that you’re likely to make by going through the practice tests in this book and reviewing your wrong answers afterward.
Was there something beyond my control? Maybe your nerves were acting up on the first exam, you were feeling ill, or you didn’t get enough sleep the night before. In that case, by all means repeat the exam. You’re bound to feel better the next time. If the test was administered poorly or in a room full of distractions, you really should consider a retake. (See the later section “It Isn’t You: Testing Under Adverse Conditions” for details.)
Did I choke? This happens all the time, especially on the essays at the beginning. Or you could have panicked on a thorny math question, spending several minutes and frazzling yourself for the rest of the test. Fortunately, choking doesn’t usually happen again. Almost every test-taker I’ve seen choke does phenomenally better on the next try.
Did I run out of steam? Stamina is a key factor of success on the four-hour GRE. If you don’t practice writing the essays when taking the practice tests, you won’t be prepared for the extra hour of work before the Math and Verbal sections. Also, because you’re amped on test day, you’re likely to crash faster than usual. Knowing what to expect and preparing for it could boost your score on a retest.
Am I eligible to retake the GRE? As of this writing, you have to wait 21 days before retaking the exam, and you can’t take it more than five times per rolling 12 months. If you try to take the test more often than that, you won’t be stopped from registering for or taking the test, but your scores won’t be reported.
Can repeating the exam hurt you? Typically, no. Most schools consider only your highest score. Find out from the individual schools you’re interested in whether that’s their policy; it isn’t the same for every school. If you’re on the borderline, or if several students are vying for one spot, sometimes having taken the exam repeatedly can hurt you (especially if the recent score took a nosedive). On the other hand, an admissions counselor who sees several exams with ascending scores may be impressed that you stuck to it and kept trying, even if your score rose only slightly. In general, if you’re willing to invest the study time and effort and take the repeat exam seriously, go for it.
All your test scores for the past five years are part of your record, but you can choose which scores to send using the ScoreSelect option, as I explain in Chapter 1. For example, if you did great in October but not so well in April, you can tell ETS to send just the October scores to the schools.
It Isn’t You: Testing Under Adverse Conditions
Your test isn’t actually administered by ETS. It’s administered by a company licensed by ETS, and the company is required to adhere to certain standards. If something odd happens during the test that you believe negatively affected your score, such as construction noises, nonworking air-conditioning, or anything else that shouldn’t be the case, register a complaint with ETS at [email protected] for a chance to have those scores canceled and for you to retake the exam, at no charge. You have seven days to register a complaint, so don’t delay.
One of my students was seated and ready to begin the GRE, only to have the test start time delayed an hour! On top of that, a lot of noise was coming from the next room — definitely an unwarranted distraction. If something like this happens to you, you can petition to have your score withheld and for the opportunity to take the GRE again at no charge.
Using Old Scores
What if you took the GRE a long time ago when you thought you were going to grad school and then opted to take a job or start a family instead? Well, if it was within the past five years, you’re in luck (assuming you scored well). GRE scores are reportable for up to five years. That means that if you’re pleased with your old score, you can send it right along to the school of your choice and say adios to this book right here and now. However, if you took the test more than five years ago, you have to take it again, so hold on to this book.
Chapter 3
Gearing Up for Exam Day
IN THIS CHAPTER
On the day of the exam, there’s no such thing as a pleasant surprise. The goal of this chapter is to help you avoid these surprises so you know exactly what to expect on exam day. This way, you can focus on the GRE in a more relaxed and confident frame of mind. Confidence comes from being prepared, and the last thing you want is to show up rushed and stressed before starting the exam.
Gathering Your Stuff the Night Before
If you take the GRE at a testing center rather than at home, give yourself one less distraction on the morning of the exam by getting all your stuff together the night before. Make sure that morning isn’t spent frantically looking for things.
Here’s what you need:
Authorization voucher from Educational Testing Service (ETS): If you pay with a method other than a credit/debit card or have a disability or require certain testing accommodations, ETS provides an authorization voucher. Not everyone gets this voucher, but if you do, be sure to bring it with you on the day of the test.
Comfortable clothes: Dress in layers. Testing centers can be warm, or more typically, cold. Sitting there for hours shivering won’t help your performance. Dress in layers so you can be comfortable regardless of how they run the A/C.
Map or directions: Know in advance where you’re going. Map your directions, and it doesn’t hurt to take a satellite view so you can see where to park. You could drive to the testing center a few days before to check out the drive time, parking, fees, and so on. If you’re taking public transportation, find out where and when you need to board the bus or train, how long the ride is, how much it costs, and where you get off.One student had to take the test at a center
