By Kira Farnsworth
Head math lab TAs aim to help students prepare for the GRE and the GMAT by providing a weeklong review of all the basic math skills required for the exams.
The Graduate Management Admission Test and the Graduate Record Examination or the GMAT and GRE are required tests to be accepted into most graduate programs.
'The GMAT and GRE are two different entrance exams for graduate school,' said math lab TA, Marcus Urie. 'They are the same thing for graduate school that the ACTs and SATs are for undergraduates.'
The reviews are scheduled for Dec. 2 through 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. in Room 455 of the Thomas L. Martin Building. Students can attend any or all of the sessions.
TAs Mark Spencer, Danielle Gigger, Marcus Urie and Mike Sprinkle are confident they will review everything students need to know to succeed on the math portion of the exams, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry and word problems.
'We are covering different material every night because we''re trying to cover everything they might anticipate on the test in eight hours of review,' said Spencer, a junior from Salt Lake City, majoring in mechanical engineering.
The TAs said they are happy to share their skills with students because they understand that people don''t remember basic math skills when they don''t use them frequently.
'We are holding this review because we want to help people,' said Gigger, a senior from Pocatello, Idaho, majoring in math education. 'Lots of people forget their math skills from a long time ago and we just want to refresh them so that they can do well on the GMAT and the GRE.'
Math Lab administrator Jackie Robertson said she thinks this review will be good for students because the TAs are so knowledgeable.
'I feel like it will be beneficial, especially to those that struggle with mathematical concepts, because the people that will be doing the review are very experienced,' Robertson said. 'They are more than qualified to get students up to snuff on their stuff. My students love their reviews.'
According to the GMAT Web site, more than 175,000 people have taken the test so far this year. The Prometric Testing Center in Orem suggests that students should schedule a four-hour block to take either test.
More than 200 people are expected to attend the review sessions. Students interested in attending should take scratch paper, a pencil and any questions they have. Calculators will not be needed because they are not allowed at the exams. For more information, students can contact the math lab.