GRE Assignment

In this assignment you will be required to take the General Test practice examination of the Graduate
Record Examination. There is no cost for this. It can be found online at: http://www.gre.org/ under the
"Prepare for the Test" link. The software is called GRE POWERPREP II and must be downloaded onto
your computer. This is a relatively large program so you will want to plan ahead for this assignment due
to problems that can arise (e.g., problems associated with getting booted offline, web site going down for
repairs, compatibility issues).
This program is NOT available for Macintosh OS, so plan accordingly. If you need to, you may use the
computers in the psychology lab to complete this assignment.
Once you have successfully downloaded the application and installed it on your computer, you will need
to read the accompanying information on the GRE on the web site. The GRE takes approximately 2-3
hours to complete. You will need to do all sections of one of the practice tests. You will need to do a
timed test so that it will give you the scores required for the assignment.
Once you have completed the practice exam, you will need to take a screenshot/screen capture of your
scores. To do this, simultaneously press CTRL and Print Screen or Prt Scr (may be found in upper
right middle part of the keyboard, although varies by computer make). This will prepare a screen shot of
the page, even though it does not seem that anything happened. Then go to MSWord and paste the screen
shot into a document (to paste, simultaneously press CTRL and v).
You must also save your Analytical Writing responses to an MSWord Document. **Please note that your
Analytical Writing responses must be at least one double-spaced page each, or points will be deducted.**
More detailed instructions on how to download and complete practice GRE using the GRE POWERPREP
II software can be found in the file Practice GRE Instructions (READ THIS SECOND). Please, please,
please read this file before emailing me or the TAs any questions. It is very detailed and should answer all
your questions.
Read on for more information on how to complete the assignment.

Based on the Quantitative and Verbal scores and your own evaluation of your writing responses, you are
to develop a typed report in which you develop a specific plan for improving your test scores. This should
be under the heading Specific Plan for Improving General Test Scores. This plan should include
specific courses and strategies to take, specifically how it will help you, and any costs associated with this
plan. The courses/strategies should be realistic (e.g., affordable to you, accessible). These may include,
but are not limited to: college courses, specialized courses relating to the GRE, ancillary study materials,
and practice test software. However, you may not simply give a series of the same type of strategy (e.g.,
all books or all courses). Only one of each type of course/strategy may be used. For example, you can't
give a bunch of general GRE books. You must include the exact names of courses/materials, exact costs,
and exactly where you obtained the information (e.g., an active web link). General approximations are
not acceptable. See the grading rubric for information on the number of strategies/courses to include.
Students also need to develop a specific plan for studying for the Psychology Subject Test. This should be
under the heading Specific Plan for Studying for the Psychology Subject Test. This plan should
include specific courses and strategies to take, specifically how it will help you, and any costs associated
with this plan. The courses/strategies should be realistic (e.g., affordable to you, accessible). These may

include, but are not limited to: college courses, specialized courses relating to the Psychology Subject
Test, ancillary study materials, and practice test software. However, you may not simply give a series of
the same type of strategy (e.g., all KSU psychology courses). Only one of each type of course/strategy
may be used. You must include the exact names of courses/materials, exact costs, and exactly where you
obtained the information (e.g., an active web link). General approximations are not acceptable.
Use the following format for each individual course/strategy, including the 4 boldface titled pieces as the
bullet points. Do not use an essay style to convey your strategies. Only use the bulleted format shown and
in the order shown.

