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If you're gearing up to book your GRE and select a test date, understanding the nuances between Prometric and non-Prometric test centers can be of interest to you. The choice between the two often sparks discussions and leaves test-takers contemplating which option is better suited for them. In this blog post, I aim to shed light on this dilemma by sharing insights and addressing common queries to help you make an informed decision.

Understanding Prometric and Non-Prometric Test Centers

Prometric, a reputable testing company, boasts numerous test centers across India, facilitating various tests, including GRE and TOEFL. On the other hand, non-Prometric test centers also provide the facility for tests like TOEFL but operate independently from Prometric.

Factors Influencing the Decision

The decision-making process is often clouded by confusion regarding the facilities and reliability of non-Prometric test centers. Drawing from personal experience, I took my GRE at a Prometric Center, and the overall experience was excellent. The facilities were top-notch, with clean premises, proper management, and even amenities like drinking water.

Factors to Consider

1. Reliable Choice: It is important to note that whether Prometric or non-Prometric, the governing body is ATS, ensuring a standardized testing experience. But if you have a choice to select between the two, here is what to consider based on your location.

   • If there's no test center available in your city, opting for a Prometric center is recommended, especially if you have to travel to a different city.
   • For those testing in their city or nearby, visiting the chosen test center, whether Prometric or non-Prometric can help you with a firsthand assessment.

2. Location Matters:

   • Don't choose a Prometric center solely based on the brand if it's significantly far. Opt for a nearby non-Prometric center instead.
   • I would recommend considering distance as a crucial factors, to avoid any delays in reaching the program center.

Conclusion

The choice between Prometric and non-Prometric test centers is subjective and depends on various factors, including your location, preferences, and the specific test center. It's advisable to visit the chosen test center beforehand to ensure a smooth and comfortable testing experience.

You can also check this video:

Introduction

Welcome, future GRE and TOEFL exam takers! If you're gearing up for these crucial exams, you're in for an exciting journey. One valuable opportunity you might not want to miss is the chance to send your scores to four universities for free. Given the usual cost associated with score submissions, this is an incredible perk. In this blog post, we'll delve into the essential process of shortlisting universities and understanding your chances of selection. So, if you're curious and ready to plan strategically, keep reading!

The Selection Process

• Categorize universities into three classes: ambitious, moderate, and safe.
• Determine the classification of each university based on your chances of selection.

Step 1: Initial Shortlisting of Universities

Finding Similar Profiles

• Engage with college seniors, friends, and family for insights.
• Explore online communities (Facebook, WhatsApp) for active discussions.
• Seek profiles similar to yours for guidance on suitable universities and programs.

Utilizing Apps and Websites

• Use platforms like Yocket to recommend universities based on your profile.
• Explore online communities to search for specific universities and courses.
• Analyze previous year's accepts and profiles to make informed decisions.

University Rankings

• Understand global or national rankings using websites like US News.
• Identify top-tier institutions and programs in the overall ranking, as well as specific to the field of study and specializations.

Step 2: Detailed Analysis for your field of study

Once you've shortlisted a few universities based on data and statistics. Now, it's time to dive into some extensive research. Why is this necessary? University rankings don't provide a complete picture of what a university has to offer. For instance, if you're interested in natural language processing, you shouldn't choose a university solely based on its ranking. Instead, consider factors like ongoing quality research, professor-student involvement, and more.

Considerations for Decision-Making

1. Research Environment: Explore the departmental website to find details about research labs, ongoing projects, and the professors leading them.

2. Professor Profiles: Visit the personal webpages or university profiles of professors to understand their research interests, publications, and projects.

3. Research Collaborations: Investigate if the university engages in research collaborations with other institutions or companies, as this can enhance your academic and professional experience.

4. Graduate Student Projects: Check out projects undertaken by Ph.D. students, as Master's students often collaborate on these projects. This can give you insights into potential projects during your studies.

For Job Opportunities

1. Location of the University: Consider the city or area where the university is located, as this can impact job opportunities and your overall experience.

2. Placement Statistics: Explore the placement scenario by checking statistics on which companies visit the campus for hiring.

3. Cost of Living: Investigate the cost of living in the area and the university fees to make an informed financial decision.

4. Student Clubs: Look into various student clubs on campus, as they contribute to a well-rounded graduate experience.

The Two-Way Process

Remember, the university selection process is a two-way street. While you're being evaluated, you're also choosing the university that aligns with your goals. Invest time in thorough research because, as a graduate student, you're committing significant time and resources.

I've also prepared a few videos on this topic as well, feel free to check them out:

Let us delve into the intricacies of TOEFL preparation, providing insights and strategies to excel in each section.

Section 1: Choosing the Right Resources

For TOEFL preparation, the Official Guide to TOEFL by ETS is your go-to resource. This book not only familiarizes you with the exam format but also offers a plethora of questions and practice tests.

