We strongly urge you to carefully review the following information and the ETS Essential Test-Taker GUIDELINES as you prepare for your test and before you arrive at the test center. It could help improve your chances for success.
1. Become familiar with the test before test day.
Learn about the test by downloading the new CBT demo. It is always best to know as much as possible about what to exptect before you arrive at the test center. Througouly read this section of our web site to learn about the purpose of the test, the content of the questions, test day procedures, and test preparation strategies and materials.
Once you know what to expect on your test, it's time to practice. At a minimum you should do some sample questions from each section of the test to become familiar with them. Try our free interactive sample questions, or download the full-length GRE Practice Genral Test. You can also purchase test preparation materials.
Try to practice test questions under timed conditions so that you get used to the pace of the test. In other words, if there are 20 questions in a section and you have a total of 40 minutes to complete the section, give yourfeslf an average of 2 minutes to complete each question. When you are practicing, keep your time in mind and remember that if you spend too much time on one question, you will have less time to spend on others.
Use the computer tutorial to your advantage. When you arrive at the test center on the test day, you will have the opportunity to complete an untimed computer tutorial before the actual test begins. This tutorial will let you try out the functions of the computer (e.g.,the mouse,the scroll bar) that you will need to use during the test. You can spend as much time as you need to make yourself familiar and comfortable with the computer before you start the timed sections of the test. Don 't start until you are ready!
Once the test is under way, you can always click on "Help" to review the directions or a summary of the tutorial again, but be aware that this will count against your allotted time for that section of the test.
Some questions, graphs, or passages are too large to appear completely on the computer screen. In these cases a "scroll bar" appears to the right of the material and the word "Beginning" appears on the information line at the top of the screen. These are your cues to scroll for more information.
2. Pace yourself throughout the test - You want to finish!
Use the resources available for test practicing (Web site, test preparation books, or software) to become familiar with the test and test instructions before you get to the test center.
Read the directions carefully before you begin. The directions at the beginning automatically alert you when 5 minutes remain in the allotted time for that section.
Try to budget enough time for each question so that you will be able to complete the test without having to rush at the end of each section. Keep in mind the average amount of time you may want to spend per question.
Once you start the test, an on-screen clock display will continuously count down the remaining time. You can hide this display if you want, but it is a good idea to check the clock periodically to monitor your progress. The clock will automatically alert you when 5 minutes remain in the allotted time for that section.
Use your time wisely. Read each question carefully to determine exactly what is being asked.Eliminate the wrong answers and select the best choice. Don 't let yourself get stuck on a tough question and lose time. Keep moving through the test and try to finish each section.
You may want to use the one-minute break between test sections to replenish your supply of scratch paper. After section 2, an on-screen message will tell you a 10-minute break is available. Section timing will not stop if you take an unscheduled break.
3. Know the rules.
Computer-adaptive tests require that you answer every question in the order it is presented. You can't skip a question and go back. The computer selects the next question you see from a large pool of available questions based upon your previous responses.
Click on the appropriate answer. Answer each question by clicking on the oval next to your answer choice or by clicking on any part of the text of that answer choice. Complete your answer by clicking on "Next" and then "Answer Confirm." You can change your answer any time before confirming it by clicking on a different answer choice.
Understand the implications of exiting a section or quitting the test. Once you exit a section, you cannot return to it. Click on the "Test Quit" box at the bottom of your screen only if you decide to end your testing session. If you quit the test, you will not receive a score for any section, even for sections you have already completed. If you click on "Section Exit" or "Test Quit" by mistake, you will be given the opportunity to reverse or confirm your decision.
You may take the CBT once per calendar month. This is true even if you ended your testing session by clicking on "Test Quit " or canceled your scores after completing the test.
4. Understand how the test is scored.
Computer-adaptive tests are scored differently than most paper and pencil tests. Your score on the computer-adaptive test depends on a combination of such factors as
the number of questions you answered within the allotted time
your performance on questions answered throughout the test
the level of difficulty of those questions in relation to your overall performance at that point in the test
5. Don't panic if you don't know an answer.
Don't spend too much time on any one question. The last thing you want to do is waste a lot of valuable time on any one question. If, after you've given it a reasonable amount of thought, you don 't know the answer, eliminate as many answer choices as possible and then select and confirm the answer you think is best. Keep going and aim to complete the test.
If you are running out of time at the end of a section, make every effort to complete the test. Data indicate that most candidates get higher scores if they finish the test. In fact, based on analyses of test takers, a majority of test takers will score higher if they finish the test than if they do not attempt to answer all of the questions. There is a chance that guessing at the end of the test can seriously lower your score. The best strategy is to pace yourself so that you have time to consider each test question, so you don't have to guess.guessing at the end of the test can seriously lower your score. The best strategy is to pace yourself so that you have time to consider each test question,so you don’t have to guess.
