Entrance Exams -- Overview
Most professional graduate programs require
that you take an entrance exam. They use this
information, along with GPA, in order to evaluate
the likelihood of an applicant succeeding in a
program. Although standardized tests have
received some bad press lately, when combined
with GPA, they are reasonably good predictors
of success in a program. Some programs will
go so far as to post on their web sites
information about the correlation between the
entrance exam score and success in the program.
(Some law schools post a figure showing the
correlation between LSAT score and second-year
ranking, for example.)
It is important to do well on these tests.
While the test alone will not determine your
future, it can open the door for many
opportunities that might otherwise be closed to
you. With advanced preparation and good timing,
you can greatly increase your chances of being
accepted to an excellent program, one that will
provide a lifetime of benefits.
Here's a general strategy to consider when
taking these exams.
- Take a practice exam early. Take the exam
under actual testing conditions. Evaluate
your score and then appraise where you
are and what score you need to earn. You
can take into account your GPA and the
strength of your academic career at
Fullerton.
- Spend several months preparing for the
exam. Get many copies of past exams and
take them under actual testing
conditions. Always review your work. Be
certain that you understand why the
correct answers are correct and why the
wrong answers are wrong. Be methodical
and thorough. Some sections, such as
'logical games' sections, lend themselves
to practice more readily than do others.
Learn to take the test under timed
conditions that give you a reasonable
expectation of your score. (You might
want to consider taking a professional
prep course. This is discussed on Prep
Courses page.)
- Take the exam several months before the
application deadlines. If you do poorly,
there may be time to retake the exam. If
you do well, maybe you will want to apply
to better schools.
- On the day of the exam, you should have a
set routine that you follow. This is the
same routine you were following when you
took the practice exams. Pace yourself
and channel your nervousness into
performing well. You may want to use some
visualization techniques that you have
practiced earlier. All of your advanced
preparation will be rewarded.
- If you do poorly, consider taking the
test again. Generally, it is better to
take the test only once. Don't take an
entrance exam unless you have prepared in
advance. Your old scores don't
disappear--for some programs, all the
scores are reported. Some schools use the
highest, some use an average. The best
policy is to do your best the first time,
but be ready to take it twice if need be.
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