university.
–
From where should I start?
You can start from the GRE vocab from Magoosh. You can practice online on PC or download mobile
application. Link ( http://bit.ly/2GhVIA6 )
Along with the basic math from “Manhattan Book 1-6” if your basic math’s is good, you can start from
Manhattan 5 lb.
–
How much time it takes?
It really depends on what is your background and how seriously you do efforts.
In general, if you work 2-3 hours daily with consistency, you can chase it like in 1.5-2 months. Some students
may need to work even harder especially if they are weak in both Maths and English or they are slow learner.
What is good GRE score?
The GRE is scored on a 130-170 scale in each section.
Verbal reasoning and Quantitative reasoning 40 MCQs each (2 sets of 20 for each). So there are 80 MCQs in
total and hence 80 marks (though each question doesn’t carry equal weight, like one question can have 0.5 and
other may be even worth 2 points.) But in GRE the base score is NOT zero, it is 260 (it means if all your
questions are wrong you get 260) and maximum scores are 340. Writing score reported on a 0–6 score scale for
each section, but not included in the total score of GRE.
If one gets 320+ he has chances to go to 95% of good institutions of US. If he/she gets 310 he can go for 50%
institutions.
Scores 315-330 (Good), and you can Target A, A- universities.
Scores 300-315 (Average) and you can Target universities from B+ to B-.
–
What are lowest acceptable scores?
People having 296+ scores are eligible to apply in few universities and still win handsome scholarship, though
the probability to admission is greatly decreased, but I have witnessed cases in both direct admission and via
Fulbright. But, in general one must try to get 305+ to compete.
–
Which GRE should I take?
The GRE General Test is normally required by most graduate programs, so you will most likely have to take it.
The GRE Subject Test, however, is often not required
–
How many times can I take the GRE?
You can take the GRE revised General Test once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous rolling
12-month period (365 days).
–
What is the best way to prep for the GRE?
1. Put in Time for Score Improvement. …
2. Study What’s on the Test. …
3. Figure Out What You Need to Focus On. …
4. Target Your Weaknesses. …
5. Practice Makes Perfect. …
6. Self-Prep. …
How many questions are on the GRE? And How long it takes to complete a test?
5 sets of 20 questions.
The computer-delivered GRE® General Test takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes and consists of three
separately timed sections: Verbal Reasoning — There are two 30-minute sections, each containing 20 questions.
Quantitative Reasoning — There are two 35-minute sections, each containing 20 questions.
–
What GRE score do I need for Harvard and MIT?
Harvard is an extremely competitive school for graduate applicants. On average, the GRE scores of admitted
applicants range from about 155 to 166 for Verbal and 155 to 170 for Quant.
The average GRE score for MIT in engineering would be approximately 162 in the verbal section and 167 in
the quantitative section.
–
How do I book a GRE exam?
Create an account on the ETS website, register yourself it costs $205.
–
From where should I search US universities?
Here is full list of top 300 universities of US. Link ( http://bit.ly/32w9KYg )
–
GRE and TOEFL/IELTS Resources
GRE and TOEFL are required for admission in US universities, and US universities offer thousands of decent
scholarships each year. Almost every university offer PhD with fully funded fee and TA/RA opportunity worth
1500-3000$. Moreover, GRE is also valuable in UK and Canada. Once you have GRE in hand with decent
scores, you have hundreds of ways to scholarships.
1. Manhattan Prep mobile app FREE (Android) https://bit.ly/2JEE8Zg
2. GRE Books https://bit.ly/2NZ1EUQ (There is a pool of books, I suggest only go for Manhattan
and complete the course)
3. Video lectures: https://bit.ly/2xUYLJX
4. Software Collection https://bit.ly/30AEvti
5. TOEFL videos: https://bit.ly/2XTuV8cb
6. TOEFL complete data http://bit.ly/2LqkG4r
7. Further Suggestions to prepare GRE https://bit.ly/2XLNQ4s
8. IELTS Magoosh: http://bit.ly/MagooshIELTS S
peaking: https://perfectlyspoken.com/
More: http://bit.ly/IELTS-More
To start GRE download GRE Flashcards android app by Magoosh. Learn the vocab.
Alongwith vocab, start practicing Maths from Manhattan Book (1 to 6), if you are already good at Maths Check
Manhattan 5 lb book only.

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TOEFL/IELTS
• Language proficiency varies from university to
university
• Minimum requirement of TOEFL(iBT) is 80.
• Ideal score is more than 95.
• Speaking section score is required from 20-24/30.
• IELTS is also accepted in some universities but not by all universities.
• Ideal bands are 7. Some universities require 6.5 also.

• Ideal bands are 7. Some universities require 6.5 also.
http://www.ets.org/toefl

http://www.usefpakistan.org/Testing/TOEFL.cfm?Tab=Testing

https://www.britishcouncil.pk/exam/ielts

Resources for GRE

1. ETS resources
http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/?WT.ac=grehome_greprepare_b_150213
Power prep software(Mock test)
https://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/powerprep/?WT.ac=gre_36250_prepare_powerprep2
2. Quantitative section
• Hard cover book available, “GRE Big Book by ETS”.Only for Quant sec• http://www.ets.org/s/gre/pdf/gre_math_review.pdf
• The most Valuable book (Manhattan 5lb).
http://www.4deducationhub.com/admin- 4d/uploaddownloads/Manhattan%205lb.pdf
• Good Book by Barron(But not enough)
• Online mock test of Kaplan and Mangoosh.
• Mock test by ETS
http://www.usefpakistan.org/Testing/MockTest.cfm?Tab=Testing



Now, USEFP fulbright just asks for GRE scores. The deadlines of fulbright will be in May 2017. So, this month of December is the best time to start preparing for GRE. You start in December and finish its preparation in the end of March, April, 2017 and GRE is conducted five days a week each month and you will get results of GRE in 15 days maximum and hence apply for fulbright in deadline of May, 2017.
Now coming to the point of GRE, GRE is not an impossible thing. It is not even difficult. All you need is to understand the solving techniques and practise as much as you can. I assure you, that you can get good scores in it.
Once you do GRE, you are able to apply for so many scholarships other than fulbright. For example, in USA, you can go for TAship (Teaching Assistantship) and RAship (Research Assistantship). The TAships are offered by departments and they waive off tuition fee and living expenses are given. The RAships are given by professor, if you work with him on some project. So, you can ask department while applying for USA without fulbright, if they are offering TAships, otherwise, you can ask professors by emails, if they have any RAship available. But again, the main thing is GRE, without GRE, no one will start talking to you in USA, unless you have GRE in hands. Also for PhD applicants, they can get HEC grant for PhD in USA
Also you can go for direct PhD after Bachelors
http://magoosh.com/…/combined-masters-and-phd-programs…/
Also according to information by Brighlink website that students from Pakistan who prefer to go on directly to US universities than taking fulbright are increasing in number.
With GRE, you can also apply for scholarships in Singapore and also in Canada. So, now, collect and arrange for the test money of GRE and do it. Do not miss this chance
** People who have graduated or will graduate till December 2017 will be able apply for fulbright 2018
Now, you worry about low CGPA, I have seen 2016 fulbright finalists CGPAs less than 3 and many of them nearby 3, such as 2.49, 2.7,2.8,2.89, 2.97. See few profiles here finalized for fulbright 2016
 

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