11-09-2008, 07:13 PM
I just finished taking the Psychology GRE subject test for the second time yesterday and wanted to post some basic info and thoughts on itâ¦I will not get my scores back until November 29 and December 20th respectively and until then it is hard to tell what my advice is worth.
I did not post after the first test as I was very busy gearing up for the next test AND my experience was very similar to that of another user whose feedback is now posted in the Exam Feedback section.
Although I will elaborate on this later, this is not an easy test. While it may be a cheap route to getting a lot of LL/UL credit, it is way not a gimme. In order to get full credit 12LL/18UL you must get in the 80th percentile, basically this is graded on a curve. While that may normally be a benefit, recall that the ânormalâ use of this test is for students to get into grad school so the others taking it have had both the benefit of taking classes with an instructor AND it is most likely positively correlated with students getting decent grades. In normal speak that translates into the fact that you probably arenât going to get the benefit of a bunch of dummies dragging the curve down.
I started by reading what I could on the Web about the test, there really isnât a lot of info to be had. I read the reviews on Amazon, forums etc and thought I had a pretty good handle on what it was going to takeâ¦and if I can save just ONE PERSON from making that same mistake
niff,sniff: it will all be worth it. Just like the other tester I feel the review books cover maybe 60% of the test. Most everything I read said that with XXX book and an Intro text it would all be good..dont you be fooled.
The first thing I did to prepare was to get a couple study guides and in addition not only did I get an Intro book, I got full textbooks for each of the areas the review book said were covered. After looking it over and doing some reading here and there, I figured I would need about three weeks of jamming to get my score. A couple weeks before I was going to take it, I tested myself on the test that is available to be downloaded and mailed when you register. I was getting like a 145-150 on it which is right on the line for full creditâ¦so I signed up for a second test since if I came in right under the wire the cost of a class or ECE exam would run me more than the test so it was a cost effective safety net.
It was a lucky turn for me that I signed up for that second one because I didnât feel prepared for the first one and (this is where I rant a bit) I blame it on the outdated test and test support materials. The test ETS offers is from 1999, almost 10 years out of date, which is pretty ridiculous since the test and its format have changed so much. The test materials are based to varying degrees on the test or one like it. Not only is some of the material more in depth fact wise, many of the questions are scenario based, so you need to be able to apply it. I have no problem with this EXCEPT the practice test and materials are being held out as representative of what the current test is like and Shoeless Joe it jest aint soâ¦
On the first test I took, on my first pass through I was saying to myself âHoly Smokes Batman, we havenât seen this beforeâ, I was plowing through a lot before I could answer one. While I could have used better test-taking technique there was just a lot I didnât know and/or it took me time to figure it out. I donât know how many I got done, I do know that when they called 20 minutes left I was steaming through what I hadnât answered. Might have been a good thing as I think I was missing them. The problem with answering less questions is that a min score is needed for full creditâ¦You cant get 150 answering 120 even if all are correct, the more you answer knowing or educated guessing the better off you are. There is error correction so blind guessing can hurt you. After the test I felt that biological and test/measurement were 2 areas I need to get deeper into, not surprising as I had given them less attention. Read on to find out why this was a shame.
Three weeks later (yesterday) I took it again. I felt better after this one, I finished the main of it with a good amount of time to go back and pick at it. I donât know if I had shaken off some rust or what but my general technique was better. The sad part is that I got a much harder version. I donât know if that was from my taking it before or what..I donât know if they track that but I would guess yes with the test given 3 times a year and 3 levels of scoring (according to the ETS test booklet). If I had gotten the first version on my second shot, I think I would have knocked it good. All of the bio/experiment questions I recall having an issue with I could have gotten cold had I read my whole bio book first time around on the second they were much more obscure.
So here, finally , are my general suggestions about taking it, depending on your goals.
If you want to take a flyer and get as much credit as you can with minimum time, I suggest 6 weeks study, use a couple prep books, get an intro, social and development book. As able use instacert , web sites and online lectures. I suggest the books because they tend to have the experiments in them and one edition back from current is only 5-10 bucks. If IC has the same it might be just as good, best if you can work both. I say this from a perspective that I am able to read a book and then pass 100-200 level courses,YMMV. I would feel doing it this way you could get the LL and maybe half the UL. The practice test from ETS referenced above is available on their site for free download,just note my caveat.
For those looking to get the whole enchilada, I would give it like 4 months. Use all the above but add the other prep books, get the latest intro you can afford and get books for each of the tested areas. Start with the prep books, learn them cold, that is the frame of what you need to know. Then add on the specifics from books/Instacert. Do it slowly but surely along as you study/do other tests, schedule it out so you are doing x amount per weekâ¦then 4-6 weeks out go to just it, even though they vary from bad to better do all the practice tests you can, trying to peak around test time.
Another thing I think was a good move and would suggest is if you are shooting for the Fall testing is to take them both. Sure it cost an extra 130 bucks but if you are going to spend all that time it is smart to give yourself the best bite at the apple. You will feel more relaxed with a safety net, you get warmed up to the style etc. You also go from 1 in 3 to 2 in 3 odds of getting the easier test.
It will be interesting to see what happens as each of us used 1 of these methods.
