A Guide to the GRE - Guest Post by Sandra Oh

**This GRE guide is completely for information only! Sandra made this to share her own experience.** 

Background: My prep may look a little different from yours. I prepared extensively for the SAT/ACT before going to university, so I still remembered a lot of concepts that overlapped on the GRE. 

Study materials: 

1. Magoosh* (highly recommend) 

a. They have their own study plans for your anticipated test date! This is helpful whether you’re in a time crunch or have 6 months. Staying on track while self-studying is not easy!

b. I appreciate how it keeps a running tally of your estimated score for verbal and math.

c. Their question bank is extensive, and if you have your practice questions on “practice” mode instead of “quiz” mode, you get lessons on how to do the problems.

d. Each practice question has a “how-to” video and text-only guide that tells you how to do the problem, both verbal and math. It explains why certain answer choices are right and wrong. For the math section, it also teaches you new concepts and shortcuts that might help you solve the problems more quickly and save you some time!

e. They have practice tests that give you a relatively close estimate of your score. My practice exam score was off, so my actual score was higher (I’m not complaining!). I’ve seen that generally people do better on the actual ETS exam. This could be because I wasn’t in “exam mode” during my practice exams, so try to take the exam as you would a real exam!

f. Their website layout is similar to the actual exam, so it forces you to get used to taking an online exam and using the calculator provided!

2. Manhattan Prep 4th Edition Detailed Guidebooks 

a. I would recommend this if you are looking for something truly foundational. The books are thorough, helpful, and easy to read and go over.

b. There are 8 books total that break down the whole exam. If you have the time and are committed to learning the ins and outs of the exam, then you will learn so many helpful concepts! 

My 5-Week Study Plan (Disclaimer: Do what works for you! Everyone studies a bit differently.): 

● Weeks 1-3: Do as many practice problems as possible. I prioritized math, so I always did more math problems than verbal a day. This might seem like a lot, but math is practice and repetition. Always know why you got something wrong. You can flag questions for review and practice on Magoosh. I personally finished almost all of the ones available from Magoosh (700+problems, each subject). Do as many as you can! 

○ Time studied per day varies. Self studying at home is hard, because you have to stay focused! I aimed for about 3 hours of intentional, focused learning a day. Don’t be discouraged if some days you can’t- if you feel overwhelmed or burnt out, reduce the time studied per day or take a day off! Time put in reflects on your score, but it’s also important to take care of your mental health. 

● 10 days prior leading up to the day before my exam: I took 5 practice exams, 1 day on/off. I reviewed the practice test from the day prior, looking over words and concepts that I got wrong and making sure I understood why so I wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. I didn’t do many practice problems within this period.

○ Avoid burnout! Use this time to get into “exam mode”- it’s important that you’re able to get focused and stay focused for the entirety of the exam. The breaks are meant to be a breather, but do your best to stay strong throughout the exam! 

● D-1: Relax. Review words and formulas that you might forget like simple/compound interest. Cramming 1 day before the exam will not help and will probably make you more anxious! If you’re taking it at home, do an equipment check with your computer and make sure that it meets ProctorU guidelines to save yourself some stress before your exam. Get a good night’s rest! 

● D-Day: Wake up early and wake up your brain! Go on a walk or do some sudoku. Eat a good breakfast and don’t stress! 

Tips:

• The first thing you should do is take a diagnostic test. You want to have a ballpark of where you’re starting! 

• Work with your weaker section first. Remember that your diagnostic score is just your starting point! Don’t get discouraged if it’s not what you thought it was, set a “dream” score and work to achieve it! 

• If you’re in a time crunch (~1 month or less), prioritize math. Memorizing vocab words and trying to “figure out” reading comprehension takes more time, especially if you’re really trying to boost your score. 

• This may vary, but I think that math is easier to improve compared to verbal. Like any standardized test, the math section on the GRE is composed of repeating concepts displayed in different forms. If you’re able to practice enough problems and recognize the patterns within math, as well as figure out the conceptual shortcuts, your score should improve greatly. 

