Dictionary.com App Teaches GRE Vocabulary through Mobile Gaming

Studying GRE vocabulary words used to mean piles of index cards, lots of coffee and a willing spouse or study partner to quiz you on the definitions. Dictionary.com aims to revolutionize GRE vocabulary study by making it mobile. In the process, you may even (gasp!) have fun.

GRE by Dictionary.com, available for both the iPhone (News - Alert) and iPad, tests students on the 1,000 most common words asked on the GRE. By playing the app’s fun and addictive word games, students can master GRE vocabulary in just 10 minutes per day.

In addition to mastering GRE words, students can earn badges, set goals, unlock content and uncover expert-level test-taking tips. They can also track their progress and get extra practice from flashcards generated by the app. The app won’t just appeal to students who are hitting the books to take the GRE; it will also appeal to ESL students studying for the TOEFL and word lovers of all ages.

Image via itunes.com

“With GRE by Dictionary.com, we're leveraging game mechanics to create a fun, personalized learning experience that will keep students prepared, motivated and confident,” said Dictionary.com CEO Shravan Goli.

Lisa Sullivan-Cross, the general manager of Learning for Dictionary.com, added, “You can play anytime, anywhere—between classes, during breakfast or on the treadmill. If you can squeeze in 10 minutes per day, you can boost your GRE score."

Today’s GRE skips the No. 2 pencils and the bubble sheets in favor of computer adaptive testing. Questions become either more difficult or easier based on how accurately test takers have answered the previous questions.

Students who are most successful tend to read a lot during their undergraduate years. They take challenging high-level English classes in college and pretty much sleep with their dictionaries. However, let’s get real. Most test takers are cramming those 1,000 GRE words the month before the test.

U.S. News and World Report advises students to take a GRE prep course if they can afford one. If students purchase GRE study materials in addition to the Dictionary.com app, then they should choose course materials that mimic actual test conditions. Taking a paper and pencil version of the exam won’t be nearly as helpful as purchasing or downloading computer adaptive practice tests.

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