GRE Questions

[isupsych253]

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Hi all,

I am going to be applying to 8-10 clinical and counseling psych programs this fall. I have not taken the GRE yet, but have been studying for it this summer. My question is, when do you think the best time to take the GRE is? I also need to take the Psych GRE for a couple of the schools I am applying to. Would I be okay taking the GRE in late September and maybe the Psych GRE by the end of October/Early November? I just want enough time in between the two tests so that I can prepare well. Thanks!

 

[Ya Ya]

I believe that the psychology GRE is offered only on set days. Therefore, I would just pick one of those dates and schedule the regular GRE a month or so in advance(since you said you've been studying for quite a bit of time). Good luck

 

[Ya Ya]

You should also take into account application deadlines.

 

[PsychPhDone]

I would recommend taking the General in Sept, just in case you need to repeat in Oct. You should be able to reasonably study for a Psych GRE in Oct -- when you get tired of studying for one test, switch to the other. 😉

 

[tamini]

I think (after many times of rereading) that you can only take the general GRE once every 60 days. Based on this, I think it would be safer to take the general GRE in September, the Psych GRE in October, and retake the general GRE in November if you think you did poorly the first time.

 

[syzergy]

I think (after many times of rereading) that you can only take the general GRE once every 60 days. Based on this, I think it would be safer to take the general GRE in September, the Psych GRE in October, and retake the general GRE in November if you think you did poorly the first time.

You can take the general GRE once every calendar month and no more than 5 times in a 12-month period. I literally just took the GRE on Wednesday so this is still burned in my brain! Good luck!

 

[wigflip]

I believe that the psychology GRE is offered only on set days. Therefore, I would just pick one of those dates and schedule the regular GRE a month or so in advance(since you said you've been studying for quite a bit of time). Good luck

How long would you recommend studying for the psych GRE if you've been away from psych for a while? It was my undergrad major, but I graduated a while ago. Let's not say how long it's been...😉

 

[bunderj]

How long would you recommend studying for the psych GRE if you've been away from psych for a while? It was my undergrad major, but I graduated a while ago. Let's not say how long it's been...😉

I was an undergrad psych major too (years ago. sigh.) and I studied for about 8 weeks for the psych GRE, and that worked well for me. I just bought the Kaplan Psych GRE book, which had 8 chapters, and memorized a chapter a week. Some people may disagree, but I really feel like the Psych GRE is essentially a test of memorization, so as long as it takes you to memorize the material should be fine. Good luck!

 

[wigflip]

I was an undergrad psych major too (years ago. sigh.) and I studied for about 8 weeks for the psych GRE, and that worked well for me. I just bought the Kaplan Psych GRE book, which had 8 chapters, and memorized a chapter a week. Some people may disagree, but I really feel like the Psych GRE is essentially a test of memorization, so as long as it takes you to memorize the material should be fine. Good luck!

Great--thanks so much for the helpful information. I'm a pretty good memorizer. I have to knock it out of the park on the GREs because I have a lotta other strikes against me...

 

[isupsych253]

Thank you for your advice. I am just wondering how I know I am ready to take the GRE. It's just tough to determine when the right time is. Does anybody know a good site that has a practice GRE that is actually as difficult as the real GRE?

 

[syzergy]

Thank you for your advice. I am just wondering how I know I am ready to take the GRE. It's just tough to determine when the right time is. Does anybody know a good site that has a practice GRE that is actually as difficult as the real GRE?

I know ets.org, the makers of the GRE, have at least one practice test you can download.

 

[tamini]

You can take the general GRE once every calendar month and no more than 5 times in a 12-month period. I literally just took the GRE on Wednesday so this is still burned in my brain! Good luck!

On ets.org, it says:

You may take the GRE revised General Test (computer-based and/or paper-based) only once every 60 days, and no more than five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period. This applies even if you canceled your scores on a test taken previously.

 

[PsychPhDone]

On ets.org, it says:

The reason you got incorrect advice is because the test was revised. (Your quote referenced the revised test guidelines.) That's a big change. Unfortunately most of us on the board haven't bothered to keep up with changes to the GRE after we were done.

isu, I revise my advice slightly...take the general GRE ASAP. Depends on the exact school deadlines, but when I applied I had some 12/1 programs, and I wouldn't feel comfortable taking the general GRE less than a month before that. Add in a "worst case scenario" taking the test a second time...and you'll want to do an EARLY sept so you can do an EARLY nov a second time at worst. August would be better.