Section 2: Reading and Writing Strategies

The techniques for conquering TOEFL's reading and writing sections bear striking similarities to GRE's reading comprehension and analytical writing parts.

Here are some tips to score high on this section:

• Regularly attempt essay questions to improve writing skills.
• Read newspapers, articles, and blogs to develop continuity and enhance both reading and writing abilities.
• Focus on reading diverse content to boost idea generation.
• Add a timer to track your efficiency in your reading and writing practice sessions

Section 3: Sharpening Your Listening Skills

Listening section requires a strong command over the language and ability to extract key information in a short time.

• Use the practice tests and CD included in the ETS book.
• Explore numerous online resources offering audio clips for additional practice.
• During your listening practice sessions, develop a note-taking strategy that works best for you. I prefer writing dialogues segregated by speakers, highlighting the theme of the conversation, and important keywords such as places, activity, etc.
• Use the practice tests to analyze the general question format

Section 4: Ace the Speaking Section

In the speaking section, coherence and sticking to the topic are key. To ace this section, here are a few tips:

• Mimic the test center environment by practicing with a brief pause before you start speaking.
• Record your responses for self-analysis or seek feedback from friends and family.
• Identify phrases you use frequently, like “in my opinion” or “I strongly feel,” to maintain coherence during challenging moments.
• Remember, fluency is the linchpin of success, so practice, practice, practice!

Happy studying!

You can also check my video on this topic:

In this guide, we'll explore effective GRE preparation, covering the best books, recommended apps, and valuable study techniques for success in this challenging exam.

Choosing the Right Books

Selecting the right study materials is crucial for GRE preparation. Here are some highly recommended books to kickstart your preparation journey:

• Barron's GRE
• Manhattan GRE Series
• Kaplan GRE
• ETS Official Guide to GRE

These books cover both verbal and quantitative sections and provide ample practice questions to enhance your skills.

Analytical Writing Section

The Analytical Writing section consists of two questions with a score out of 6 each. To excel in this section:

• Regularly attempt essay questions to improve writing skills.
• Read newspapers, articles, and blogs to develop continuity and enhance writing abilities.
• Focus on reading diverse content to boost idea generation.

Verbal Reasoning Section

For the Verbal Reasoning section, focus on expanding vocabulary and honing inference skills. Here's how:

• Enhance your vocabulary through apps like Magoosh GRE Words and Barron's 1100 Words.
• Practice regularly to develop strong inference skills.
• Utilize suggested books for comprehensive verbal reasoning practice.

Feel free to let me know in the comments if you'd like a review of various vocabulary apps available.

Quantitative Section

The Quantitative section primarily tests basic math and mental ability. Tips for success in this section include:

• Familiarize yourself with the on-screen calculator used during the computerized test.
• Solve practice questions from recommended books to gain a better understanding.

Test-Taking Strategy

Preparing for the GRE isn't just about books and apps; it's also about taking practice tests. Here's why:

• Regularly appear for practice tests to assess your current level of preparation.
• Take advantage of the two free tests provided upon GRE registration.
• Explore additional online tests available for a comprehensive exam experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, mastering GRE preparation requires a balanced approach. Alongside studying from reliable books and using helpful apps, consistent practice and regular test-taking are paramount. If you found this guide helpful, don't forget to give it a thumbs up, and subscribe to my channel for timely updates on new content.

You can also check my video:

If you're considering studying abroad, you're likely familiar with exams like the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). In this blog post, we'll delve into the details of the GRE, a crucial component of many university applications.

Understanding the GRE

The GRE is a computer-based exam that spans 3 hours and 45 minutes, comprising three main sections: Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. Let's break down each section to understand what to expect.

Analytical Writing

The Analytical Writing section assesses your ability to express thoughts coherently within a 30-minute timeframe for each question. There are two types of questions:

1. Analyze an Issue: Here, you'll be presented with a real-world issue and asked to provide your perspective, supported by reasoning and examples. The focus is on how well you defend your opinion rather than the stance you take.

2. Analyze an Argument: In this task, you evaluate the validity of provided arguments. Your goal is not to express your opinion but to critically analyze the logical soundness of the presented argument.

Verbal Reasoning

Verbal Reasoning consists of 20 questions to be completed in 30 minutes. This section includes various question types, such as:

• Text Completion: You'll fill in blanks in a paragraph with options provided, aiming to create the most sensible and coherent sentences.

• Sentence Equivalence: Choose two options that, when placed in a sentence, convey the same meaning. It requires a nuanced understanding of word usage.

Quantitative Reasoning

Similar to Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning comprises 20 questions, but you have 35 minutes to complete them. The question types include:

• Single Correct/Multiple Correct Questions: Solve mathematical problems with provided options.

