Sending GRE scores

[ellehan]

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Do schools take into consideration if you re-take the GRE and were to get a lower score the second time? I am getting ready to take it again and just wondering whether it would make any difference if I wanted to see my scores and then sent them to schools afterwards? I know there is a fee but I am not worried about that.

 

[Truth74]

YOu should probably check with the school(s) you want to apply to.

It is really dependent on their policy. Some schools will accept the higher of the two scores on every section of the exam. Some schools will accept the most recent score only, and then there are schools that will accept the higher scoring total exam.

 

[ellehan]

Right - but say a school were to accept one's highest score from a single test, could they look at scores from other tests? Basically what I'm saying is even if they take your highest score, if you do horrible on one GRE can that influence anything? Or do they simply disregard all other scores?

 

[redsteven]

As Truth74 mentioned, every school has their own policy.

That said, a lot of schools will say that they will only look at your highest score... but they're still going to RECEIVE all of your scores (i think), and if you get a 240 on your verbal the first time you take the test then even if they say they're not gonna look at it... i think it might be difficult for them to miss it.

I say that because it sounds to me like that's the question you're asking... how closely they really adhere to their policies about only looking at a single score.

But unless your score is absolutely horrendous for one of your tests, I wouldn't worry about it TOO much... not that I'm an expert or anything...

 

[DocDVMD]

I took the GRE twice and the second time got the exact same Q score and improved on V by a mere 10 points! The admissions director I spoke to seemed to like that I was consistent (and the scores were good).

 

[LivestockDoc]

I need to get some clarification because I have no experience with the GRE yet.

As you complete the test, are you given your score BEFORE you type in which schools you want the report sent to? If that is the case, and your score sucks so that you decide not to have scores sent anywhere, when you retake the test at a later date and have the scores sent, do the schools receive your earlier scores? (Sorry for the poor sentence structure! I hope that made sense.)

 

[StayingHopeful]

Yes, I believe they would be. Before you see your score but after you take the test, you have a chance to cancel your scores. If you don't cancel them, you see your scores and have the chance to send them to (I think 4) schools for free. Unless you cancel your score, I would think it would be sent out when you order score reports.

 

[DocDVMD]

Yes, the only time when you can cancel your score without schools being able to see your report in the future is if you cancel your test BEFORE you see your score at all. And then you would have wasted $135 or however much it costs these days.

 

[sumstorm]

I need to get some clarification because I have no experience with the GRE yet.

As you complete the test, are you given your score BEFORE you type in which schools you want the report sent to? If that is the case, and your score sucks so that you decide not to have scores sent anywhere, when you retake the test at a later date and have the scores sent, do the schools receive your earlier scores? (Sorry for the poor sentence structure! I hope that made sense.)

When you send your GRE's, the school will recieve all scores of tests taken in the past 5 years. Simple as that. The only thing that you can decide regarding the reporting of scores (besides the general timeline of when you order the scores) is whether or not to include GRE subject test scores. So, if you did terribly on say GRE bio, you could opt not to have that reported (but if you are required to have it for a school, you will need to arrange it sent seperatly, and if you retake it, they will still see all GRE subject scores for the past 5 years.)

I thought I had to put in the schools I wanted to report to BEFORE I took the test, but I might be wrong on that. I think you could edit it afterwards.... but if you see your scores, they are on the 5 year record, and will not fall off till the end of those 5 years.

 

[LivestockDoc]

Ok, that makes sense. Pretty much the same policy as the LSAT. The pressure's on me to get this rudimentary math drilled into my brain. Taking this darned thing at the end of the month. At least it'll feel good to get it over with. I HATE CAT's!

 

[sumstorm]

I HATE CAT's!

I do to. I would rather just have x versions of the same test.

 

[tpad40]

What are CATs? I mean sometimes I hate cats, especially when they are trying to kill me, but I'm guessing not the same cat we're talking about...

 

[MarineVet]

I want to add that they do consider consistency. I took the GRE General 3 times and in each I got better and better. I never reached more than 1000 in my total score. Yes, I know, really bad. However, I got accepted at NC State. 😉

 

[SmallAndLA]

I think they're talking about the Computer Adaptive Test, tpad.

I also think it's funny that the GRE is considered a standardized test when it adjust to your abilities as you take it. 😛

 

[sumstorm]

Computer Adaptive Test = CAT

 

[sumstorm]

I think they're talking about the Computer Adaptive Test, tpad.

I also think it's funny that the GRE is considered a standardized test when it adjust to your abilities as you take it. 😛

The sad thing is that it could only adjust to your abilities with a much larger sample set of questions. As it is now, if for some reason you don't recognize the form of a vocab term early in the process (a question considered easy by the test) you do a lot of damage to your score. That is kind of like saying 'if you can't think of the work that means epidemic in animals at this given moment, you aren't as able as the next person.' I for one, do have occasional blanks about words....I might figure it out in another 10 mintues, but due to the forced progression of the test, that isn't good enough.

And I do relatively well on the tests, so it isnt' a matter of having problems performing.... just seems very, very random.