GRE Bites by Orion Taraban

11.22.2023

Exciting news from Stellar! (get ready for the new GRE)

Today’s episode is a brief announcement in which I share some exciting news: Stellar is now fully updated for the new, shorter version of the GRE! Not only has the manual and mock exams received an overhaul, but several new...

11.08.2023

Episode 70: How to solve a text completion question (a real-time demonstration)

In today’s episode, Orion solves a single-blank text completion question in real-time using strategies from the Stellar system. With sufficient practice, students should be able to solve vocab-based questions like this in less than a minute -- though active use...

11.01.2023

Episode 69: Japan’s method of reducing error (the point-and-call system)

The railroad system in Japan is one of the most efficient and complex in the world. It’s also one of the safest, and major accidents -- let alone delays -- are almost non-existent. In today’s episode, Orion shares one of...

10.25.2023

Episode 68: What are the GRE subject tests? (and why to take them)

Since the GRE general test is the most commonly required standardized test for a graduate school application, many people aren’t even aware that the GRE subject tests exist. In today’s episode, we discuss what these tests are, how they differ...

10.18.2023

Episode 67: Can artists do math? (lack of knowledge can be an asset)

Davis and Orion respond to another question from a listener in today’s episode of GRE Bites. The request is from a student with an arts background who is concerned about his ability to score highly on the quantitative section of...

10.11.2023

Episode 66: Is there hope for low-scorers? (getting a 320 if you’re not a high-performer)

In today’s episode, Orion and Davis respond to an email from a listener who is concerned as to whether her GRE goals are attainable, despite not being a ”high-performer.” While some folks tend to have an easier time of things...

10.04.2023

Episode 65: Eliminating transfer errors (practical steps to reduce carelessness)

Transfer errors are the second-most common type of careless error on the GRE. Like all forms of carelessness, these errors can be enormously frustrating, as they prevent students from receiving points they otherwise deserve. In this episode, Orion shares several...

09.27.2023

Episode 64: Getting an excellent letter of recommendation (the sure-fire approach)

Letters of recommendation are essential components of any grad school application. We all know they’re supposed to be glowing endorsements of your ability. But isn’t that true of everyone else’s? So how can you get your letters to stand out...

09.20.2023

Episode 63: Overcoming a low grade point average (what does and doesn’t work)

For various reasons, many students’ undergraduate GPAs might be lower than they would like. Sometimes, these students approach their GRE prep from the perspective that a high score on the test will help to compensate for the ”sins of their...

09.13.2023

Episode 62: How to solve a plug-in problem (a real-time demonstration)

In today’s episode, Orion demonstrates how to solve the most common question type on the quantitative section of the GRE: a plug-in problem. He walks through the second-by-second workflow for answering these types of problems in less than a minute,...

09.06.2023

Episode 61: Do you need to answer every question? (hit your target score strategically)

When they begin their prep, many students struggle to answer every question within the time limit. They rush to do so, which typically increases their careless error rate on problems they ”should” have gotten right. In today’s episode, Orion and...

08.30.2023

Episode 60: How to solve a sentence equivalence problem (a real-time demonstration)

In this episode, Orion does a real-time demonstration of how to solve a sentence equivalence problem on the GRE. He walks through the second-by-second workflow associated with solving these verbal question types quickly and accurately: from scanning the answer choices...

08.23.2023

Episode 59: Should you get a study buddy? (the pros and cons of social studying)

Getting a study buddy to prepare for the GRE can be an excellent idea for a variety of reasons. For example, working in conjunction with a friend can improve compliance and provide accountability. It also creates teachable opportunities, if the...

08.16.2023

Episode 58: The secret to good essay writing (understanding DRI writing)

This technique is as useful on the GRE writing section as it is in grad school, itself. The secret to good academic writing is to utilize the DRI rubric. This stands for: describe, report, interpret. In this way, students can...

08.09.2023

Episode 57: Should you take the full ride or pay out of pocket? (how to pay for grad school)

Many PhD programs offer their successful applicants a full scholarship and a living stipend in addition to their admissions. What’s not to like? The reality of the situation, however, is that there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Doctoral...

08.02.2023

Episode 56: New GRE test updates (responding to what we now know)

In today’s episode, Davis and Orion react to the FAQ recently released by ETS concerning the upcoming revisions to the GRE general test. Among other things, we confirm the time durations of each section of the test, as well as...

