I do realize that it’s not lesser than a Herculean task to memorize all these high frequency words. A proper planning for the exam will certainly help us out though. This day I am going to share with you a few secret mantras that will help you catapult your learning potential for the GRE test.

There are a few very important things a student should remember while preparing for GRE. These are the magic formulae without which your GRE gear is incomplete.

GRE Magic Number 1: Know your learning potential

It is very important for a student to know about himself/herself. Am I a fast learner? Do I grasp things quickly? How good is my memory? …are a few basic questions every aspirant should ask himself/herself. Once you get answers to these questions you will get the required morale and confidence to take the exam. If you are a slow learner a substantial time for preparation is highly recommended. Don’t book your examination slot not considering your preparation time.

GRE Magic Number 2: Plan a stepwise preparation

Too many cooks spoil the broth, this saying holds good for your GRE Preparation. If you consider all the segments at a time you will be thoroughly perplexed. Instead, work on one segment at a time. Only then you can prepare completely and rightfully. Don’t set for yourself unrealistic goals. Something like, ‘I am going to learn 20 new words a day!’ It is a target that can never be achieved. And moreover you cannot clog your mind like that.

GRE Magic Number 3: Learn the meaning of word by the root, prefix and suffix

A good hold on prefixes, suffixes and roots certainly helps you to learn better and faster. By knowing the word roots, prefixes and suffixes you can intelligently guess the meanings of the words that are alien to you.

GRE Magic Number 4: Trust the previous GRE Papers

If you can lay hands on the previous GRE Questions, nothing like it! Practicing these model papers will give you the hang of the real exam. The real GRE becomes a cakewalk for you.

GRE Magic Number 5: Believe in auto-suggestions

Research proves the potential of the subconscious. If the Conscious mind is an ant the subconscious is an elephant. You can train your subconscious mind in order to achieve anything you desire. It means that you can train your subconscious mind to crack GRE, get an awesome score! Give yourselves the following auto-suggestions at least 10 times daily, early in the morning:

1. I am a fast learner
2. I am confident

I am sure all these suggestions will certainly help you out in preparing for GRE. Above all magic is the magic of ‘hard work’. A planned preparation and a bit of hard work will certainly help you get an awesome score. Cast away all apprehensions and confusions and prepare diligently for the test.

You can make a comment either here or start a new topic on the forum. You can also post relevant questions there and seek participation.

Awaiting your responses on this.

Wishing you success in abundance!!

Anu Veluri

Manager- learnwordlist.com

An Introduction:

The Analogies Segment of GRE is one very challenging. Unlike the antonyms segment this segment doesn’t allow the student do some intelligent guessing. The student has to perfectly establish the relationship between the word pair given as the question, and select an answer that confirms a similar relationship.

You will have around 7 analogy questions on the CAT. The more questions you answer correctly, the harder the questions become.

What’s an Analogy?

Many types of relationships are possible in GRE analogies. The stem words may be related as above.

Analogy is the study of similarity existing between a word pair. For example there exists a similarity between a human hand and a whale’s flipper, a pump and a heart. A study of such similarity is Analogy.

Once you establish the similarity or understand the relationship between the word pair, identifying an answer choice showing an identical relationship is not a tough task at all. The only impediment for the student is to establish and understand an authentic relationship of the word pair given as the question. As any other GRE segment, the Analogy segment too has nine questions and each question is followed by five answer options.

Let us deal with the GRE Analogy questions and learn the way to crack them effectively in the subsequent blog. Let us for now comprehend a few very important Analogy types.

Types of Analogies and their relationships

As I already suggested that there are a few established word pair relations that will help us navigate through and succeed in the Analogy segment effortlessly. The only challenge for you is to commit these Analogy types to your memory infallibly. Once you do this, the Analogy segment no longer remains a tough nut to crack.

Definition

An Analogy type like this focuses on the definition of a particular word. Mostly a word that you are aware of or you at least came across once in your sixteen years of academic sojourn. For example:

Metamorphosis: Transforms

By definition, Metamorphosis is a scientific process that transforms the shape of an organism. This is how we establish a relationship between a word pair.

Defining the Character

An Analogy type like this focuses on the personality trait of an animal/man. For example

Lamb: Herbivorous

The character of Lamb is that it is mild and herbivorous (plant-eating). So now your challenge lies in identifying the option, a word pair that establishes a similar relationship. An ideal answer choice could be Tiger: Carnivorous (flesh-eating).

