Why Did I Score So Low on GRE Quant?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a participant's low score on the GRE quantitative section, exploring reasons for the score and potential strategies for improvement. It touches on themes of test preparation, the relevance of high school math skills, and the pressures of time management during the exam.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion over their low GRE quant score despite performing well in upper-level physics and math courses, suggesting a possible disconnect with basic high school math skills.
  • Another participant recommends enrolling in ALEKS precalculus for a thorough review of high school math.
  • Some participants agree that a lack of recent practice with basic math could be a factor in the low score.
  • Several participants emphasize the importance of studying and preparing for the GRE, noting that the test may not reflect true math ability but rather test-taking strategies.
  • Concerns are raised about the wording of GRE questions and whether this contributed to the participant's difficulties.
  • One participant shares their experience of scoring poorly due to stress and lack of preparation, contrasting it with a later successful attempt.
  • Another participant questions the rationale behind not studying, given prior advice from the community.
  • Some participants mention that many physics majors claim to achieve high scores without studying, which adds to the pressure felt by the original poster.
  • Discussions about the significance of GRE scores in graduate school applications highlight that low scores may raise concerns among admissions committees.
  • Participants discuss the potential need for focused study on specific areas, such as algebraic manipulation, to improve performance.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that studying is necessary for improvement, but there are differing opinions on the reasons behind the original poster's low score and the effectiveness of their prior preparation. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to take moving forward.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that the GRE quant section is based on high school material, which may not align with the advanced math skills of physics majors. There are also references to the variability in test-taking experiences and the subjective nature of preparation strategies.

Who May Find This Useful

Students preparing for the GRE, particularly those in STEM fields, may find insights on test preparation strategies and the importance of reviewing foundational math skills relevant.

Lagraaaange
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I did atrocious on my GRE quant: 152. I don't understand this since I'm able to get As in upper level physics classes and math classes. I found myself very pressed for time. I found myself often trying to "think" out the math problems instead of resorting to math "tricks" to simplify expressions. Is this maybe me losing touch with basic HS math after doing integrals and huge derivations in physics classes? Perhaps my difficulty in high school in math is coming back to bite me? I'm trying to rationalize this. I did not study at all, just took 2 practice tests a week before and scored 154, 160. I feel like most physics majors shouldn't have to prepare and they'll still do 160+?
 
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Enroll in ALEKS precalculus and complete the pie before you try again. I know of no more thorough review of HS math.
 
Lagraaaange said:
Is this maybe me losing touch with basic HS math after doing integrals and huge derivations in physics classes?

I think this is it honestly, it was for me.
 
Lagraaaange said:
I did not study at all,

I don't get why you're looking for rationalizations when it's pretty obvious what you did wrong.
 
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micromass said:
I don't get why you're looking for rationalizations when it's pretty obvious what you did wrong.
When one gets A's in physics and math at the 3000 and 4000 level, it's reasonable to assume you'd do well at GRE quant level stuff which is high school algebra, geometry and stats at best. I did no study for my english section of the GRE and got in the 160's; I do agree that if the OP wants to do better, he should actually review though.
 
Did the new test seem harder than the practices? The two I did I got 165 on each. I wasn't planning on studying anything either for it lol.
 
What did you miss when you took the practice tests? The questions on the GRE quant section are sometimes worded kind of tricky, was that your downfall?
 
It is completely possible to fluke GRE quant even when you feel confident in you math skills. I myself got very bad scores once due to stress and lack of sleep (and also not preparing for it seriously). When I retook it later, I had 790 (99th percentile) score without much trouble. You should take it seriously and work through the type of problems they ask and train to do it quickly. Keep in mind that they don't aim to test your math knowledge as such, but your ability to cope with the test (so that to screen out applicants). This includes choosing appropriate strategies and preparation.
 
micromass said:
I don't get why you're looking for rationalizations when it's pretty obvious what you did wrong.
Most people on this site don't study at all. Perhaps they're just much smarter than me. I don't know.
 
  • #10
Lagraange,

I am wondering what you are hoping to get out of PF. In this thread, you asked if a 155 would be a problem. You were told that it would be, and that you should study. You didn't study, and got a 152. If you aren't going to take the community's advice, why ask for it? And why act surprised when it doesn't work out for you?
 
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  • #11
Dishsoap said:
What did you miss when you took the practice tests? The questions on the GRE quant section are sometimes worded kind of tricky, was that your downfall?
Mainly the algebraic manipulation questions. Like determining which is greater this number times its primes or this this times its that, etc.
 
  • #12
Vanadium 50 said:
Lagraange,

I am wondering what you are hoping to get out of PF. In this thread, you asked if a 155 would be a problem. You were told that it would be, and that you should study. You didn't study, and got a 152. If you aren't going to take the community's advice, why ask for it? And why act surprised when it doesn't work out for you?
That was a day before the exam. Why didn't I study? Hubris and lack of time. More of the former.
 
  • #13
Lagraaaange said:
Most people on this site don't study at all.

Evidence please?
 
