GRE Info – GRE Retakes

The GRE can be taken once every 21 days or up to five (5) times in any continuous 12-month period. This is the same whether you take the exam at a test center or remotely from your own home. Tests are available on certain days of the year at test centers and year-round remotely. Regardless of where you take the exam, you always have the option to cancel your test scores at the conclusion of your test, but it is important to understand that canceling your scores still counts as one of the five tests you are allowed to take in any continuous 12-month period.

In 2015, ETS analyzed their test data and found that nearly one in four GRE test takers retake the test. Approximately 60% of those who retook the test scored better on their Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning. Only 40% of test-takers improved their Analytical Writing score, but 80% got the same score or better on the second exam. Although it is possible to achieve substantial score improvements, improvement requires dedicated practice focusing on your individual weaknesses.

GRE practice tests can help you identify what test sections are most challenging for you, as well as helping you identify any content that you may have neglected to study. If you have specific weaknesses that dramatically limit your performance on the GRE, or if you are unable to focus your study efforts in a productive way, then you may want to consult an instructor or tutor for professional assistance. When it comes to earning top test scores, suided group study has been shown to be the most effective method for achieving substantial score improvements.

Score Submission

GRE scores are valid for five years after the test date, and submission of scores is controlled entirely by you. At the conclusion of your test, you will be given the option to cancel or submit your scores. If you choose to have your test graded, the “ScoreSelect” option of the GRE administration allows you to immediately send scores to up to four recipients as part of your GRE registration fee (and you can send score reports to additional recipients for an extra fee of $40 per recipient).

You may either send only your most recent test scores, or you may send scores for all of the tests that you have taken in the past five years. You can send additional score reports after test day for an extra $40 fee. After the day of your test you have three options:

1. you can send scores from only your most recent test date,
2. you can send scores from all test dates from the past five years,
3. or you can pick specifically which test results from the past five years you would like to send.

How to Decide Whether to Retake the GRE

If you have taken the GRE and are dissatisfied with your score, you will need to consider whether it is worth your effort to retake the exam. For some students, this decision is easy. If you experienced an adverse circumstance that unexpectedly affected your performance on the exam, you will have a clear reason for retaking the GRE, whether you got distracted by a fly in the exam room, you didn’t get enough sleep the night before, or you didn’t have a chance to study as much as necessary to feel ready for the exam. Indeed, some students sit for their first examination as part of their study strategy, fully intending to take the exam multiple times in their attempt to obtain a top score, although this strategy is not recommended by test prep professionals.

Many students are trying to obtain high GRE scores in order to earn a spot at top graduate programs, law schools, and business schools around the country. If your first examination does not result in your target score, it may be difficult to estimate how much improvement is realistic. One consideration to evaluate is whether your scores are evenly distributed across all sections or whether an individual section score is much lower than the others. If one score is particularly weak, that may reflect an underlying weakness in your test preparation or content knowledge. If your scores are relatively even across sections, then that is likely to reflect weaknesses in your test-taking strategy. Regardless of what is bringing your score down, you can find and resolve your test-taking deficiencies through diligent study or the help of an instructor or tutor.

Admissions Counselling

The use of admissions consultants when applying to graduate, business, or law programs has risen over the past few years as admission to the most elite programs has become increasingly competitive. Admissions consultants help students analyze and understand their own academic and professional strengths and weaknesses, then combine this understanding with in-depth market knowledge about what programs, as well as future international and local employers, are looking for in applicants.

Applying to graduate school is about more than just earning high grades and test scores; it also requires you to articulate your vision as well as you capability to work, and to develop expertise at the graduate level. While scores and achievements are important, as they help you get your foot in the door and establish yourself in a competitive market, a broader perspective can help set you apart from other applicants. Admissions counselors are familiar with all of the top graduate programs in their area and understand how admissions committees review student applications to identify top talent. A well-presented application can make the difference between a close look and a successful acceptance, helping graduate schools recognize the value that an applicant will bring to campus.

At Manhattan Review, we not only give our students the tools to earn top credentials, we also help them navigate the complex marketplace of modern graduate admissions. Each student must learn to advocate for themselves and find a niche; at Manhattan Review, we give each student the dedicated attention they need to perform at their best.

Getting into graduate school is often as much about an applicant fitting themselves into a school’s culture as it is about presenting an impressive portfolio that schools will find appealing. Admissions consultants are familiar with individual programs and admissions committees and can help you choose which attributes and achievements to emphasize in order to demonstrate your capability.

Some graduate programs prioritize individual section scores over others. For example, if you are using the GRE to apply to graduate programs in literature, then your Analytical Writing and Verbal Reasoning scores will be more important than if you are applying to a graduate program specializing in computer science. Law programs may also focus more on Verbal Reasoning and Analytical Writing scores, but this varies between individual programs. Many business schools may require high Quantitative Reasoning scores to ensure that applicants are capable of performing their quantitative work at the graduate level.

In addition, test scores may be particularly important when they correspond to an overarching weakness in your application. High quantitative scores will be especially important for students applying to business school or other quantitative graduate programs who do not have substantial quantitative analysis experience.

The best thing you can do to set yourself up for academic and professional success is to treat preparing for the GRE as a top priority. There are countless books and study guides you can use if you prefer a self-directed method of preparation. At Manhattan Review, we offer group courses, available in-person or online, where you will prepare for the GRE under the guidance of a professional instructor and gain a comprehensive understanding of the exam, as well as your test-taking strengths and weaknesses. For students who prefer to work at their own pace, we also offer customizable private tutoring programs, where your test-taking goals will guide the instruction you receive from a professional tutor. However you learn best, Manhattan Review is certain to have a program that’s just right for you.

Conclusion

The GRE is a standardized exam that is computer adaptive at the section level. You may take the exam more than once, and test-takers maintain extensive control over their test scores and how those scores are used. When it comes to applying to graduate programs, admissions consultants can offer valuable insights and assistance in putting together a competitive application packet that highlights your knowledge, skills, and future goals. The best way to achieve a high GRE score is to take preparing for the exam seriously, whether that means studying on your own, as part of a group, or one-on-one with a private tutor.