Posted by
Cliff
on from the what-study-methods-did-you-use dept.
arys asks: "I've been looking around for a good book on the GRE Computer Science subject test but all I found were
a book that is out of print and an other that has the worst reviews possible. What I want to ask is those of you that have taken the test, how did you prepare for it?"
An Undergraduate Degree Helps
by
Markus+Registrada
·
· Score: 5, Funny
The best way to prepare for a GRE in Computer Science
is to study computer science. A variety of
four-year programs are offered at hundreds of universities
around the world. Apply early and you might get a
scholarship.
Courses in "Microsoft Word2000" probably will be a bit off
the mark. You might have to study some algebra and maybe
even some literature (if you don't choose University of
Phoenix, that is).
Best way to study for the CS Subject Test
by
www.whitehouse.org
·
· Score: 4, Informative
Take all the important books from your undergraduate studies (you did keep them, right?) and spend six months reading everything that your professors glossed over. The important books would be from the classes for: compiler construction (preferably the "Dragon book"), computer architecture (preferably Tanenbaum's "Structured Computer Organization"), design and analysis of algorithms, fundamentals of programming languages, don't forget discrete mathematics (Gries' "A Logical Approach to Discrete Math" can't be beat), linear algebra, and The Holy Bible (there are currently many extremely bright people hoping to get into a Ph.D. program to weather the horrendous economy).
On the worst reviewed book: do not, under any circumstances, read any portion of it. Even now, there are dark corners of my mind where its evil influence still lurks, terrorizing otherwise productive neurons into inaction.
To be honest, and not to sound elitist, unless you attended an Ivy League school, or a quality private school (such as RPI), you're probably screwed. The best way to prepare is to get into a Master's program that doesn't require the subject test (most don't), then take the test right after that.
I know smart people who were blasted by the subject test, got their Master's, then went on and scored in the 95th - 99th percentile the second time around. It's just a matter of what you were exposed to in school. I know that without the programming languages course and compilers course, both electives that most people avoid at my school, I would have tanked the subject test.
-- Mod me down and I shall become more trollish than you can possibly imagine!
GRE - All tests and especialy the general portion of it: Buy the published test stuff from ETS. Get as much of their original materials which were given in previous years as possible.
Contrary to what they want us to believe, the best way to prepare for the GRE test is doing the tests repeatedly. The authors are probably the same over years, and the format, material and type of question is mostly a re-hash of the previous tests.
Having practiced the test in full lenght 3-5 times will greatly improve your speed and confidence at the actual test. You need to stick above the average procentile - which is not that hard if you compete against people that did not practice the actual test. A lot of people lose on scores not because the lack of knowledge, but because of the unfamiliarity with the test, nervousness and lack of time. The test authors have this "earnest" way in wording their multiple-choice answers: they often give the answer away just by the way they write them. You can see through them after few practice runs.
-- I doubt that we will ever figure out - and I suspect that even if we did figure out we couldn't do much about it
Slashdot Mirror
Courses in "Microsoft Word2000" probably will be a bit off the mark. You might have to study some algebra and maybe even some literature (if you don't choose University of Phoenix, that is).
Take all the important books from your undergraduate studies (you did keep them, right?) and spend six months reading everything that your professors glossed over. The important books would be from the classes for: compiler construction (preferably the "Dragon book"), computer architecture (preferably Tanenbaum's "Structured Computer Organization"), design and analysis of algorithms, fundamentals of programming languages, don't forget discrete mathematics (Gries' "A Logical Approach to Discrete Math" can't be beat), linear algebra, and The Holy Bible (there are currently many extremely bright people hoping to get into a Ph.D. program to weather the horrendous economy).
On the worst reviewed book: do not, under any circumstances, read any portion of it. Even now, there are dark corners of my mind where its evil influence still lurks, terrorizing otherwise productive neurons into inaction.
To be honest, and not to sound elitist, unless you attended an Ivy League school, or a quality private school (such as RPI), you're probably screwed. The best way to prepare is to get into a Master's program that doesn't require the subject test (most don't), then take the test right after that.
I know smart people who were blasted by the subject test, got their Master's, then went on and scored in the 95th - 99th percentile the second time around. It's just a matter of what you were exposed to in school. I know that without the programming languages course and compilers course, both electives that most people avoid at my school, I would have tanked the subject test.
Mod me down and I shall become more trollish than you can possibly imagine!
GRE - All tests and especialy the general portion of it: Buy the published test stuff from ETS. Get as much of their original materials which were given in previous years as possible.
Contrary to what they want us to believe, the best way to prepare for the GRE test is doing the tests repeatedly. The authors are probably the same over years, and the format, material and type of question is mostly a re-hash of the previous tests.
Having practiced the test in full lenght 3-5 times will greatly improve your speed and confidence at the actual test. You need to stick above the average procentile - which is not that hard if you compete against people that did not practice the actual test. A lot of people lose on scores not because the lack of knowledge, but because of the unfamiliarity with the test, nervousness and lack of time. The test authors have this "earnest" way in wording their multiple-choice answers: they often give the answer away just by the way they write them. You can see through them after few practice runs.
I doubt that we will ever figure out - and I suspect that even if we did figure out we couldn't do much about it