07.26.2023

Episode 55: How much prep is too much prep (solving thousands of problems may not be helping)

Different test prep companies have different approaches to preparing for the GRE. However, one thing that more competitors seem to have in common is a reliance on oversaturation as a didactic principle. Whether it’s asking students to read a 10-volume...

07.19.2023

Episode 54: Why is the GRE changing? (the influence of the marketplace on education)

As we recently reported, the GRE will be changing significantly starting in September 2023. Why is this happening? Orion and Davis discuss the official line from ETS, the developers of the GRE, and conjecture as to some other potential motivating...

07.12.2023

Episode 53: What to do if you have too much time on the GRE (how to pace yourself properly)

Many students find the time limit to be the most difficult part of the GRE. However, there are some hotshots out there who can complete problem sets with a great deal of time to spare. This episode is for those...

07.05.2023

Episode 52: How to prep using full-length tests (getting ready for the GRE)

Sitting for full-length practice tests is an indispensable part of preparing for the GRE. Nothing else gives students a taste of the sustained concentration necessary to succeed on the exam, and the opportunity to practice systemic approaches to the test...

06.28.2023

Episode 51: The GRE is changing! (what students need to know about the new test)

ig news for future grad students: the GRE exam is changing! The version of the test will be available to students starting in late September 2023. While all of the details are not yet clear, the most significant (and most...

06.21.2023

Episode 50: Can you cram for the GRE? (why time and repetition are key)

Can you cram for the GRE? This is an easy question to answer: no, you can’t. However, it isn’t actually immediately apparent why you can’t cram for the test. After all, you can potentially memorize all of the quantitative material...

06.14.2023

Episode 49: Understanding the point structure of the GRE (how the test is scored)

The way in which students accrue points on the GRE is not intuitive. In today’s episode, Orion lays bare the abstruse point structure of the test, and how these points are converted into raw scores, scaled scores, and percentiles. Awareness...

06.07.2023

Episode 48: Taking the GRE when you’ve been out of school for a while (what to expect as an older student)

Life is not a straight line. It often happens that people decide to make a career change after several years in the workforce, and that this change requires they sit for the GRE before launching into a new field of...

05.31.2023

Episode 47: Should I get private tutoring? (the pros and cons of hiring an expert)

There are many different test prep resources available to students, who often wonder whether they should engage a private tutor to prepare for the GRE. Like any other option, there are pros and cons associated with this approach. In general,...

05.24.2023

Episode 46: How to get testing accommodations on the GRE (understanding the petition process)

For better or worse, the process of securing testing accommodations on the GRE can be protracted and expensive. Students cannot schedule a testing session with accommodations until their petition has been approved by ETS’s team of psychologists, which can take...

05.17.2023

Episode 45: How to stay cool in high-pressure situations (the psychology of top performance)

In today’s episode, Davis and Orion respond to another listener question. This one is all about staying cool in high-pressure situations where the stakes are high. Drawing on research in performance psychology, Orion discusses the importance of focusing on the...

05.10.2023

Episode 44: What is your park screen ritual? (taking care of your mental stamina)

Davis and Orion respond to another listener question in today’s episode. The two have previously discussed the importance of the park screen (”How to get a real break on the GRE”) for top-percentile performance. Utilizing this opportunity correctly can mean...

05.03.2023

Episode 43: What is a cheat sheet? (why making your own is a good idea)

In today’s episode, Davis and Orion respond to another listener question. In previous talks, Orion has mentioned the importance of creating a ”cheat sheet” over the course of one’s prep. So what exactly in this cheat sheet? In short, a...

04.26.2023

Episode 42: How to approach GRE problems (the counterintuitive process that works)

The vast majority of students approach GRE problems completely backwards: they spend a lot of time getting into a problem (in the sense of re-reading the problem and thinking through the solution), and not a lot of time getting out...

04.19.2023

Episode 41: Grad school admissions and goodness of fit (why students actually get admitted)

As stated previously, no one gets into grad school because of their GRE scores (though many people are kept out of grad school for the same). In today’s episode, Davis and Orion discuss what actually moves the needle with respect...

04.12.2023

Episode 40: You will never feel ready (overcoming test hesitancy)

This can be somewhat of a bitter pill to swallow: you will never feel ready to take the GRE. And that’s okay. You’re going to do it anyway. Just like courage isn’t the absence of fear, but the decision to...

04.05.2023

Episode 39: How to stay focused during reading comprehension passages (tips for mindful reading)

Let’s face it: the reading comprehension passages on the GRE can be decontextualized, tedious, and boring. This is a dangerous combination, as it can significantly increase the likelihood that students zone out when they should be paying attention. In today’s...