Taking single exams is a hell of a lot easier IMHO..you know what to focus on, bang it out and move on. This sucker is like the Humanities exam on steroids. Still depending on where you are in your degree plan, it could be a real viable option for credits.
I did not post after the first test as I was very busy gearing up for the next test AND my experience was very similar to that of another user whose feedback is now posted in the Exam Feedback section.
Although I will elaborate on this later, this is not an easy test. While it may be a cheap route to getting a lot of LL/UL credit, it is way not a gimme. In order to get full credit 12LL/18UL you must get in the 80th percentile, basically this is graded on a curve. While that may normally be a benefit, recall that the ânormalâ use of this test is for students to get into grad school so the others taking it have had both the benefit of taking classes with an instructor AND it is most likely positively correlated with students getting decent grades. In normal speak that translates into the fact that you probably arenât going to get the benefit of a bunch of dummies dragging the curve down.
I started by reading what I could on the Web about the test, there really isnât a lot of info to be had. I read the reviews on Amazon, forums etc and thought I had a pretty good handle on what it was going to takeâ¦and if I can save just ONE PERSON from making that same mistake
niff,sniff: it will all be worth it. Just like the other tester I feel the review books cover maybe 60% of the test. Most everything I read said that with XXX book and an Intro text it would all be good..dont you be fooled. The first thing I did to prepare was to get a couple study guides and in addition not only did I get an Intro book, I got full textbooks for each of the areas the review book said were covered. After looking it over and doing some reading here and there, I figured I would need about three weeks of jamming to get my score. A couple weeks before I was going to take it, I tested myself on the test that is available to be downloaded and mailed when you register. I was getting like a 145-150 on it which is right on the line for full creditâ¦so I signed up for a second test since if I came in right under the wire the cost of a class or ECE exam would run me more than the test so it was a cost effective safety net.
It was a lucky turn for me that I signed up for that second one because I didnât feel prepared for the first one and (this is where I rant a bit) I blame it on the outdated test and test support materials. The test ETS offers is from 1999, almost 10 years out of date, which is pretty ridiculous since the test and its format have changed so much. The test materials are based to varying degrees on the test or one like it. Not only is some of the material more in depth fact wise, many of the questions are scenario based, so you need to be able to apply it. I have no problem with this EXCEPT the practice test and materials are being held out as representative of what the current test is like and Shoeless Joe it jest aint soâ¦
On the first test I took, on my first pass through I was saying to myself âHoly Smokes Batman, we havenât seen this beforeâ, I was plowing through a lot before I could answer one. While I could have used better test-taking technique there was just a lot I didnât know and/or it took me time to figure it out. I donât know how many I got done, I do know that when they called 20 minutes left I was steaming through what I hadnât answered. Might have been a good thing as I think I was missing them. The problem with answering less questions is that a min score is needed for full creditâ¦You cant get 150 answering 120 even if all are correct, the more you answer knowing or educated guessing the better off you are. There is error correction so blind guessing can hurt you. After the test I felt that biological and test/measurement were 2 areas I need to get deeper into, not surprising as I had given them less attention. Read on to find out why this was a shame.
Three weeks later (yesterday) I took it again. I felt better after this one, I finished the main of it with a good amount of time to go back and pick at it. I donât know if I had shaken off some rust or what but my general technique was better. The sad part is that I got a much harder version. I donât know if that was from my taking it before or what..I donât know if they track that but I would guess yes with the test given 3 times a year and 3 levels of scoring (according to the ETS test booklet). If I had gotten the first version on my second shot, I think I would have knocked it good. All of the bio/experiment questions I recall having an issue with I could have gotten cold had I read my whole bio book first time around on the second they were much more obscure.
So here, finally , are my general suggestions about taking it, depending on your goals.
If you want to take a flyer and get as much credit as you can with minimum time, I suggest 6 weeks study, use a couple prep books, get an intro, social and development book. As able use instacert , web sites and online lectures. I suggest the books because they tend to have the experiments in them and one edition back from current is only 5-10 bucks. If IC has the same it might be just as good, best if you can work both. I say this from a perspective that I am able to read a book and then pass 100-200 level courses,YMMV. I would feel doing it this way you could get the LL and maybe half the UL. The practice test from ETS referenced above is available on their site for free download,just note my caveat.
For those looking to get the whole enchilada, I would give it like 4 months. Use all the above but add the other prep books, get the latest intro you can afford and get books for each of the tested areas. Start with the prep books, learn them cold, that is the frame of what you need to know. Then add on the specifics from books/Instacert. Do it slowly but surely along as you study/do other tests, schedule it out so you are doing x amount per weekâ¦then 4-6 weeks out go to just it, even though they vary from bad to better do all the practice tests you can, trying to peak around test time.
Another thing I think was a good move and would suggest is if you are shooting for the Fall testing is to take them both. Sure it cost an extra 130 bucks but if you are going to spend all that time it is smart to give yourself the best bite at the apple. You will feel more relaxed with a safety net, you get warmed up to the style etc. You also go from 1 in 3 to 2 in 3 odds of getting the easier test.
It will be interesting to see what happens as each of us used 1 of these methods.
Taking single exams is a hell of a lot easier IMHO..you know what to focus on, bang it out and move on. This sucker is like the Humanities exam on steroids. Still depending on where you are in your degree plan, it could be a real viable option for credits.
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