Format for Each of your Strategies

Course/Strategy 1: XXXXXXXXXX
Information Obtained from: (Specify where you got this information. Also include a working web link
when available. It is rare when a web link is not available.)
How This Will Help: (Write a sentence indicating how this will help.)
Costs: (Specify exactly how much this course, set of materials, or strategy will cost. Include any
associated fees and books.)
Note: The exact scores received on the practice test will not be graded but will only be used as a feedback
mechanism for the student. However, if you receive the minimum obtainable score, this indicates that you
did not try, and your grade will be affected. A deduction also occurs for Analytical Writing responses that
are too short.
Students are encouraged not to wait until the last minute to complete this assignment due to difficulties
that often arise on web sites, difficulties with applications that are downloaded, and difficulties with
computer processors. For example, the program will not work on MACs and some types of Microsoft
operating systems. As a result, you may need to use a different operating system if problems occur.
Regardless, computer and web site problems are not acceptable excuses for late assignments.
Note: Students will need to make sure that they choose the timed practice test and that their screenshot
includes all information (e.g., score ranges for both the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning
areas, questions answered total, questions answered correct, questions answered incorrect, questions not
answered). An example of the acceptable screenshot is attached to these directions. Obviously, the scores
are erased in the example.
Layout of MSWord Document
Note: Place page breaks between each element (i.e., start a new page for each element). Elements 2
through 5 may be more than one page each. Although multiple pages, your submission must be a single
document and in MSWord.
1. A clear screenshot of all of the GRE scores. (This is an image of the screen with your scores. If
done correctly, your scores will be clear. Typing your scores is not sufficient.)

2. Analytical Writing Response 1 (This must be at least one double-spaced page in Times New
Roman 12 font with 1-inch margins.)
3. Analytical Writing Response 2 (This must be at least one double-spaced page in Times New
Roman 12 font with 1-inch margins.)
4. Specific Plan for Improving General Test Scores
5. Specific Plan for Studying for the Psychology Subject Test
Numbers 2 and 3 are not screenshots. The writing responses are copied and pasted into the MSWord
document.
Submit your MSWord .doc or .docx file via an attachment.
______________________________________
Grading Rubric and Criteria
Fifty points may be earned for this assignment. The criteria by which the assignment is judged are
included here along with point values for each criterion. For further explanation of some of the criterion,
please review all assignment directions. If you have questions, please ask the instructor prior to
submitting your assignment. Please note that you cannot lose more points than the assignment is worth.
Criterion

1.ScreenshotImageof
GeneralTestScores
2.AnalyticalWriting
Responses
3.GeneralTestStrategies

Noerrors
or
problems
0
0
5ormore
listed(0)

4.PsychologySubjectTest
Strategies

5ormore
listed(0)

5.FormatofStrategies
(e.g.,missingparticular
partsofastrategylikecost
orweblink)
6.Late
7.OtherProblems

0
0

Minimalerrors
orproblems

Significanterrorsor
problems

PointsDeducted

Imagenotclear
(upto15)
Tooshort(upto
5)
34listed(2for
eachstrategy
below5)
34listed(2for
eachstrategy
below5)
3orlessmissing
parts(.5for
eachpart
missing)
Varies
Varies

Imagemissing(30)

Notincluded(10)

02listed(2foreach
strategybelow5)

02listed(2foreach
strategybelow5)

4ormoremissing
parts(.5foreachpart
missing)

Varies
Varies

______________________________________
Hints
I thought I'd share some of the common errors students make on the assignment with the hope that folks
will avoid these mistakes (and make the best grade they can)! Of course, there are lots of errors not listed,
but these are some of the most common.
1. Students sometimes don't include the screenshot. This results in a huge penalty.
2. Students sometimes don't follow the directions. I'm not sure why, but they don't sometimes.
3. Students sometimes don't give enough courses/strategies. See the grading rubric.
4. Students sometimes don't read the grading rubric which is very helpful.
5. Students sometimes give a bunch of academic courses separately to meet the minimum number
required. These count only as one strategy. Giving a bunch of books on the general GRE is the
same issue.
6. Students sometimes don't format the strategies correctly and sometimes leave off parts. The noted
directions provide information on the format and layout.
7. Students sometimes don't insert the page breaks in the correct places as required.
8. Students sometimes don't double space, or they double, double space.
9. Students sometimes use a font that isn't Times New Roman 12.
10. Students sometimes don't use 1-inch margins on all sides.