03.29.2023

Episode 38: The GRE is a game of seconds (how to be more efficient)

Just like baseball is a game of inches, the GRE is a game of seconds. What does this mean? It means that the difference between the merely good and the truly great often comes down to a differential application of...

03.22.2023

Episode 37: Which vocab app is the best? (introducing a new vocab resource)

There’s no way around it. If you want to score higher on the verbal section of the GRE, you have to increase your vocabulary. And there are a lot of low-to-no cost options available to students to improve this skill...

03.15.2023

Episode 36: What makes for a top scorer? (the psychology of high-achievers)

In today’s episode, Davis and Orion respond to another listener question on what makes for a top scorer. It turns out that there are two personality characteristics that are reliably associated with students who score in the highest echelons of...

03.08.2023

Episode 35: What to do the day before the test (things to keep in mind before the big day)

The big day is almost here! How should students spend their final hours before sitting for the GRE? In today’s episode, Davis and Orion discuss general strategy with respect to this frequently asked question. The good news is -- if...

03.01.2023

Episode 34: How to improve accuracy (get the points that you deserve)

In a previous episode, Orion discussed the tradeoff between accuracy and efficiency: the faster you go, the less accurate you become. The key is to strike the appropriate, personalized balance. In today’s episode, Orion and Davis discuss strategies for improving...

02.22.2023

Episode 33: Defensive vs. offensive skipping (making the most of this essential skill)

In a previous episode, Orion discussed the importance of defensive skipping as an efficiency strategy on the quantitative section of the GRE. This helps students guard their time more prudently by not squandering it on time-expensive questions on their first...

02.15.2023

Episode 32: How to think about the GRE (it is a test of how badly you want it)

Students are subject to tripping themselves up with the wrong framework when it comes to the exam. Thinking about the GRE as an intelligence test, or as an arbitrary and meaningless hurdle, will likely create unnecessary stress and resentment. The...

02.08.2023

Episode 31: How to prevent studying burnout (a sustainable approach to test prep)

In today’s episode, we respond to a listener-submitted question on how to prevent studying burnout. To begin with, we stress the importance of not getting burned-out in the first place. An ounce of prevention here is definitely worth a pound...

02.01.2023

Episode 30: The importance of vision for top performance (believe it to see it)

Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated self-study program and the world’s only empirically-validated GRE test prep system. Use the code ”BITES” for 10% off all membership plans. To learn more, go to: https://www.stellargre.com. Can you actually see yourself succeeding on the GRE?...

01.25.2023

Episode 29: What is a good GRE score? (understanding score thresholds)

Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated self-study program and the world’s only empirically-validated GRE test prep system. Use the code ”BITES” for 10% off all membership plans. To learn more, go to: https://www.stellargre.com. In today’s episode, we turn our attention to that...

01.18.2023

Episode 28: How to approach retaking the GRE (sitting for the test multiple times)

Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated self-study program and the world’s only empirically-validated GRE test prep system. Use the code ”BITES” for 10% off all membership plans. To learn more, go to: https://www.stellargre.com. In today’s episode, we respond to a question from...

01.11.2023

Episode 27: How to generalize your skills to new problems on the GRE (the importance of scaffolded learning)

Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated self-study program and the world’s only empirically-validated GRE test prep system. Use the code ”BITES” for 10% off all membership plans. To learn more, go to: https://www.stellargre.com. In today’s episode, we respond to a question from...

01.04.2023

Episode 26: What is the best GRE study program? (introducing a revolutionary new approach to the test)

Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated self-study program and the world’s only empirically-validated GRE test prep system. Use the code ”BITES” for 10% off all membership plans. To learn more, go to: https://www.stellargre.com. There are a lot of GRE self-study programs out...

12.28.2022

Episode 25: Getting ahead of the clock on the GRE quant section (how to create a time buffer)

Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated self-study program and the world’s only empirically-validated GRE test prep system. Use the code ”BITES” for 10% off all membership plans. To learn more, go to: https://www.stellargre.com. For the vast majority of students, the time limit...

12.21.2022

Episode 24: Progress requires extraordinary effort on the GRE (understanding what it takes to succeed)

Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated self-study program and the world’s only empirically-validated GRE test prep system. Use the code ”BITES” for 10% off all membership plans. To learn more, go to: https://www.stellargre.com. The second law of thermodynamics states that entropy tends...