• Comparison Questions: Compare two mathematical expressions and determine their relationship.

• Numerical Answer Questions: Calculate and provide the answer without multiple-choice options.

Test Structure and Strategy

• Timing: While Analytical Writing provides 30 minutes per question, Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning are not divided by section. Manage your time efficiently, as any unused time does not carry over to the next section.

• Unscored Section: There's an additional, unscored section, randomly placed, either in Verbal or Quantitative Reasoning. Treat each section as if it contributes to your score.

Scoring and Results

Upon completion, your Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning scores are immediately available, but Analytical Writing results take about 10 to 15 days. You can retake the GRE every 21 days, with a maximum of five attempts within a year.

You can also check the video here:

The Facinote editor automatically saves your writing, so if you leave without saving, you'll pick up where you left off when you come back.

Writing automatically saves to the device you're writing on and works even with a spotty internet connection, so you'll always have access to your draft from the same device and browser that you started it on.

If you can write CSS, you can customize the appearance of your Facinote blog.

Getting Started

All you need to do is go to the Customize settings of your blog. Scroll down to “Custom CSS” and customize your blog from there.

The following stylesheet shows a few basic selectors you'll need in order to customize certain elements. You can just grab the selectors (e.g. #blog-title a) for your stylesheet — the properties are only there to illustrate what you can do.

/* Entire page background */
body {
    background-color: #efefef;
}

/* Blog header on index and post pages */
#blog-title a {
    color: #fff;
    background-color: #7a629d;
}
#blog-title a:hover {
    color: #eee;
    background-color: #7a629d;
}

/* Blog header on post pages ONLY */
body#post #blog-title a {
    padding: 4px 8px;
}

/* Blog description (underneath title) on index page */
header p.description {
    font-style: italic;
}

/* Post titles on blog index */
.post-title {
    font-weight: normal;
}
.post-title a.u-url:link, .post-title a.u-url:visited {
    color: blue;
}

/* "Read more..." links */
body#collection a.read-more {
    text-decoration: underline;
}

/* Links inside blog posts */
article p a {
    color: #444;
    text-decoration: none;
    border-bottom: 2px solid orangered;
}
article p a:hover {
    background-color: orangered;
    color: white;
    text-decoration: none;
}

Copy these entire sections verbatim, as each is a complete customization you might want to make, like centering an image.

/* Center images */
img {
    display: block;
    margin: 0 auto;
}

/* Disable post header fade effect */
body#post header
    -moz-opacity: 1;
    -khtml-opacity: 1;
    -webkit-opacity: 1;
    opacity: 1;
}

/* Hide post views */
header nav .views {
    display: none;
}

Themes

If you want to see how you can customize beyond the basic elements of your blog, you can check out our Themes blog. Here you can find custom blogs from the Facinote/Write.as community whose themes you can use and remix for your own blog.

Faccinote gives you full control over the ordering of your posts, and whether or not your blog shows publish dates.

Overview

First navigate to your Blogs page, and click the Customize button for the blog you want to modify. Next, scroll down to the Display Format section. You'll select your preferred display format here, and click the “Save Changes” button at the bottom of the page to immediately update your blog.

Blog Format

This is the classic format for a blog: latest posts first, with dates shown. It's perfect for timely writing, like updates for your friends and family or information on upcoming events.

• Order: reverse-chronological
• Dates: visible

Novel Format

This format hides publish dates and orders your posts chronologically, so visitors can read in the order you first published in. This is perfect for serial forms of writing, where each post is an individual chapter or section of a larger piece.

• Order: chronological
• Dates: hidden

Notebook Format

This format combines the ordering of a Blog with the date format of a Novel. It's made for poets and writers who regularly publish evergreen work, or people who just need a space to jot down ideas.

• Order: reverse-chronological
• Dates: hidden

Facinote allows you to publish without a blog with “Drafts”.

Private

Drafts are only identified by an unguessable ID, essentially making them private. Unlike posts connected to a blog, they aren't publicly connected to an identity unless you make it known in the post that you wrote it. A reader can't link your draft back to you.

Sharing Drafts

While private by default, drafts can be shared with others. They can be shared by ID on (instance config value) private = false instances.

Difference between Drafts & Blog Posts

Drafts differ from blog posts in a couple of ways.

While blog posts can include custom slugs for posts, drafts only have randomly generated ID's. Hashtags also won't render in drafts as they do in blog posts. Finally, drafts don't have the ability to include custom CSS like blog posts.

Facinote lets you easily group your posts together with hashtags.

Add one at any point in your post, like #this, and it'll automatically be linked to a special page that shows all posts in the blog containing that hashtag. You can also add as many hashtags as you want to your posts, with any kind of capitalization.

NOTE: Hashtags will only auto-link on blog posts, not Draft posts.