Everythings About GRE (3)

ETS GRE

ETS is short for Educational Testing Service. ETS is a private organization which undertakes work related with educational research, assessment development, test administration, test scoring and provides instructional products and services. This work the ETS gets from its clients, the College Board being its largest one. The most significant and important work undertaken by ETS is the development and conduct of various standardized examinations like the TOEFL, SAT, TOEIC, GRE etc.. In fact most of the entrance tests you are likely to appear for during your higher education are developed by ETS.

ETS is a completely private and independent company; it is neither under the government nor the Princeton University. ETS claims to be a non-profit organization and justifies the claim well by the kind of work it does. It is non-profit in its purpose, outlook and values. Though it is self-supportive and makes enough money to carry on its research work, it aims at providing high quality education service and in its own sense it serves public.

ETS is run by a very professional staff having training and expertise in education, psychology, statistics, psychometrics, computer sciences, sociology, and the humanities. Also its Board of Trustees governs its work closely and regulates its quality and standard. ETS has over 2500 employees across its offices in some 200 countries. Besides its headquarters in Lawrenceville, New Jersey the ETS has offices in California, Florida, Puerto Rico, Texas, and Washington, D.C.

One of the most significant tests administered by ETS is the ETS-GRE. GRE is short for Graduate Record Examination (GRE). It is a test which you need to clear in order to take admission in a graduate course in colleges and universities across English speaking countries. Thanks to the standardized test developed by ETS the students are judged equally and their scores can be compared for admission purposes. This makes the job of college admission authorities easier as they can be fair in providing admission and all the deserving students get a fair chance of admission in the college of their choice. Also it is good opportunity for students coming from different socio-economic backgrounds as they get a chance to get admission based on merit and not bias. Your scores of ETS-GRE, along with other capabilities and achievements like the school records, your performance in co-curricular activities, teacher recommendations, course work etc are considered by colleges in order to give admission.

Hobsons U.S. is an organization that helps colleges and universities to elevate their enrollment strategies. ETS has lately formed partnership with Hobsons U.S. to introduce new features in the ETS-GRE Search Service. The search service helps institutions providing graduate courses to search from a database the names, scores and addresses of prospective students based upon the institution’s preferred criteria. So it will now become easier for colleges to pick and choose the students of their choice. And if you score well in ETS-GRE you are likely to be called in by good colleges themselves!

In the ETS-GRE you will have to appear for three sections: Verbal Section, Quantitative Section and Analytical Writing Section. The verbal section judges how well you can comprehend written material in English. It tests your knowledge about usage of English grammar and your reasoning and interpretation skills in English. The quantitative section judges your ability in Mathematics. The test is based on algebra, arithmetic, geometry and data analysis. The analytical writing section tests how well you can present your views and how well you can analyze an argument using logic. The test has multiple-choice questions, except for the analytical writing section which is a written part. The new feature of ETS-GRE is that two new types of questions will be included in the computer based GRE General Test in November 2007. Initially ETS planned to launch an entirely new format but the latest plans are to introduce the change in phases.

ETS-GRE is now a Computer Adaptive Test in most of its centers. In such a test the computer adapts the question paper according to the responses given by you. It might sound strange, but this system works in a very organized manner. One question is displayed on the computer screen at a time. The first few questions are of medium difficulty. If you answer correctly then the computer comes to know that you are intelligent enough to handle difficult questions and hence the subsequent questions selected by the computer, especially for you, will be of higher difficulty level. Likewise if most of your answers are incorrect then the subsequent questions will be of an easier level. Throughout the test the computer presents a question based on the response you give to the previous question. Hence the computer adapts the test according to you. Thus it should be your endeavor to answer questions correctly so you are asked difficult questions. Your final score depends on the difficulty level of the paper presented to you in addition to other properties of each question. If at the end of the test you feel that your scores will not be up to the mark, you can opt to cancel your scores and nullify the test. The test will then not be scored and you can register again for the test. If, however you change your mind and intend to reinstate your cancelled scores, you can request for it within two months from the date of the test.

ETS-GRE scoring for the computer adaptive and the paper test is quite similar. The only difference occurs due to the fact that the paper test does not adapt according to you as the computer based test does.

ETS also offers an ETS-GRE subject test. If the college of your choice requires you to submit the subject score as well, then you can register for this also. It will give you an extra edge over other students seeking admission.

ETS has started the computer based ETS-GRE in most of its test centers. Hence you can take the test all year round at your own convenience! Otherwise you will have to check the dates on which the paper test is conducted.

