Katie Woosley

The PT School Application Process: The GRE

Oh the GRE. For me, this was by far one of the most stressful parts of applying to PT school. It is so easy to get worked up about a standardized test, especially when your future seems to be depending on it. I wish I could tell you that it is easier than expected, but in all honesty it is difficult. The material itself isn’t too bad, but the amount of material can be overwhelming. Once I finished the GRE and received my scores, I felt like a weight had been taken off my shoulders. I didn’t know many people who had taken the GRE when I was applying to PT school, so I kind of figured out everything as I went. Below are questions I had when I was applying and questions I often get from others. I know many schools have now made the GRE optional, but if you are taking the GRE in the future, I hope you find this information helpful!

What is the GRE and how is it structured?

The GRE is a standardized test with three different sections: quantitative reasoning (math), verbal reasoning (reading, vocabulary, comprehension), and analytical writing. The test will begin with analytical writing. There are two different essays (an issue task and an argument task) and you receive 30 minutes for each one. There are two sections each of verbal and quantitative reasoning with 20 questions per section. For verbal, you receive 30 minutes per section and for quantitative you receive 35. The verbal and quantitative sections can occur in any order. There is also either an unscored/research section which h does not affect your score.

When did you take the GRE?

I planned to submit my PT school application mid-August, so I took my GRE at the beginning of July the summer before my senior year. I wanted to give myself plenty of time in case I needed to re-take it. I would definitely not recommend trying to take the GRE during the school year. It can be done, but most people take it over summer or Christmas break to give themselves more time to prepare. You will receive your unofficial scores (excluding analytical writing) at the conclusion of the exam, and I received my official scores about a week after.

How long did you take to prepare for the GRE?

I started seriously prepping for the GRE the last week of May, which was about a month and a half before my test. I studied pretty much every day for several hours. If I were to go back and do it again, I would probably study for about 2 months. I felt relatively prepared for the test and was satisfied with my first scores, but I think a couple more weeks would have been beneficial.

How did you study for the GRE?

I started off my GRE prep by reviewing everything on the ETS website to learn about what the GRE was and how it worked. Then, I took one of the free practice tests to get a baseline score. After that, I freaked out because my score was much lower than I was aiming for. My advice to you…do not freak out! The GRE is much different than any other standardized test I had taken, and I had no clue what to expect. Your score will improve as you study and get used to the test!

After I recovered from the practice test, I realized I was going to need some kind of program to provide structure and keep me on track. I had heard wonderful things about Magoosh, but it was a little out of my price range. Then, I came across PrepScholar. I have not tried Magoosh, so I cannot compare the two, but I personally loved PrepScholar and found it very helpful! I completed a 5-day free trial to make sure it was a good fit, and then I paid around $40 for a one year access. My favorite part about PrepScholar is how it adapts your study plan as you go. You take an exam at the beginning to identify your strengths/weaknesses. Then, it creates a study plan based off that exam and modifies it as needed as you progress. As your knowledge increases, the assignments become more challenging. If there is a specific area you are struggling with, more emphasis will be placed on that area.

In addition to PrepScholar, I used a GRE vocabulary app on my phone. I can’t find the specific one I used, but there are many free options available. I found the vocabulary to be one of the most difficult parts, and the app made it convenient to study in my free time. I worked at a daycare over the summer and was able to use easily pull it up and study while the kids were napping. There are SO many words, and you will never know all of them, but it does help to become familiar with some of the most common ones.

The analytical writing part was challenging to prepare for. The ETS website has a pool of prompts that you can use to practice. The thing I found most helpful was Greg Mat on YouTube. He breaks down how to think through and write both the argument and issue essay. I found it so much easier to answer practice prompts after watching his videos. I will link them below!

Do you recommend taking the GRE online?

I took my GRE during the height of COVID, and therefore, I was pretty much forced to take it online because most of the testing centers were closed. Taking it online still seems to be an option, but if I had the choice, I would take it in person. When I first realized I had to take it online I was actually relieved to an extent. The thought of possible technical difficulties worried me, but I liked the idea of being able to take it in the comfort of my own home. Fast-forward to test day, and I no longer felt the same way. The system was not working properly, and it took an hour to get everything up and running before I could even begin my test. Luckily, once I got started, everything went smoothly, but the issues at the beginning caused me to be even more stressed than I already was. I’m sure many people had a great experience taking the test at home, but personally, I would not take the risk of doing it in person was an option.

What is a “good” GRE score?

The definition of a “good” GRE score depends on the schools you are applying to. Many PT schools do not have a minimum requirement, but if they do, it is often a composite score of 290-300. Most schools will list the average scores of accepted students on their website, and you can use these to get a general idea. Most of the programs I applied to had averages around 305 with an analytical writing score of 4-4.5. As you look at these, remember there is so much more to your application than just your GRE scores. I found it good to have a goal in mind, but I tried not to get too caught up on it because that just caused more stress.

What tips do you have for test day?

  • Answer every question! You do not get points deducted for wrong answers, so if you don’t know the answer to a question take your best guess! You can also flag questions you are unsure of.
  • Use your breaks! I am all about pushing through and getting things done, but the GRE is LONG. The whole test takes about 3 hours, 45 minutes. Use your short and long breaks to stand up and move, grab some water, and take a breath before continuing. It will be worth it!
  • Make an outline before you start your essay and watch your time…30 minutes goes by quick!
  • Pay attention to the time. The time will be in the corner of your exam. If you see it is getting low, take your best guess!
  • Do not study the night before! Instead, get a good night’s rest and eat a good breakfast the morning of.
  • Know that it will be okay! No one wants to have to take the GRE again, but if you need to it’s perfectly alright. So many people take the GRE multiple times.

Greg Mat Videos:

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