• Make a dictionary (or flash cards). I made a small dictionary out of an old notebook and looked up every word I didn’t know from my practice problems and practice exams. I made mnemonics and tried to review the words when I could. I did see some on the exam, so don’t skip learning words that you don’t know! 

• Use “cheat sheets” for formulas! Try not to use them in practice exams for the most realistic score. Magoosh has one for math that compiled all the necessary formulas you need on the exam. 

• Learn how to use the tiny calculator! I know I was stressed when I figured out I had to use the limited on-screen computer. It can recall values though, so that can be helpful with large numbers/long decimals! 

• Review the essay topics before your exam! All the essay topics are available on the ETS website. You can glance over it and get a feel for what to expect on exam day. 

Stats: 

*I always did better on quant than on verbal on my practice exams, but I found exam quant to be more difficult. 

Hope you found this helpful! Good luck! 

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Everything You Need to Know About the PA-CAT

There’s been some chatter recently about a new proposed standardized test for PA school entry called the “PA-CAT” (Physician Assistant College Admissions Test). Think of it as the MCAT of PA school. Let’s jump into the details that are available currently.

For more details, watch now on Youtube!

What is the PA-CAT?

Number one, it’s a test. Think of the PA-CAT as the MCAT of PA school. While medical schools require the MCAT, it seems the PA-CAT was created as a complementary test for PA school. If you actually say it out loud, it makes sense. The goal of the MCAT is to test the actual knowledge that medical students will need to have a grasp on to succeed in their programs. There hasn’t been anything like that for PA school until now. 

This 3 hour test was created by Exam Master, and it includes 180 multiple choice questions based on 12 different subjects pulled from typical PA school prerequisites - anatomy (13%), physiology (13%), general biology (13%), microbiology (9%), general chemistry (11%), organic chemistry (9%), biochemistry (12%), statistics (3%), medical terminology (1%), sociology (4%), psychology (8%), and genetics (4%). These knowledge areas are then divided into determining different aspects based on cognitive level - knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, evaluation, and synthesis. There is also the inclusion of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy, which is of interest to programs wanting to evaluate a student’s ability to empathize with patients. 

Exam Master states that they hope to provide a test that demonstrates a student’s readiness in the basic sciences that are necessary for a solid foundation in PA school. There are two main PAs involved in the research around this exam - Johnna Yealy from the University of Tampa and Scott Massey from Central Michigan University. Having involvement from PAs in the education sector is a good sign that the PA-CAT is something that will continue moving forward. You can read about the whole research protocol here. The overarching goal is to provide a test that will reliably predict success on the PANCE for programs.

What is the test really like? 

I’ve personally never taken the PA-CAT, so I went to Instagram to get some feedback. Here are the results.:

“I personally felt that the A&P questions were very advanced. Other than that I thought the questions were reasonable.”

“It had anatomy questions, even as specific as to “if they rolled their ankle in this direction, what tendon in the ankle would be affected.” 

“However, I was surprised at how chemistry heavy the PA-CAT was. I’m not sure if it was just because mine was a pilot test at the interview, but we didn’t have any access to the periodic table which made organic chemistry questions on the exam nearly impossible.”

“The only challenging part about the content is that because all PA schools do not require the same pre-reqs, people may or may not have taken courses covering all the material.” 

“I felt that it was heavily focused in biology and physiology. The questions were about information that would have been memorized and learned in those classes. Specific gas points, routes of activation, etc.”

“I think it will be a great indicator as to what kind of knowledge the applicant has currently, which is a huge advantage for students who have a few lower grades on their transcript.” 

“ I hope applicants will at least have a layout of what will be on the exam, similar to the MCAT. But overall, I think it’s a great addition in the future. However, I think it’s going to take a few years before they can officially implement it into the admissions process.”