Registering for ETS-GRE is now very convenient. ETS allows you to register online, through mail, phone or fax. If you wish to take the test in U. S., U. S. territory or Canada then you can register online, through mail or phone. If you wish to test at the international test centers then you have an additional option of registering through fax. If your test center does not offer you the option of taking computer based test, then you can register either online or through mail only. The ETS accepts a number of credit cards for payment of registration fees. The acknowledgement of the registration will be either mailed or faxed to you. Thus registering online or on phone is very easy, convenient and quick. ETS gives you the option of rescheduling (on payment of a nominal fee) or canceling the test once you have registered. But you can not use the online features for applying for fee concessions, Monday testing, standby testing, arrangement for nonstandard testing accommodation and supplementary test centers. For test takers who have certified disabilities ETS provides with the facility of accommodation for taking the exam.

ETS sends the scores of the test to you and to four institutions of your choice. But the institutions should be approved by the ETS and for additional score reports to be sent an additional fee will be charged per report. You can request for these additional score reports through mail, fax or phone.

ETS is open to suggestions and complaints. In case you have a complaint to make after the test has been taken you can do so within a week of taking the test by mail or by fax. The complaints will be responded to within 4-6 weeks.

ETS constantly carries out research work in the field of education and also to determine the success of their own programs. Predicting success in graduate education, measure of analytical writing, other measurement techniques, minority and special population issues, developing new assessment techniques, talent of students in graduate education are some topics researched on. One such research carried out lately showed that there is a close comparison between the ETS-GRE scores and the cumulative graduation score of students. Hence the results of ETS-GRE are very valid and colleges and universities have all the more reason to depend on them for admission purposes. This should be encouragement enough for any student to prepare well for his ETS-GRE!

The official website of ETS has detailed information about all the exams conducted by them. If you still have queries then you can contact ETS through mail, phone or fax. Also you can approach the ETS-GRE test centers to clear your doubts.

GRE Subject Test

GRE Subject Tests are meant to test your knlowledge and skill level in a particular subject area. These subject tests are emphasized by undergraduate preograms.

Not every graduate program asks you for a GRE Subject Test. So make sure that the program which you have choosen asks you to take the GRE desired GRE Subject Test.

Many a times if you are opting for a program outside your undergraduate major subject then you may need to take corresponding GRE subject test.

The GRE Subject Test is available only in the paper-and-pencil version. Students planning to take GRE Subject test are advice to do so during the month of November. To appear for GRE SUBJECT TEST the student has to register himself 6 weeks before the exam date.

It would be another 6 weeks before the GRE Subject test results are made available. The advantage of appearing for the GRE Subject test in November is that the GRE Subject Test scores will be available to the student before the deadline of the admission dates.

By appearing for the testing November the student has the option of re-taking the tests in December and April in case of bad performance or to improve scores.

Eight different GRE subject tests are available.

• GRE Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Subject Test


• GRE Biology Subject Test


• GRE Chemistry Subject Test


• GRE Computer Science Subject Test


• GRE Literature in English Subject Test


• GRE Mathematics Subject Test


• GRE Physics Subject Test


• GRE Psychology Subject Test

GRE Fees

There is no restriction on students wishing to take the GRE test. There is no constrain based on qualification or age levied on the student. Though the GRE test scores has a validity of five years and are acceptable by most of the universities, it is recommended that the student submit scores that are not older than 2 years to make a better impression on the universities.

The GRE fees for the GRE test differs from country to country.

The GRE Test fee cannot be paid in any other currency other than US dollars. Several payment options for paying GRE Fees are available

GRE Test Fees - Payment Modes

The GRE Test fees can be paid in many modes. Below is the given list of valid payment mode for GRE Fees

• globally accepted credit card


• US dollar denominated draft


• Money Order/Certified Check


• U.S. Postal Money Order


• International Money Order


• UNESCO Coupons

There is no compulsion that the credit card should be owned by the applicant for paying the GRE Fees.

The draft should be drawn in favor of “ETS – GRE” payable at US banks. The drafts are usually issued at most of the cities' main branch offices of banks having a foreign exchange counter.

To draw an US dollar denominated draft in India a service charge of about 200 rupees is levied on the student.

GRE Test Fees - By Country

Generally to register for the GRE test within US and U.S. territories and Puerto Rico amounts to 115 dollars for General test and 130 dollars for Subject test.

The registration fee of 140 dollars for General test and 150 dollars for Subject test which amounts to about 7000 rupees has to be paid by the Indian student who wishes to take the test. Students from China, inclusive of Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan, need to pay 175 U.S. dollars as GRE registration fee.