12.14.2022

Episode 23: What is the best way to learn GRE vocab words? (introducing a new approach to vocab acquisition)

Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated self-study program and the world’s only empirically-validated GRE test prep system. Use the code ”BITES” for 10% off all membership plans. To learn more, go to: https://www.stellargre.com. Vocabulary acquisition is -- by far -- the most...

12.07.2022

Episode 22: How long should you spend preparing for the GRE? (planning your test prep journey)

Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated self-study program and the world’s only empirically-validated GRE test prep system. Use the code ”BITES” for 10% off all membership plans. To learn more, go to: https://www.stellargre.com. This is the million-dollar question. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to...

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GRE Bites episodes:

Exciting news from Stellar! (get ready for the new GRE)

Episode 70: How to solve a text completion question (a real-time demonstration)

Episode 69: Japan’s method of reducing error (the point-and-call system)

Episode 68: What are the GRE subject tests? (and why to take them)

Episode 67: Can artists do math? (lack of knowledge can be an asset)

Episode 66: Is there hope for low-scorers? (getting a 320 if you’re not a high-performer)

Episode 65: Eliminating transfer errors (practical steps to reduce carelessness)

Episode 64: Getting an excellent letter of recommendation (the sure-fire approach)

Episode 63: Overcoming a low grade point average (what does and doesn’t work)

Episode 62: How to solve a plug-in problem (a real-time demonstration)

Episode 61: Do you need to answer every question? (hit your target score strategically)

Episode 60: How to solve a sentence equivalence problem (a real-time demonstration)

Episode 59: Should you get a study buddy? (the pros and cons of social studying)

Episode 58: The secret to good essay writing (understanding DRI writing)

Episode 57: Should you take the full ride or pay out of pocket? (how to pay for grad school)

Episode 56: New GRE test updates (responding to what we now know)

Episode 55: How much prep is too much prep (solving thousands of problems may not be helping)

Episode 54: Why is the GRE changing? (the influence of the marketplace on education)

Episode 53: What to do if you have too much time on the GRE (how to pace yourself properly)

Episode 52: How to prep using full-length tests (getting ready for the GRE)

Episode 51: The GRE is changing! (what students need to know about the new test)

Episode 50: Can you cram for the GRE? (why time and repetition are key)

Episode 49: Understanding the point structure of the GRE (how the test is scored)

Episode 48: Taking the GRE when you’ve been out of school for a while (what to expect as an older student)

Episode 47: Should I get private tutoring? (the pros and cons of hiring an expert)

Episode 46: How to get testing accommodations on the GRE (understanding the petition process)

Episode 45: How to stay cool in high-pressure situations (the psychology of top performance)

Episode 44: What is your park screen ritual? (taking care of your mental stamina)

Episode 43: What is a cheat sheet? (why making your own is a good idea)

Episode 42: How to approach GRE problems (the counterintuitive process that works)

Episode 41: Grad school admissions and goodness of fit (why students actually get admitted)

Episode 40: You will never feel ready (overcoming test hesitancy)

Episode 39: How to stay focused during reading comprehension passages (tips for mindful reading)

Episode 38: The GRE is a game of seconds (how to be more efficient)

Episode 37: Which vocab app is the best? (introducing a new vocab resource)

Episode 36: What makes for a top scorer? (the psychology of high-achievers)

Episode 35: What to do the day before the test (things to keep in mind before the big day)

Episode 34: How to improve accuracy (get the points that you deserve)

Episode 33: Defensive vs. offensive skipping (making the most of this essential skill)

Episode 32: How to think about the GRE (it is a test of how badly you want it)

Episode 31: How to prevent studying burnout (a sustainable approach to test prep)

Episode 30: The importance of vision for top performance (believe it to see it)

Episode 29: What is a good GRE score? (understanding score thresholds)

Episode 28: How to approach retaking the GRE (sitting for the test multiple times)

Episode 27: How to generalize your skills to new problems on the GRE (the importance of scaffolded learning)

Episode 26: What is the best GRE study program? (introducing a revolutionary new approach to the test)

Episode 25: Getting ahead of the clock on the GRE quant section (how to create a time buffer)

Episode 24: Progress requires extraordinary effort on the GRE (understanding what it takes to succeed)

Episode 23: What is the best way to learn GRE vocab words? (introducing a new approach to vocab acquisition)

Episode 22: How long should you spend preparing for the GRE? (planning your test prep journey)