Posted on 08/25/2012 9:26:40 PM PDT by LibWhacker
The quantitative reasoning section measures mathematical ability and data interpretation skills. The score scale ranges from 130-170. Data from ETS (PDF) for August 2011-April 2012.
The quantitative section has problems covering relatively basic math (for a physics major at least) such as algebra, number comparisons and graphical interpretations.
Physics requires substantial knowledge of mathematics, so physics majors unsurprisingly topped the charts in the quantitative section. They weren't alone, however; physics majors tied math majors and materials engineers for the highest average score. (Note: In all of these graphs, I chose seven majors in different areas of study to give a fairly representative picture of the score distributions. These are not the top seven majors.)
The verbal section requires students to fill in the blank for sentences and answer comprehension questions about short passages, among other problems. The score scale ranges from 130-170. Data from ETS (PDF) for August 2011-April 2012.
Physicists have a way with numbers, but they also fared pretty well on the verbal section, beating all other science and engineering majors. Philosophy majors excelled in this category, beating English students by three points.
The analytical writing section requires two essays: an analysis of a flawed argument and a more general position paper on an issue. Scores range from 0-6 in half-point increments. Data from ETS (PDF) for August 2011-April 2012.
Half of the analytical writing section requires students to find the flaws in an argument, likely contributing to the philosophy majors' #1 spot. But physicists' training in analytical thinking helped them too. Physics majors beat all of the other hard science majors in this section, and they even beat several liberal arts majors as well. Computer science majors seem to prefer writing code to writing essays.
The GRE's may not be the best test of intellect or even success in graduate school, but we can pretend that it is. Consequently, physicists and philosophers reign supreme in academia, and those who majored in both areas (such as myself) must be the smartest people on the planet. That's a sound argument, right?
Maybe not. But I would argue that physics majors develop several skills that prepare them for a variety of careers outside of physics research. I wouldn't suggest picking your major solely based on how well it will prepare you for the GRE's, but there's plenty of other reasons to study physics.
Then again, maybe GREs are really IQ tests, and those people with higher IQs disproportionately decide to go into physics or philosophy. Then, that fact alone, more than what classes they then took as college students, becomes the predominant factor in determining what GRE scores they would later obtain.
The writer is an egotistical imbecile.
“Then again, maybe GREs are really IQ tests, and those people with higher IQs disproportionately decide to go into physics or philosophy. Then, that fact alone, more than what classes they then took as college students, becomes the predominant factor in determining what GRE scores they would later obtain.”
Close, if you look at the math section of the SAT/GRE you’ll see that it is virtually an IQ test. The colleges, of course, know that, but they don’t want to disclose it.
The verbal section is different - it’s really a test on how well-read you are. If you see a passage out of King Lear, and you’ve already studied that play, the follow-up questions are much easier and go much quicker.
...at least that’s my take.
Absolutely—check back to their SATs and you,d have your answer.
No, prior reading like that is no more a help than prior math study on the other section. Both have been dumbed down, but for the reasonably educated they do the right sorting trick.
No, prior reading like that is no more a help than prior math study on the other section. Both have been dumbed down, but for the reasonably educated they do the right sorting trick.
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