Overall, everyone I spoke with felt the PA-CAT was a better assessment than the GRE for PA school. Another comment that came up multiple times was in regards to non-traditional applicants or anyone who has been out of school for a while and that it may be very difficult for those students. In interview settings, it seems that the test was optional, but the applicants were informed that the results wouldn’t have any bearing on their acceptance. Some of the students who took the test at orientation did tell me that they didn’t take it very seriously or kind of skipped through thinking it was just an experiment, so I’m not sure how that could affect results of this research. 

“It did not mimic the GRE in any way. It wasn’t about logic or analytical reasoning. And there was no math.” 

“I was right out of undergrad with an exercise science degree. Took a ton of upper level science courses (biochem, 3 physiology courses, 2 anatomy courses, clinical obesity course, etc.) and I found the test to be VERY challenging, especially after a 3 hour interview process.” 

Do I need to take the PA-CAT?

Not unless someone tells you to! The PA-CAT is in experimental phase right now and there are a few programs who have given the exam at interviews or shortly after students begin their program. (You actually can’t even sign up individually currently). The actual study is looking at a sample size of at least 500 comprised of students in the incoming 2018-2019 PA class at ten or more program sites. These students have been given the test at interview sessions (like at the University of Tampa and AT Still) or during orientation after they are already accepted to PA school. 

If you do end up needing to take the test, it’s not necessarily something you’ll be able to study for at this point, but your coursework should prepare you. I say that, but you know there are tons of MCAT resources out there. Those aren’t going to help you right now because the subjects are different. Consider a quick refresher on the included categories, but don’t sweat the test for now. 

What is the difference in the PA-CAT and the GRE?

The PA-CAT is a more specific test than the GRE. The GRE is a general test required for many Master’s level programs (not just healthcare based ones), but it isn’t really a knowledge test. The breakdown of quantitative and qualitative sections show basic skills and test-taking strategy more than your ability to learn what’s necessary to complete PA school. For more information on why the GRE is relevant to PA school, check out this post. 

Because the PA-CAT is aiming to be more topical and actually test the knowledge that your prerequisites require. Since PA school is so fast, you are expected to have a good understanding on the material before you start the program. The usefulness of the GRE is questioned by admissions committees (listen to this podcast episode to hear the admissions direction Allan Platt from Emory’s opinion)

As of right now, the GRE isn’t required by all programs, and it will take time and a pretty strong movement to make any test a mandatory requirement. Even Exam Master states that this is something that will continue needing to be evaluated and tested. Currently, the PA-CAT has only been given to students who have already been accepted, not just all applicants in general. 

What is the difference in the PA-CAT and the CASPER test?

The PA-CAT and CASPER tests are completely different in that the PA-CAT is focused on scientific knowledge and the CASPER test gauges empathy. The creators and researchers of the PA-CAT didn’t want to completely disregard the importance of empathy though, so they included the Jefferson Scale of Empathy. This is interesting because if the PA-CAT is all inclusive, it could potentially do away with the need for the CASPER test in addition at some point (strictly my speculation). 

Should I be worried about the PA-CAT?

Not right now. Don’t waste your time, stress, or emotions at this time. This test isn’t currently being used to gauge anything significant in regards to PA school admissions. It’s in the testing phase and there still needs to be a good amount of vetting to determine how this test will best be used, how scores should be interpreted, and what the results indicate in regards to a student’s performance. With anything new, schools tend to be slow to adopt, so it will take some time before you need to add the PA-CAT to your checklist. And honestly, without an official breakdown of topics, it would be extremely hard to actually study efficiently for the PA-CAT exam. 

What schools are using the PA-CAT?

Very few so far, and they seem to be using it differently. As of right now, there is no consensus between programs about what tests they should be requiring. 

Will the PA-CAT replace the GRE?

Based on the research outline, it may be the goal that the PA-CAT replaces the GRE or MCAT for PA school. Again, this would take a very long time to implement and the research outcomes will need to be very strong for program’s to gain confidence in making the switch. Since this is the first year of testing, the results will not be complete until after completion of the 1st year of PA school and after completion of a PA program in its entirety. You’ve got a couple of years before any of this could really take effect. 

