[tashkent]

Hello everyone...

I'm just angry with the ETS for asking 2 ridiculous questions in the recent GRE Chemistry exam.  Imagine, they asked 'the wavefunctions of butadiene' and 'the wavefunctions of ground and excited states of the helium atom'.  Hello?  Do I need to memorize these wavefunctions?  Just sitting for 170 minutes without food nor water is agonizing...and the exam itself is totally demoralizing...and here they are asking these ridiculous questions?

My appeal:  ETS examiners should test the basic knowledge of examinees in Chemistry.  These types of questions are so difficult to answer given the meager amount of time.  They should be more considerate to the examinees...

Sorry, am just disappointed and frustrated with these questions...

Just expressing my sentiments,
Tashkent

[movies]

I have to agree that many of the GRE chem questions were harder than they needed to be, but they are trying to separate a group of already exceptional students.

The biggest fault of the Chem GRE test is that only one composite score is reported; the score isn't broken down based on subject (e.g. organic, inorganic, physical).  Say a student kicks ass at organic, but hasn't taken a physical chem class yet.  They wouldn't do well on the exam.  I'm certain that professors take this into account when they review applications.  I think it's better to think of the Chem GRE as a test to ensure that you really do have the knowledge of chemistry that your other application information suggests.  It's more of a verification than anything else and I don't think that it plays a huge role in your application process (provided you have a reasonable score).

[Mitch]

Those questions tested your knowledge of MO Theory. You have asked a lot of basic questions about MO theory around the forums. As a Chemist you should learn it. Buy this book: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/093570261X/thechemicalfo-20?creative=327641&camp=14573&link_code=as1

[movies]

A more advanced book on MO theory as it pertains to chemical reactions:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0471018198/qid=1101753616/sr=1-8/ref=sr_1_8/002-1941207-3467213?v=glance&s=books

I recommend it highly.

[Mitch]

I've read the book. It focuses on the HOMO-LUMO MOs. He doesn't know his MO theory well enough and the book can be daunting if your weak on the fundamentals.

[movies]

I agree with you Mitch.  I just wanted to throw that out there as another good MO theory book.  Definitely beyond the scope of the chem GRE, I would say.