How Would You Prepare For the GRE Literature Exam In December?

Hi Gang (and I mean that in a *friendly* way),

I am an enrolled student at Excelsior College, and am in the closing stages of my Bachelor's degree program (Concentration in History). I recently became intrigued with the idea of pursuing a second Concentration in Literature in English, using the GRE Literature Subject Exam. So, I have about 55 days, give or take, to learn everything I never knew about English Literature - that is, everything I need to know to pass the Subject Exam.

Assume you're me (wait - never assume, as that makes an ass out of you and me. Bet you've seen that one before!). How would you prepare for the GRE Literature exam?

Thanks for the advice,


Tony

 

Speaking as a guy who passed it circa 1995 (back when it was much easier to milk 30 credits out of the thing), here are some last-minute strategies:

* Get your hands on a copy of Ian Ousby's "The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English." Read it twice.

* Find a good handbook of literary terms (I've forgotten which one I used) and read it through.

* Get your hands on the Norton Anthologies for British and American literature (World Masterpieces probably isn't necessary) and read each of them through at least once.

* Play to your weaknesses. If you've neglected playwrights (as I did), read plays. If you've neglected poets, read poetry. If you're neglected novelists, read Cliff's Notes. Every genre of literature is covered, including Willa Cather's sermons, but the strongest area to focus on is probably British novels and plays, from 1850 onward.

Good luck!


Cheers,

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Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

co-author, Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees by Distance Learning (Ten Speed Press)
co-author, Get Your IT Degree and Get Ahead (Osborne/McGraw-Hill)

 

Oh, and Shakespeare--if you can only focus on one author, focus on him. I think his stuff alone comprises at least 15% of the exam. There are some wonderful and accurate film adaptations of all of Shakespeare's major plays, and they were really meant to be seen rather than read anyway, so there's no need to feel guilty about watching the movie before you read the book (especially when it comes to Titus Andronicus, where you're given the choice between Shakespeare's first play or a recent film starring Anthony Hopkins). For Hamlet, Kenneth Branagh's version is my undisputed favorite. The only Shakespeare stuff you'll probably have to actually read straight through will be the sonnets, but you'll want to keep his collected works handy for reference purposes (it's all on the net now anyway).


Cheers,

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Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

co-author, Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees by Distance Learning (Ten Speed Press)
co-author, Get Your IT Degree and Get Ahead (Osborne/McGraw-Hill)

 

I just checked the Kaplan site (kaptest.com). While they don't seem to do this subject, they do offer "private tutoring" at only $1,999 for fifteen hours and $3,999 for 35 hours. Wonder what that's all about.

 

you may wish to also have a look on "the princeton review - GRE litterature". Good luck !

 

Of course, don't forget the "Cracking the GRE in Literature" from Princeton Review. I personally didn't use this one but I utilized test preparation material from Princeton for other examination. Many of us here agree that Princeton's test preparation books are fairly good and worth recommending. Also check out the reviews at Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375756175/qid=1003272266/sr=1-13_pi/ref=sr_sp_prod/302-2720166-8499226

Dennis Siemens

 

I second this. While I didn't use the GRE Literature volume, I got a good bit of mileage out of the GRE Psychology volume.


Cheers,

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Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

co-author, Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees by Distance Learning (Ten Speed Press)
co-author, Get Your IT Degree and Get Ahead (Osborne/McGraw-Hill)

 

Thanks, Tom, for the terrific tips to terminate test-taking trepidation!

Seriously, this was a big help. I have Cracking the GRE Literature, one of the Norton Anthologies, and MacGill's Masterpieces books in my library already, so I can start right away.

I'll holler if the water gets to deep.

Regards,


Tony

 

I dunno, but it sure sounds profitable!

 

Thanks, Dennis. I should have mentioned that I have a copy already; it does contain a wealth of information, but I've learned to visit here for truly expert advice.

Thanks again!

Tony

 

I heartily second the use of Princeton Review's materials. They take a pragmatic approach to what should be your goal: scoring high on the test.

I would also add that the ETS should make available a study guide for the test. This may only be made up of a few practice questions and--most importantly--a breakdown of how much of the test covers each area. I found this information valuable in taking the GRE Sociology test. (For example, I found that 15% of the questions were on statistics, which I had a strong backround in. It helped me pass a test I'd had no previous experience or education in, earn 39 s.h., and complete the requirements for a second Regents bachelor's without taking a single additional class.)

Rich Douglas

 

Does this not conflict with Excelsior's policy of not awarding second degrees of the same level within the same academic program, i.e. liberal arts?



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Bill Gossett

 

What he means is not a second degree, but rather a second concentration within the first degree--a double major, if you will. So the actual degree would be a B.A. in liberal arts, with concentrations in history and literature.


Cheers,

------------------
Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

co-author, Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees by Distance Learning (Ten Speed Press)
co-author, Get Your IT Degree and Get Ahead (Osborne/McGraw-Hill)

 

I've hard it said from various quarters that in general, Kaplan teaches people the subject matter and Princeton teaches people to pass exams.

 

So the question then becomes, "What is your goal?" Is it to learn the subject matter or is it to score well on the test. For me, it's to score well on the test because that is how the outcome is being measured.

Now, if you're talking personal or professional knowledge, then my answer is quite different.


Tom Nixon

 

The GRE subject exams are certainly a very good means to earn a large amount of credit. It's is only too bad, that they are disappearing pretty quickly. Last spring the Economics, Engineering, Geology, and Music subject tests were cancelled. I'm thinking as well about earning a second degree in Psychology or Sociology from Excelsior using the GRE. But unfortunately, the Sociology test is gone, and so only the Psychology subject exam is available at the present, which I fear, might be cancelled too, sometimes in the near future.

Dennis Siemens

 

[/b][/QUOTE]
Does this not conflict with Excelsior's policy of not awarding second degrees of the same level within the same academic program, i.e. liberal arts?

[/B][/QUOTE]

I've once asked this question my advisor at Excelsior on behalf of a friend of mine who takes an interest in earning a business bachelor degree from Excelsior. He already has a degree in Business Administration from a German university. The answer was, yes it will be possible for him to earn a second degree in business, but it mustn't be in General Business. It'll be allowed to be in Marketing, Human Resources, International Business or one of the other business degrees offered by Excelsior.

Dennis Siemens

 

Yes, that would be possible because his first degree is from a school other than Excelsior, in which case only the specific concentration need be different. The conflict I mention is in receiving two Excelsior degrees at the same level in the same academic program.

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Bill Gossett