What does this really mean?

Personally, I don’t put much weight in the GRE. Its strategy, which doesn’t translate to a student’s ability to learn material for the PANCE, which is a knowledge test. To me, it’s a checkbox that some schools require to differentiate candidates. The PA-CAT has potential to change these requirements, but it will take time.

I see the benefits of the test for programs - a way to standardize expectations of prerequisites, rank students in a quantitative way, and determine preparedness for PA school and potential for passing boards. The PAEA’s research currently indicates that GPA is the best factor in predicting how a student will perform in PA school, but there are so many factors that go into that calculation (different levels of course rigor, prior GPA issues that have been resolved), making it not the most fair way to judge applicants. Right now, the GRE doesn’t actually test those things. The PA-CAT would be much more specific, but I also see some barriers to implementation at all programs. 

Since schools don’t currently have the exact same prerequisite requirements, some of the subjects on the test may not be required (namely genetics and organic chemistry). Since it’s developed by a third party separate from any of the PA accrediting bodies, I’m not sure if the goal is collaboration and becoming a standard or just another option. Only time will tell whether the PA-CAT becomes the MCAT of PA school.

For more details, check out this post on the PA-CAT exam from our Pre-PA coach Erin

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Study Resources for the GRE

I recently did a post about why the GRE is required for PA schools, so now I want to discuss some resources that you can use to make sure you get the scores necessary to impress the admissions committees and score an interview. One thing is for sure, you need to study for the GRE! Don't write it off and waste your money on the test without taking the time to prepare. I'll discuss things I used, what I wish I used, and recommendations for what you should use to study. This post includes some affiliate links. 

Let's start with my technique. The first thing I recommend doing is taking a practice test to gauge where you're at and what areas you need to focus on. This will also help you to familiarize yourself with the testing software so you're more comfortable on test day. I have good news! There are two free practice tests offered on the GRE website. There are also two full-length practice tests that you can purchase for $40 each. Once you have targeted your weak areas, you can tailor your studying more specifically. 

Now for the actual studying! My technique consisted of using 2 different books - one that focused on strategy and one that had practice problems. to save some money, these books can often be found at the library, Goodwill, or other second hand book stores. Just make sure that you're using a book for the most recent GRE because the format was changed in 2011. Anything older than that may be inaccurate. 

Here are some options for strategy books: 

And the practice problem books: 

I would go through and study the strategy in one book and then immediately do the relevant practice problems. This helped me to see if I was really understanding the techniques. The GRE is not a knowledge-based test. If you have the basics down, then you need to focus on the problem-solving part of the test by understanding the various question types and how to address them.

After you've put in the time to actually study, I recommend taking a second practice test. Hopefully, you should see some improvement from the first test, and then you'll be able to determine what areas you need to revisit. 

I'll be honest and say that I did not do the best job of planning out my studying for my GRE. I finished finals, and then I had 1 week to study. I locked myself in my room at home and crammed for 12 hours each day. (Try to do better than me and plan at least a month to study.) Traditionally, I know that I do pretty well with standardized tests, but the one part of the GRE that is impossible to learn last minute is all of the vocabulary. If you know the GRE is in your near future, start studying vocab ASAP! There are a lot of different options: flashcards, apps, podcasts, etc.

If you feel like you need more structure or a set plan, you may want to use an organized program. Although I didn't personally use one of these, I've heard great things about Magoosh. You can try their GRE program free for 7 days and get 25% off with this link! (You should see a pop-up if on a computer, or use the code SAVE25GRE at checkout to save on the 6 month plan through January 2019!) The Magoosh prep includes video lessons, practice problems, and practice tests (basically everything I recommended in this post). 

