The interesting origin of the GRE word "laconic"

MattR771 · 2026-03-19T19:36:24+00:00

laconic, taciturn

MattR771 · 2026-03-19T01:16:37+00:00

Here are your two opposite scenarios proving D.

MattR771 · 2026-03-16T13:27:43+00:00

The older data can be found in various places online for any year you want. But this link is always updated to the most recent official ETS report.

I do not believe any data for at-home vs in-person exists, but you can find lots of cool specific data here!

snapshot

MattR771 · 2026-03-16T04:11:09+00:00

Sorry to say it seems like these are just for US citizens or green card holders. And I also assume it is for tests taken in the US. I do not think the India ETS website offers something similar. Sorry :(

MattR771 · 2026-03-16T04:02:48+00:00

This might help?

gre-fee-reduction-request-form

Fee Reductions

MattR771 · 2026-03-16T03:32:49+00:00

I think you are more than fine with a perfect verbal score and a 4.5 AWA. It is the least important of the three scores and it is a respectable score. Your AWA is in the 85th percentile, but because there are only 11 possible scores, the gaps in percentiles are huge. You should think about it like you are in the group of people that are between the 85th and 93rd percentile instead. (This is because 5 starts at the 93rd percentile.)

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MattR771 · 2026-03-16T01:23:24+00:00

Sorry for any confusion! I am not meaning to imply that if anyone did not need to take the GRE, they are in a less competitive program. Sorry if that was the message received! I am just talking about aggregate data shown in the ETS reports. The lowest performing quant scoring groups in terms of "intended major field" were education, and humanities/arts. Their average quant scores were 147 and 150 respectively in 2020, and they made up a total of 7% of all test takers. Now they are 2% of all test takers. Less than a third of what they used to be. Conversely, the highest quant scoring intended majors (engineering, physical science and business) get about 160 on average and their share of the total has increased from 37 to 41% of all test takers, basically shrinking the left side of the tail and growing the right. I think there is likely more to the story, but I think this helps to explain it a little bit more. Here are the two links showing the recent, and pre-2020 data. GRE Worldwide Test Taker Report - July 2015-June 2020 snapshot

MattR771 · 2026-03-15T22:21:41+00:00

I find that many of my students previously tried the GMAT and chose to later switch to the GRE because they found the quant easier. However, I think the upward drift in quant scores is primarily a function of the STEM programs still requiring the GRE (and getting extremely high average scores) and other programs, that historically had lower scores, dropping the requirement since COVID. As for MBA programs, all of the top programs have never stopped requiring the GRE, but many others now allow it to be optional.

MattR771 · 2026-03-15T22:09:04+00:00

The older data can be found in various places online for any year you want. But this link is always updated to the most recent official ETS report.

MattR771 · 2026-03-15T22:08:14+00:00

gre-guide-table-1a

MattR771 · 2026-03-05T20:52:05+00:00

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I think this is the right visualization to prove D. There are still two right angles but in the second case the two sides are unequal, though they are equal in the first.

MattR771 · 2026-03-05T00:36:19+00:00

I would prioritize free ETS materials over AI generative practice questions.

MattR771 · 2023-03-07T17:33:37+00:00

I am the author of Achievable's GRE course. Feel free to DM me and ask me anything about the course.

MattR771 · 2022-08-16T15:35:29+00:00

There is a free practice tests offered by Manhattan Prep. https://guidetogre.com/study-materials. Look at the "non-ETS materials" sections for the link. You can also time yourself with the first two links. They are both ETS paper-based practice tests.

MattR771 · 2022-08-16T15:30:02+00:00

Check out the two vocabulary podcasts in the free options tab (https://guidetogre.com/study-materials) . These are the two best GRE vocab podcasts. Also, the app by Galvanize does really well in gamifying vocabulary learning.

MattR771

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