when the streets were empty and parking was clear. But her exam was Monday morning, when the streets were jammed and the parking was taken. Naturally, she wasn’t expecting this, and it affected her performance. Think about whether there will be traffic and note a few options for parking. Another option is ridesharing, such as Uber or Lyft. Be sure to set the ride time to the morning of the exam. It doesn’t hurt to plan on being there 30 minutes early, so if your driver is late or doesn’t know the roads, you have a time cushion.
Photo ID: You must have identification with three key elements:A recognizable photoThe name you registered for the test underYour signatureUsually, a driver’s license, passport, employee ID, or military ID does the trick. A student ID alone isn’t enough (although it works as a second form of ID in case something’s unclear on your first one). Note that a Social Security card or a credit card isn’t acceptable identification.
Water and a snack: Bring a bottle of water and a light snack, such as an energy bar or a granola bar. If you’re like me, you’ll have a to-go coffee cup. Avoid snacks high in sugar, simple carbohydrates, or fats. Leave your snacks in your locker and have them during your break.
If you’re wondering whether you need to bring scratch paper, pencils, a calculator, or anything like that, proceed to the next section.
Knowing What Not to Bring
Just as important as knowing what to bring to the testing center is knowing what not to bring. Leave these items at home, in your car, or on the Uber:
Books and notes: Forget about last-minute studying. You aren’t allowed to take books or notes into the testing center. Besides, if you don’t know the material by that time, cramming won’t help. (One of my students was almost booted from his exam because during the break, he picked up his test-prep book that was in his testing center locker. Fortunately, he didn’t open the book, so he was allowed to finish the exam.)
Calculator: You aren’t allowed to use your own calculator, but an on-screen calculator is available during the math sections of the exam. One nice thing about the on-screen calculator is that it features a button that transfers the number from the calculator field to the answer space. Your handheld calculator won’t do that.
Friends for support: Meet them after the exam. However, having a friend drop you off and pick you up isn’t a bad idea, especially if parking is likely to be a problem, such as at a downtown testing center.
Phones and other electronics: Mobile electronic devices, including phones, are strictly prohibited. You can bring these items to the testing center, but they stay in a locker while you’re taking the GRE. And because you can’t use these devices during the test, don’t use them while taking practice tests.
Scratch paper: You aren’t allowed to bring in your own scratch paper; the testing center provides it for you. If you run low during the test, request more from the proctor during the one-minute breaks between sections. Although you have plenty of room to do calculations and scribbling, your scratch paper stays at the testing center when you’re done.
The testing center provides lockers for test-takers to store their belongings, so if you bring a purse or backpack, you’ll have a secure place to keep it.
Taking the Test at Home
When this book lands in your hands, the at-home GRE test option may still be available. You will have to submit proof that you’re not set up to cheat. ETS provides detailed requirements when you sign up, but anti-cheat measures include taking a video of your room and using software that ensures no other app is open on your computer. This may be invasive, but ETS has to make sure you’re not stealing an advantage with your at-home setup.
Some students prefer the testing center so that there are no home-based distractions (such as family, dog, or phone notifications). On the other hand, at-home testing ensures that you can grab a time that works best for you, rather than selecting from the remaining open time slots at the testing center. Give it some thought, and hopefully at-home testing is still an option.
HANDLING UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES
If you have a special circumstance or need, the GRE powers-that-be are usually accommodating as long as you give them a heads-up. For example, if you have a learning disability, you may be able to get additional testing time. Following is a brief list of special circumstances and how to obtain assistance for each:
Learning disabilities: These disabilities refer to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, and other related or similar conditions. To find out whether you qualify for accommodations or a disabilities waiver of any sort, contact ETS Disability Services, Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6054, Princeton, NJ 08541-6054; phone 866-387-8602 (toll free) or 609-771-7780 (Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time), TTY 609-771-7714, fax 609-771-7165; website www.ets.org/gre, email [email protected]. Qualifying for accommodations is an involved process that takes time, and gathering the required documentation may require significant effort on your part. If you have a qualifying disability, act sooner rather than later to find out what’s required and when you need to submit your request and documentation.
Physical disabilities: ETS tries to accommodate everyone. Folks who need special arrangements can get Braille or large-print exams, have test-readers or recorders, work with interpreters, and so on. You can get the scoop about what ETS considers to be disabilities and how the disabilities can change the way you take the GRE in the Supplement for Test Takers with Disabilities. This publication contains information, registration procedures, and other useful forms for individuals with physical disabilities. To get this publication, send a request to ETS Disability Services, P.O. Box 6054, Princeton, NJ 08541-6054. Or better yet, head to www.ets.org/gre and click the Test Takers with Disabilities or Health-Related Needs link. Voilà! All the info you need to know, along with contact information if you have questions or concerns.
Financial difficulties: Until you ace the GRE, get into a top-notch graduate school, and come out ready to make your first million, you may have a rough time paying for the exam. However, fee waivers are available. Note that the waiver applies only to the actual GRE fee, not to miscellaneous fees such as the test-disclosure service, hand-grading service, and so on. Your college counselor can help you obtain and fill out the appropriate request forms. (If you’re not currently in college, a counselor or financial aid specialist at a nearby college or university may still be glad to help you. Just call for an appointment.)
Training Physically and Mentally for Test Day
Taking an intense four-hour exam is challenging both mentally and physically. Most people aren’t used to concentrating at this level for such a long time. To meet the challenge, your brain needs a good supply of oxygen and nutrients, and it gets those from an active, healthy, and alert body primed with nutritious foods and beverages. The following sections provide guidance on whipping your body into shape for test day.
Staying active
You can’t just be a bookworm for the months leading up to the exam: You need to stay active. Exercise helps all parts of the body and leads to clearer thinking by increasing oxygen to the brain, so get moving! You don’t need to train for a marathon. Walking, swimming, jogging, yoga, Pilates, basketball, or doing
