Considering Grad School? Consider Also Upcoming Changes to the GRE Test

If your college student is considering graduate school, standardized tests will likely be one step in the admissions process. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a common test required by many graduate programs, and starting in August 2011, it will change.

The current GRE General Test can be taken on the computer or on paper, and it measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills. As of Aug. 1, 2011, the GRE revised General Test will feature new types of questions in the verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning section, featuring real-world scenarios. Also, the computer-based test will feature the following :

• New preview and review capabilities within a section
• New "mark and review" feature to tag questions, so students can skip and return later
• New ability to change/edit answers within a section
• New on-screen calculator for the Quantitative Reasoning section
• New answer formats, including tasks such as numeric entry and highlighting a sentence in a passage to answer a question
• Less reliance on vocabulary out of context, more emphasis on reading — and no antonyms or analogies

Students who need their scores by November 2011 must take the current GRE test. Other students who want to take advantage of the revised version can register as early as March 15 to take the test starting in August. All test-takers between Aug. 1 – Sept. 30 will receive 50 percent off the test price and will receive their scores by mid-November. The revised test will take about 45 minutes longer to complete – a total of three hours and 45 minutes – and the scoring is different than on the current test.

While some students familiar with the current version of the GRE might fear that the revised version will be more difficult, encourage your student to consider taking the revised version, which has less emphasis on difficult vocabulary and an easier interface.

In addition to the GRE General Test, there are also subject tests in the following subjects, which may not be a requirement, but show your student’s promise in a particular field of study. These tests will not change after Aug. 1:

• Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Literature in English
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Psychology

For more information, go to the GRE Website.