Tips on Preparing for the GRE, TOEFL (and other similar exams)

1.  Read the Official Registration Bulletin.  [Start by skimming through the entire booklet so that you know exactly what's in there.  Read specific sections as you need to.  The test prep advice they offer is excellent.]

2.  Check out the official web site:

            http://www.gre.org

            http://www.toefl.org

            http://www.aamc.org

3.  The Michigan State University Library has dozens of excellent study guides.  The collection is up-to-date and the most popular titles are kept on 2-hour reserve both to protect them and make them ore readily available to a greater number of users.  This website lists all the titles and locations and includes test prep software for the computer-based GRE, GMAT, and TOEFL:  http://www.lib.msu.edu/ref/guides/College/tests.htm

4.  This website, developed by a verbal skills specialist from the MSU Learning Resources Center, is excellent and filled with vocabulary resources, suggestions and links.  Information here is pertinent to most graduate school entrance exams as well as course work in general:  http://www.msu.edu/~defores1/gre.htm

5.  The MSU Counseling Center TESTING OFFICE website http://www.testingoffice.msu.edu/prep.htm has a section on Test Preparation that includes links to other sites and detailed information on:  (a) how to do a self-diagnostic test and (b) how (and why!) to get more reading into your daily routine.  (It's easier than you think and will also help with every day class work and writing assignments.)

6.  Listen to NPR; watch the History, Science and Discovery Channels; ask instructors and advisers for their recommendations of useful intellectual periodicals.  For some reading material suggestions from the MSU Test Preparation Consortium, go to:  http://www.couns.msu.edu/testing/studytips.htm   ["The law of reading comprehension:  The degree of reading difficulty decreases as the background knowledge of the reader increases.  The degree of reading difficulty decreases as the reading skill of the reader increases.  Reading skills include establishing a frame of reference, text structure knowledge, and strategy awareness."]

7.  Log onto a "word a day" listserve.  Try http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/