1. Become familiar with the test before test day.
Learn about the test by downloading the new CBT demo. It is always best to know as much as possible about what to exptect before you arrive at the test center. Througouly read this section of our web site to learn about the purpose of the test, the content of the questions, test day procedures, and test preparation strategies and materials.
Once you know what to expect on your test, it's time to practice. At a minimum you should do some sample questions from each section of the test to become familiar with them. Try our free interactive sample questions, or download the full-length GRE Practice Genral Test. You can also purchase test preparation materials.
Try to practice test questions under timed conditions so that you get used to the pace of the test. In other words, if there are 20 questions in a section and you have a total of 40 minutes to complete the section, give yourfeslf an average of 2 minutes to complete each question. When you are practicing, keep your time in mind and remember that if you spend too much time on one question, you will have less time to spend on others.
Use the computer tutorial to your advantage. When you arrive at the test center on the test day, you will have the opportunity to complete an untimed computer tutorial before the actual test begins. This tutorial will let you try out the functions of the computer (e.g.,the mouse,the scroll bar) that you will need to use during the test. You can spend as much time as you need to make yourself familiar and comfortable with the computer before you start the timed sections of the test. Don 't start until you are ready!
Once the test is under way, you can always click on "Help" to review the directions or a summary of the tutorial again, but be aware that this will count against your allotted time for that section of the test.
Some questions, graphs, or passages are too large to appear completely on the computer screen. In these cases a "scroll bar" appears to the right of the material and the word "Beginning" appears on the information line at the top of the screen. These are your cues to scroll for more information.
2. Pace yourself throughout the test - You want to finish!
Use the resources available for test practicing (Web site, test preparation books, or software) to become familiar with the test and test instructions before you get to the test center.
Read the directions carefully before you begin. The directions at the beginning automatically alert you when 5 minutes remain in the allotted time for that section.
Try to budget enough time for each question so that you will be able to complete the test without having to rush at the end of each section. Keep in mind the average amount of time you may want to spend per question.
Once you start the test, an on-screen clock display will continuously count down the remaining time. You can hide this display if you want, but it is a good idea to check the clock periodically to monitor your progress. The clock will automatically alert you when 5 minutes remain in the allotted time for that section.
Use your time wisely. Read each question carefully to determine exactly what is being asked.Eliminate the wrong answers and select the best choice. Don 't let yourself get stuck on a tough question and lose time. Keep moving through the test and try to finish each section.
You may want to use the one-minute break between test sections to replenish your supply of scratch paper. After section 2, an on-screen message will tell you a 10-minute break is available. Section timing will not stop if you take an unscheduled break.
3. Know the rules.
Computer-adaptive tests require that you answer every question in the order it is presented. You can't skip a question and go back. The computer selects the next question you see from a large pool of available questions based upon your previous responses.
Click on the appropriate answer. Answer each question by clicking on the oval next to your answer choice or by clicking on any part of the text of that answer choice. Complete your answer by clicking on "Next" and then "Answer Confirm." You can change your answer any time before confirming it by clicking on a different answer choice.
Understand the implications of exiting a section or quitting the test. Once you exit a section, you cannot return to it. Click on the "Test Quit" box at the bottom of your screen only if you decide to end your testing session. If you quit the test, you will not receive a score for any section, even for sections you have already completed. If you click on "Section Exit" or "Test Quit" by mistake, you will be given the opportunity to reverse or confirm your decision.
You may take the CBT once per calendar month. This is true even if you ended your testing session by clicking on "Test Quit " or canceled your scores after completing the test.
4. Understand how the test is scored.
Computer-adaptive tests are scored differently than most paper and pencil tests. Your score on the computer-adaptive test depends on a combination of such factors as
the number of questions you answered within the allotted time
your performance on questions answered throughout the test
the level of difficulty of those questions in relation to your overall performance at that point in the test
5. Don't panic if you don't know an answer.
Don't spend too much time on any one question. The last thing you want to do is waste a lot of valuable time on any one question. If, after you've given it a reasonable amount of thought, you don 't know the answer, eliminate as many answer choices as possible and then select and confirm the answer you think is best. Keep going and aim to complete the test.
If you are running out of time at the end of a section, make every effort to complete the test. Data indicate that most candidates get higher scores if they finish the test. In fact, based on analyses of test takers, a majority of test takers will score higher if they finish the test than if they do not attempt to answer all of the questions. There is a chance that guessing at the end of the test can seriously lower your score. The best strategy is to pace yourself so that you have time to consider each test question, so you don't have to guess.guessing at the end of the test can seriously lower your score. The best strategy is to pace yourself so that you have time to consider each test question,so you don’t have to guess.