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The GRE + PA School

While not a requirement for all programs, it's not uncommon for the GRE to be a part of PA school applications. I want to answer some of the common questions that come up in regards to the GRE. Keep in mind that these are my recommendations and there have certainly been success stories of students accepted without stellar GRE scores. 

Why do I need to take the GRE for PA school?

For most programs, the GRE Is not going to make or break your application, but is more of a checkmark for the program. Since the majority of PA programs are Master's level (and this will be a requirement for all programs soon), they need some type of standardized testing to justify this level of education. 

It is important that you're able to show an ability to perform well on standardized tests because ultimately at the end of PA school, you'll be required to pass the PANCE. Granted, these are very different tests. The GRE is a strategy test, and the PANCE is a knowledge test (with some strategy involved). 

Another reason PA schools require the GRE is that they must have some way to screen applicants and essentially weed some out. It's not feasible for a school to evaluate thousands of applications thoroughly so they have requirements to minimize the amount of applications that actually need evaluated. 

What is considered a good score on the GRE? 

This is a very subjective question because many programs don't necessarily have a stated requirement or minimum. If a program does advertise a specific desired score, you need to at least hit that number or percentage or your application will likely be discarded from the beginning. 

As a rule of thumb, shoot for a total combined score of 300 across the Verbal and Quantitative sections. The Writing portion doesn't really matter for PA schools. You also want to try to get higher than the 50th percentile for each section. 

One way to determine if your score is "good" for a particular program is to see if they advertise their class averages. Sometimes programs will put the average scores or percentages of what their most recent incoming students had on the GRE, so you would want to try to make yours comparable to be considered competitive. 

Does it look bad if I need to retake the GRE? 

One of the good things about the GRE is that you can take it as many times as you need to and they will essentially look at the highest scores. The worst part about having to retake the GRE is that it is expensive! But this is one part of your application that you can improve on much easier than something like GPA, so if you don't do as well the first time, I say try again. 

How much does a GRE score affect my application?

Like I mentioned above, the GRE is typically more of a "checkbox" than anything else. It doesn't really tell the program much about you in regards to how you'll perform in PA school or even on the PANCE. That being said, it's not going to be the first thing programs look at when evaluating your application. A low score may get your application thrown out, but a high score isn't going to make a huge impact. 

Can a high GRE score make up for a lower GPA or lack of healthcare hours?

To a degree, it may be helpful to have a solid GRE score and use that ability to test well as a strength, but ultimately your GRE score is not going to completely counteract a discrepancy in other areas on your application. For example, if your GPA doesn't meet the minimums, but you have a great GRE score, your application will likely still be disregarded because of the GPAs. Same goes for healthcare hours. Do well on the GRE, but don't put all your eggs in that basket. 

Why should I take the GRE for PA school? 

This is a question that I actually get a lot. While there are plenty of schools that don't require the GRE at this point, by taking it you increase your chances of being accepted significantly by minimizing your competition. Think about it this way - if a school requires the GRE they may get 1000 applicants who took the test. If a school does NOT require the GRE, they may get 1000 applicants who did not take the test, as well as those 1000 who did take it. The more specific the requirements a school has that you can meet, the higher your chances of landing an interview. 

Make sure to check out my Youtube video where I discuss more about the GRE and PA School!

Programs that do NOT Require the GRE

For the majority of programs, the GRE is required, but there are the occasional few that don't have a standardized test requirement.  A few schools are even accepting the MCAT now as well!  But anyways, this is not an all-inclusive list at this point, but thanks to Christina K., here are some of the schools that don't make you take the GRE!

Emory University - Georgia
Stony Brook University - NY
Drexel University - Philadelphia
Thomas Jefferson University - Philadelphia
PCOM - Pennsylvania
Hofstra University - NY
New York Institute of Technology - NY
Rutgers - NJ
MCPHS University (Boston)
Mercy College - NY
Loma Linda University - California
Arizona School of Health Sciences
University of South Dakota
Western University of Health Sciences - Oregon
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Howard University - Washington DC