Taking the GRE tomorrow. Quick question.

[psilovethomas]

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Hey all,
I'm taking the GRE tomorrow. I'm so nervous that I'm in tears! Ahhh!
Do I need to print out and bring the appointment summary information that ETS sent to me when I signed up for the GRE?
Thanks!

 

[twelvetigers]

First of all, chill. Deep breaths. It's not a big deal. 🙂

Second, if you signed up with a local testing center, I would just show up with a form of ID. You'll have to write out a lame paragraph, then they let you take the test. I don't think you need anything special, but if you're worried, print it out anyway.

 

[psilovethomas]

Thanks TT. I would print it out if I could. I just moved into my dorm and just unpacked my printer 10 minutes ago with the intentions of printing out the appointment summary. And then I realized that I did not have any ink in my printer. Ugh.
I've been trying to tell myself "It's just a test. It's nothing." In reality, this test could be the deciding factor that either gets me an acceptance or a rejection from a school.

 

[Klizard]

You'll be completely fine...you are a Spartan, after all 😛

When I took the test, I printed out the paper...and ended up not needing it at all. As mentioned above, all you need is your ID: they won't let you bring pencils etc. in to the testing room. However, at the center I went to, they had free lockers where you can leave everything before taking the test.

Best wishes!

 

[psilovethomas]

You'll be completely fine...you are a Spartan, after all 😛

When I took the test, I printed out the paper...and ended up not needing it at all. As mentioned above, all you need is your ID: they won't let you bring pencils etc. in to the testing room. However, at the center I went to, they had free lockers where you can leave everything before taking the test.

Best wishes!

Thanks Klizard. Have you submitted your VMCAS yet? Believe it or not, my advisor JUST emailed me back about the recommendation he is supposed to write for me. We're going to "work together on it" on Monday. Ugh..I just want to submit!

 

[Klizard]

Thanks Klizard. Have you submitted your VMCAS yet? Believe it or not, my advisor JUST emailed me back about the recommendation he is supposed to write for me. We're going to "work together on it" on Monday. Ugh..I just want to submit!

I submitted my portion (everything but the letters) a couple weeks ago, but I'm also waiting for one more eLoR that should be done by Monday . I decided that I couldn't wait any longer to submit my portion, as I needed some peace of mind 🙂

 

[futurevet3000]

You need nothing other than a form of identification! I brought with me pencils, erasers, anything I thought I made need, and they made me throw it all in a locker, as if my pencil had some cheat sheet on it. You don't need to print out a ticket or anything... just show up and prove that you are you!
Good luck... I will be taking mine Friday. Nothing to be too nervous about. GRE (like the SATs) prove nothing really.

 

[psilovethomas]

Nothing to be too nervous about. GRE (like the SATs) prove nothing really.

I could not agree more.
Good luck!👍
It went well for me(see my post in the rave thread.)

 

[futurevet3000]

read your post in the other thread, excellent job on the quant. Very similar problem happened with me my first time taking it... I accidentally spent 5 minutes on a problem that I ended up guessing on anyway, and therefore that set the tone for the rest of the exam (ran outta time blah blah blah). You have proven that sometimes, the test is about luck, which is unfortunate that applications put any sort of weight on scores at all... I am not saying you merely got lucky and scored great (you sound like you deserved that score and I hope to get a little luck on my side too). But it just goes to prove my point: what is the GRE testing anyway? For instance, I have 2 different practice books (both kaplan, one is just verbal specific), they had the same question and then in the answer key... DIFFERENT ANSWERS. If the test "experts" can't decide on a right answer, how am I supposed to? I hope I get to bring this up when schools ask me "why are you scores so bad?" This is why I am digging Edinburgh, no GRE scores necessary. The UK knows whats up. Anyway, congrats again, and I hope to be raving (not ranting) on Friday!

 

[psilovethomas]

You have proven that sometimes, the test is about luck, which is unfortunate that applications put any sort of weight on scores at all... I am not saying you merely got lucky and scored great (you sound like you deserved that score and I hope to get a little luck on my side too).

Actually, I think I got a 700+ Q because I spent most of my time on the first 15 questions to ensure that I got them correct and to adjust my score upwards. Towards the end, I made *educated* guesses. Maybe those were the only questions I got wrong?

I'm patiently waiting for nyanko to correct my logic.

 

[nyanko]

Actually, I think I got a 700+ Q because I spent most of my time on the first 15 questions to ensure that I got them correct and to adjust my score upwards. Towards the end, I made *educated* guesses. Maybe those were the only questions I got wrong?

I'm patiently waiting for nyanko to correct my logic.

Actually I'm pretty sure you're absolutely right. The first questions in the CAT model are worth larger jumps in the final score than the last ones. It's a good strategy to spend more time making sure you do well on those questions - not to say you should blow off the later ones as they obviously play into the final score as well, but the earlier ones will sort of put you in a "tier" while the last will "fine tune" within that tier, from what I understand.

 

[168135]

I'm going to have to try that strategy. When I did the paper-based test last night, it took me the entire time limit to complete each section. When I did the power-prep tests, I usually had 5-10 minutes to spare at the end of each section, and I did horrible 😛 Maybe I should slow down for the first few questions.

When I was doing the verbal section on the powerprep, I was not expecting some of the paragraphs to be 150 lines long. I panicked and didn't think I had enough time to read it and then answer the questions. Tomorrow is going to be interesting, that's for sure!

 

[psilovethomas]

Tomorrow is going to be interesting, that's for sure!

You'll do great!!!Best of luck!👍😀

 

[StartingoverVet]

Actually, I think I got a 700+ Q because I spent most of my time on the first 15 questions to ensure that I got them correct and to adjust my score upwards. Towards the end, I made *educated* guesses. Maybe those were the only questions I got wrong?

I'm patiently waiting for nyanko to correct my logic.

Kind of the same thing here. I spent more time at the beginning of the test (as recommended by Princeton review etc)... One Q in the 2nd third I stubbornly worked on for a looong time. I had that "I'm not going to let this question beat me...." Dumb dumb dumb. Had to rush through the last part of the test. I ended up having to just fill in "C" for the last 6 or so questions. Still got a 770. If you screw up at the beginning you are screwed. If you screw up at the end it hardly matters.

 

[futurevet3000]

despite all the practices and tricks I have read, I somehow missed the fact that I should really aim to get the initial ones right (or all of them right ) and I can get a better score. I took it once, and am taking it again FRIDAY. I work full time and am also taking courses so GRE has not been high up on my to do list, kind of just a necessary evil... but has to be done. Just can't wait til Friday is over and done with then I can get done to the nitty gritty stuff left on my application. September is going to be an insane month.