The GRE practice test is a standardized tool meant to evaluate the level of readiness one has achieved in view of the GRE test. It is designed to mimic the exam itself flawlessly and the only hindrance to its effect can result in not following the time protocol as it is set by the Educational Testing Service. As far as its uses they are fairly obvious: it can be used as a tracking system of one’s progress so that you can focus more energy into aspects of the preparation that are fall short of the desired result. By using the GRE practice test you can hone your knowledge towards a perfect score.
Of course this can only be achieved if the GRE practice test reflects as closely as possible the actual GRE test. Although shorter than many other tests the GRE exam is a 2 and half hour marathon that will test many of the skills that should have been developed throughout the high school period. It begins with a Verbal reasoning exam which consists of 2 essays. The first one will allow you 45 minutes to forward an essay on a particular argument. And the second one will only allow 30 minutes for the creation of an essay critiquing an argument already provided. It is the most imaginative part of the GRE practice test and although demanding it can also be used as warm up period for the more precise parts of the test.
Just like the real test the GRE practice test needs to continue with a randomly chosen skill either the Verbal or Quantitative one. As in the exam situation there is no way to know beforehand which will be the first and which the second. In any case the verbal consists of 30 multiple choice questions which need to be answered within 30 minutes. The number of questions answered factors in with the final scoring so even you are not sure of the correct answer it is best to make an informed guess and move on as fast as possible to the next question. The math on this one is simple and you should not linger for more than a minute on one question.
The quantitative part of the GRE practice test consists of 28 questions that need to be answered within a 45 minutes time frame. It consists of problem solving and quantitative comparison questions that test high-school level mathematics. The one thing that the GRE practice test cannot simulate is that the test is taken using an adaptive computerized system. That basically means that the difficulty level of the questions will be lowered or raised depending on answers already provided. Ultimately the level of difficulty will be factored in with the final result. So you should focus your energy in taking the GRE practice test using the most difficult questions so that your answers in the actual exam situation will be fast and correct.
Also the GRE practice test will not be following with the verbal/quantitative part of the exam which is used to research ways in which the exam can be used. But since those aren’t actually used or factor in on your final score you are encouraged to answer them as you relax from the effort of the entire exam situation.