Class and Member

This is an easier relationship to identify. For example:

Amphibia: Frog

A frog (member) belongs to the phylum Amphibia (class)

You have to select a word pair confirming similar relationship. It could be

Aves: Bird

Antonym Relationship

The easiest of all Analogy types is the Antonym relationship

The question pair appears like this:

Loquacious: Taciturn

Obviously the opposite of the word loquacious (talkative) is taciturn (reserved). You need to identify a similar antonymous pair from the given options. It could be

Extravagant: Parsimonious

Synonym Relationship:

Once again it is the simplest of Analogy types. In this Analogy type there exists a synonymous relationship between the words. It means the second word in the word pair is the meaning of the first word. An illustration will make the explanation simpler:

Loquacious: Talkative

Talkative is the meaning of the word loquacious. You just need to identify an option that also has a synonymous relationship of words. Something like:

Opulent: Wealthy

Degree of intensity

This Analogy type has a word pair showing relationship between a more intense and less intense word or vice versa

For example:

Plead: Request

‘Plead’ is a more intense form of ‘Request’.

Part to Whole:

This is an Analogy type that shows a relationship between a part of a thing and its relation with the whole.

Stanza: Poem

Stanza is just a part of the whole Poem.

Function

An Analogy type like this shows the relationship between a person and a process/place. For example:

Rehabilitation: Addict

Asylum: Refugee

(An addict undergoes rehabilitation; a refugee seeks shelter in an asylum)

Manner

An Analogy type such as this suggests on the manner of speech, gait or any other thing.

Stammer: Talk

Fumble: Walk

Action and its importance

This is an interesting Analogy type. The first word in the word pair shows the effect caused by the second word. For example

Grimace: Pain (Grimace is facial distortion caused due to extreme pain)

Worker and Article Created

This is an Analogy type that shows the relationship between the worker and his/her creation.

Example: Ode: Poet (An Ode is the creation of a Poet)

Worker and Tool

Sculptor: Chisel

A sculptor (worker) uses a chisel (tool)

Worker and Workplace

Actor: Theater

An actor (worker) performs in a theater (workplace)

Tool and its Action

Drill: Bore

A drill is a tool used to bore holes.

These are the major Analogy types that you encounter in GRE (Graduate Record Examination). Besides these, there are some miscellaneous word pair relations too. I quickly enumerate them underneath.

Cause and Effect

Eg: Rain (cause): Dampness (effect)

Gender

Eg: Horse (male): Mare (female)

Age

Eg: Calf (the little one): Cow (the adult form)

Symbol and its meaning

Eg: Mace (symbol): Authority (meaning)

Read this blog pertaining to Analogies more than once. One reading will not help! Jot down all the Analogy types and try to comprehend them, imbibe their essence thoroughly. Underneath each Analogy type, try framing at least five word pairs having a similar relationship. You are suggested to share your Analogy types with us and all the other students who follow this blog. We all will be benefited immensely.

We are awaiting meaningful responses from you.

Wishing you Success!!

Anu Veluri
Manager- learnwordlist.com

Hi all!! How are you? And where have you been?

‘My last article on Vocabulary will fill my mail box with queries!!’ I thought. Hmmm such a thing did not happen. My dear students, it seems your vocabulary learning strategies are not very active. Hey, I want to ask you all a question- what does the word ‘Vocabulary’ mean? You can define it in your own way. All I want to know is what you understand from the word ‘Vocabulary’? Wikipedia says a person’s vocabulary is the set of words they are familiar with in a language. A vocabulary usually grows and evolves with age, and serves as a useful and fundamental tool for communication and acquiring knowledge. Now, the second part of the definition holds my attention and if I am not wrong it held yours too. I would like to slightly modify this definition and rephrase it to the GRE’s requirement. Vocabulary serves as a quintessential and fundamental tool for ones success in the GRE. I guess no one around disagrees with me, Ahem?! In that case before I start propounding theories on Vocabulary Development, tell you all the significance of Vocabulary learning and literally startle you guys declaring that Vocabulary Building is directly proportional to Personality Development….!!….well, well, well, I would like to take a break and hear you all….tell me how do you learn new words? What are those special, beautiful techniques you adopt? And please do tell me your success stories. I am keen to read your responses on this.

Anu Veluri

Manager- Learnwordlist.com