Since 1970, ILI has assisted international students with English language courses and test preparation. Our 8-week GRE Preparation courses have experienced instructors, high-quality materials, and small classes, all at a superior value.
Course Purpose and Overview
The purpose of our GRE preparation course is to prepare international students to take the Graduate Record Examination. The course includes direct instruction in each of the essential skill areas: math, writing, verbal, and test-taking strategies.
In order to improve student skills, classroom learning is student-centered, collaborative, and mastery-oriented; students will use realistic questions, participate actively and apply concretely the concepts learned.
Instructional Content Areas
Our classes are limited in size (never more than 12 students!) in order to ensure personalized instruction by our caring, dedicated, and highly qualified staff.
- Verbal: The course teaches students how to do verbal question types including reading comprehension, sentence completion, analogies, and antonyms.
- Math: Instruction focuses on topics such as basic number operations, algebra, geometry, decimals and fractions, proportions, averages, and others. The course also includes problem-solving strategies such as estimation and choice trial.
- Analytical Writing Assessment: Includes lessons and practice in the Issue and Analytical Essays. Students receive specific feedback on their essay writing to help identify strengths and challenge areas.
- Test Taking Strategies: All students receive instruction in test-taking strategies. This typically includes topics such as when to guess, how to look for traps, how to pace yourself, how to use choice elimination, and other strategies pertinent to specific types of math and verbal questions.
Student Improvement
Any serious test preparation school should remind students that substantial improvement is attainable only with hard work by both the instructor and the test taker. However, students that have completed all classes and homework have raised scores by as much as 25% or more.
Computer Use
Computer practice in the lab gives students the classroom experience of realistic questions and testing conditions using software designed to directly simulate the actual GRE exam. Group classes are given several practice tests throughout the course to identify strengths and needs, and as a gauge of improvement.
High Quality GRE Materials
Textbooks – not included in the tuition – are provided in the first week of class. The GRE study materials are selected for their track record and to closely reflect the content of the test. The GRE class supplements its text with additional “realistic” test preparation questions constructed by ETS itself – the creators of GRE. An additional bank of realistic GRE questions that augment your course textbook
Educational Philosophy
ILI believes that the best GRE test preparation nurtures real understanding, free of rote memorization or flashy gimmicks. Thus, our training philosophy emphasizes direct instruction with clear explanations, active participation, and the use of realistic practice questions.
Schedule
Monday-Friday: 2:20-6:00 pm
Length: 8 weeks
Start Dates
Please contact us for availability. GRE and GMAT preparation courses are subject to minimum enrollment and may not be offered every start date. All students are required to take a placement test before starting.
Tuition
$850 for each 4-week enrollment, books & materials extra
I-20 Form/F-1 Student Visa
The International Language Institute is authorized under Federal law to enroll individuals with a student visa as well as other non-immigrant foreign students. The I-20 form for an F-1 student visa can be issued for students in our Intensive English Day Program, including TOEFL, GRE, and GMAT Preparation courses. For more information on obtaining an F-1 Student Visa and the requirements for obtaining an I-20 form, please go to our F-1 Visa Information page.
Enrollment
To enroll in any of our English and Test Preparation Programs, you will need to complete an application and pay a $75 application fee. You can apply online by going to our Online Application page, or you can download and print our Application Form, or come to our school and apply in person. Students who enroll should be at an advanced English level such as TOEFL or F.
Placement Testing
Monday-Thursday: 9 am – 7 pm
Friday: 9 am – 3:30 pm
Saturday: 9 am – 12:30 pm
No appointments necessary
Payment Policy
Tuition for the first 4 weeks has to be paid entirely before the student is allowed in class.
Certificates & Evaluations
All students who complete their program are awarded a certificate of attendance at the end of their studies upon request. In order to qualify to receive a certificate or an evaluation from ILI, a student must maintain attendance of at least 80%.
Questions?
Please contact our Admissions Office at (202) 362-2505 or [email protected].