The student who wish to reschedule their GRE test is required to pay a 40 dollar reschedule fee. Any additional score report would require 15 dollars as payment for per sheet. The refund on cancellation would amount to 60 dollars and is valid only if the cancellation is made at least 7 days before the chosen test date. The standby fee on registration of GRE is 35 US dollars.

GRE Fee Waiver

GRE Fee waivers are available for students based on their financial needs. GRE Fee waivers are available for both GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test.

Students who intend to get a GRE Fee waiver must contact Central Financial Aid at 757-226-4125.

There are eligibility conditions for the GRE Fee waiver. Contact Central Financial Aid for more information on eligibility conditions for GRE Fee Waiver.

Good GRE Scores - A GRE Test taker's GRE Experience Hi all, I took gre general test 3 days back. My gre score is 1560. I am happy that this is a good GRE score. Split up Verbal Section GRE Score- 760 Quans Section GRE Score - 800 Expecting 5.5 or 6.0 in my essays. This is my second attempt. Mine was a average gre score in my first attempt. In my first attempt my gre scores was 1210. Q - 720 V - 490. I was completely demotivated after seeing my average gre scores. I am working as a Senior System Analyst in Bangalore. I have 6 Yrs of experience. I'm an electronics and communication engg. I always wanted to pursue MS in a top school. GRE tests three things: 1. Your basic intelligence (in Quanti and Reading Comprehension) 2. Your speed of responding (that's why the time limit is kept...and so, many of you who are practicing for the GRE must be finding difficult) 3. How well you perform under pressure? And also I used Barrons and Kaplan tests and bigbook. All these material are no longer useful as ets had tremendously increased the difficulty level of questions especially the quans and the reading comprehension questions. If you are pretty clear in the above things then a good GRE score is not that difficult. First and foremost suggestion - Don't get tensed up. Remain cool and calm. Sometimes the only difference between a good score and a bad score is your mental strength. Just chill. No worries, no tension. Talk to yourself. Tell yourself that you can do it. If you win over your tension, then GRE is a piece of cake leading to a good GRE score. Second thing - practice is the key to success. Give as many practice tests as possible. Grebible and Powerprep are a must. You can also try out Arco. Practice tests and the CAT tests in grebible are excellent. The difficulty level is very very high in grebible. That's the reason why I was able to score much in the verbal and in the quans. If you go without giving practice tests, that too practice tests with difficulty high level of questions. Your chances of good GRE Scores are negligible. You will end up with a average GRE score The main advantage for me was that I got 4 analogies and 2 sentence completion questions straight from grebible practice tests. These questions were within my fist 10 questions. That boosted my gre score. Thank god else I would have been sitting with computers and doing silly things in my office. Softwares used: Powerprep Grebible Barrons Arco PowerPrep gives you the exact GRE Score which you will be your GRE Score plus or minus 10 - 20. Your Gre scores from power prep will be an exact replica of your actual GRE score. I had no time to study for gre as my work is very hard. I used to come home only at 11 or 12 or even 2 in the night. But it was a passion for me to study MS. Initially it was very tough for me to find time for me to prepare for gre. I prepared very slowly for gre. Started with Barron's wordlist. After completing them when I took a diagnostic test, I was shocked at the results. Then one of my friend suggested Gre Vocabulary Bible from grebible. The software was cool. Some General Tips: 1. Complete the math review in barron's with the exercises and also the one given by ETS (ftp://ftp.ets.org/pub/gre/Math2.pdf) 2. Do math exercises in grebible. I found grebible math to be toughest of all. 3. On the day of test, free yourself from driving to the test center. Take an auto or better still ask someone to drop you. My GRE scores on practice tests in the order I took, if it helps anyone: PowerPrep1 GRE Score - Q - 740, V - 680 Princeton 1 GRE Score - Q - 780, V - 460 GreBible1 GRE Score - Q - 710, V-600 Princeton 2 GRE Score - Q - 770, GreBible2 GRE Score - Q - 620, V-580 GreBible3 GRE Score - Q - 740, V-580 GreBible4 GRE Score - Q - 710, V-630 GreBible5 GRE Score - Q - 770, V-700 GreBible6 GRE Score - Q - 800, V-610 GreBible7 GRE Score - Q - 800, V-660 GreBible8 GRE Score - Q - 740, V-700 GreBible9 GRE Score - Q - 770, V-680 GreBible10 GRE Score - Q - 740, V-720 PowerPrep2 GRE Score - Q - 740, V - 680 As you guys can clearly see. Powerprep GRE score exactly reflects the actual gre scores