  • #14
Lagraaaange said:
That was a day before the exam. Why didn't I study? Hubris and lack of time. More of the former.

Study this time and take the exam again. That's your only option.
 
  • #15
Every forum I go through everyone is stating how as a physics major the exam is cake and they got 160+ with no study. It's pretty discouraging to do just as well as an art history major in quant. My main trouble is the time constraint. I can solve every problem just not in 2min. Guess I need to improve my algebraic manipulations skills more. I don't know
 
  • #16
micromass said:
Study this time and take the exam again. That's your only option.
What do you recommend? The GRE quant book with some practice exams mixed in? Should I ignore reading? (I got 152 as well). I'm looking to take January off(after fall semester) and just study for a month.
 
  • #17
Thankfully I don't apply for grad school for a year and that gives me the winter to study for GRE general and entire summer for physics.
 
  • #18
Lagraaaange said:
Mainly the algebraic manipulation questions. Like determining which is greater this number times its primes or this this times its that, etc.

Ah... well, when you do those. do you plug in examples (the easy way) or try to rearrange equations (the hard way)?
 
  • #19
Lagraaaange said:
Should I ignore reading? (I got 152 as well).

Nobody suggested that. But to paraphrase advice you got elsewhere, if you can't study two things over the course of a year, you are not cut out for graduate school.
 
  • #20
If you had studied in the time you spend here making topics, maybe you'd have done better.

Everyone on the internet lies and brags. Surely some people on here that claim to have a doctorate or claim to be scientists are lying as well. No one is ever going to catch them and internet is a true make-believe parallel universe.

It is already very hard to give someone online advice. When you add "oh and I didnt study' the only correct answer based on the info given is that you scored bad because you didn't study. Maybe not correct based on the story of your life, but surely correct based on the info given.

Sure, people pass tests without studying. But that's besides the point. Not to mention, tons of people out there study their asses off, then tell their classmates they didn't study for that top mark they got.

It is good that you realize that you need advice. But the best way to get it is to talk with your study advisor.
 
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  • #21
The quantitative section of the GRE should not be hard for a physics major. All of the material on it is taught in high school and it may even be considered easier than the SAT. You should be able to refresh your memory in a few hours. A score this low will make the admissions comittee question your ability to do basic. Most of the applicant pool will have scored very highly on this test to the point where the scores are mostly indistinguishable. If you are below 150 you will definitely stick out.

What I recommend is that you take a practice test or two and look at a review book. If you can't do much better after doing those things you may have a problem.
 
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  • #22
Lagraaaange said:
just took 2 practice tests a week before and scored 154, 160

I looked it up. A 152 in English is the 15th percentile among people who declared physics on their GRE. A 152 in math is the 7th percentile, a 154 is the 12th and a 160 is the 41st. Those are the numbers.

A week before the GRE, the absolute best you ever did still put you in the bottom half of physics applicants. That should have been a strong signal to study. I really don't understand how you let things get this far, and I don't understand your puzzlement at receiving your scores.
 
  • #23
radium said:
The quantitative section of the GRE should not be hard for a physics major. All of the material on it is taught in high school and it may even be considered easier than the SAT. You should be able to refresh your memory in a few hours. A score this low will make the admissions comittee question your ability to do basic. Most of the applicant pool will have scored very highly on this test to the point where the scores are mostly indistinguishable. If you are below 150 you will definitely stick out.

What I recommend is that you take a practice test or two and look at a review book. If you can't do much better after doing those things you may have a problem.

It's not hard, but it would be unfamiliar style of questions compared to the derivations done in junior and senior level physics classes; I know multiple physics majors who got tripped up on the quantitative part of the general GRE for this reason but still got into grad school just fine (I do agree 150 ought to be the bare minimum though).
 
  • #24
Yes but this is high school level math we are talking about. Most likely all of it has been covered by junior year. It shouldn't take that long to refresh your memory. To put it bluntly, I would say that if you can't get at least in the mid 160s with a few hours of studying that is not good. I think you mean 160 is the bare minimum because 150 puts you in the bottom 50% of test takers. You have to remember the context of this text. You are taking it alongside people who are not very talented in math, not just science majors. At the top schools (I think the poster wants to get into a top 50 school) most of the scores are indistinguishable. You will stick out with this kind of score.
 
  • #25
Vanadium 50 said:
I looked it up. A 152 in English is the 15th percentile among people who declared physics on their GRE. A 152 in math is the 7th percentile, a 154 is the 12th and a 160 is the 41st. Those are the numbers.

A week before the GRE, the absolute best you ever did still put you in the bottom half of physics applicants. That should have been a strong signal to study. I really don't understand how you let things get this far, and I don't understand your puzzlement at receiving your scores.
I'm here to receive advice from past students in a similar circumstance who will offer helpful insight, not to feel more discouraged. I understand I did poorly.
 
  • #26
What you need to do is study. Not complain that other people did better without studying, or complain that you'll need to study English too, or complain how discouraging finishing below 93% of your peers is. You need to study. Simple as that.
 

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