Overview of the GRE ® revised General Test

1. Overview of the GRE® revised General Test

2. Overview • Test Registration • Test Content and Structure • Score Reporting • Test Preparation • General Strategies 2

3. Registration Checklist Individuals registering for a GRE® test should: • Review the registration information, ID requirements, reschedule and cancellation policies, and fees in the GRE® Registration & Information Bulletin • Create a “My GRE®” Account at www.ets.org/mygre. • They should be sure that the name they use when registering exactly matches the name printed on the ID documents (excluding accents and spaces) that they will present at the test center. • Decide when they would like to take the test. They should be sure to allow sufficient time for score reporting when scheduling their test so they can meet the admissions deadlines for the schools to which they are applying. 3

4. Registration Checklist (continued) • Determine which schools and fellowship sponsors they want to receive their scores. • As part of the GRE® test fee, they may request that scores be sent to as many as four graduate institutions or fellowship sponsors. • If taking a computer-based test, they will designate score recipients on test day. • If taking a paper-based test, they will designate score recipients when registering. • Learn about the FREE GRE® Search Service. They will have the option to sign up for the Search Service when they register. • When they are ready to register for a GRE® test, they should sign in to their My GRE Account and select from the registration options presented. 4

5. The Name Used When Registering • The name an individual uses when registering — and the spelling of that name — must exactly match (excluding accents and spaces) the name printed on the ID documents that will be presented on test day. If it does not, the individual may be prohibited from taking the test or their test scores may be canceled after they take the test. • Individuals must be sure to provide their entire first (given) name (excluding accents and spaces). They should not register under a nickname and should not register with only an initial as their first name. • Individuals must supply their entire last (family/surname) name. If they have a two-part last name, they need to be sure to supply their complete last name as it appears on the ID documents (excluding accents and spaces) that they will present on test day. For example, a last name of Fernandez de Córdova would be entered as FernandezdeCordova. 5

6. Test Content and Structure 6

7. The Computer-Based GRE® revised General Test *An unidentified unscored section that does not count toward a score may be included and may appear in any order after the Analytical Writing section. **An identified research section may be included in place of the unscored section. Questions in this section are included for ETS research purposes and will not count toward your score. 7

8. The Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning Measures Are Section-Level Adaptive • The computer selects the second section of a measure based on the test-taker’s performance on the first section • Within each section, all questions contribute equally to the final score • Both sections are important, since the final score on each measure is based on the total number of correct answers and the level of difficulty of the questions 8

9. Test-taker Friendly Design of the Computer-based Test • The test is designed to offer a more flexible test-taking experience • Allows test takers more freedom to use more of their own personal test-taking strategies • Functionality includes: • Preview and review questions • Edit or change answers within a section • Tag questions with the “mark” and “review” features, so the test taker can skip and return to them later • An on-screen calculator on the Quantitative Reasoning measure* *For those taking the paper-based GRE® revised General Test, calculators are provided at the test center for use during the test. 9

10. Test-taker Friendly Design (continued) • Move more freely within a section • An on-screen calculator 10

11. Score Reporting 11

12. Scores Reported • Verbal Reasoning score on a score scale of 130–170, in 1-point increments • Quantitative Reasoning score on a score scale of 130–170, in 1-point increments • Analytical Writing score on a 0–6 score scale, in half-point increments 12

13. The ScoreSelectSM Option • The ScoreSelectSM option lets test takers decide which GRE® scores from their reportable history to send to the institutions they designate. • Test takers can send the scores that they feel reflect their personal best. 13

14. The ScoreSelectSM Option – On or Before Test Day • Individuals taking the computer-based test can select a ScoreSelectSM option for each of their four FREE score reports when viewing their scores on test day. • Individuals taking the paper-based test can select a ScoreSelect option for each of their four FREE score reports during the test registration process. • The ScoreSelectoptions available on or before test day are: • Most Recent option – Send scores from current test administration • All option – send scores from all test administrations in the last five years 14

15. The ScoreSelectSM Option – After Test Day • After test day, test takers can send Additional Score Reports (ASRs) for a fee and select from these options for each report they would like to send: • Most Recent option — Send scores from most recent test administration. • Alloption — Send scores from all test administrations in the last five years. • Anyoption — Send scores from one OR many test administrations in the last five years. • No matter which option test takers choose: • They will select by specific test dates, so their scores are all from the same testing session • The schools they designate will only see the scores that they selected to send them. There will be no special indication if they have taken additional GRE® tests 15

16. Test Takers Can Approach Test Day with More Confidence • Test takers always have the option to take the test again. • Individuals can take the GRE® revised General Test once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period. • Individuals taking the paper-based GRE revised General Test or a GRE® Subject Test, may take the tests as often as they are offered. 16

17. Getting Scores • Scores from computer-based tests are available about 10–15 days after the administration. • Scores from paper-based tests are available about 6 weeks after the administration. • Test takers will receive an email notification from ETS that their official scores are available in their “My GRE®” account (www.ets.org/mygre) and that official score reports have been sent to their designated score recipients. • Test takers can visit their My GRE Account to view their scores. Those who wish to have a paper copy of their official Examinee Score Report may use the new print functionality in their My GRE Account to print a copy of their official score report. • The official Examinee Score Report contains all GRE® scores in the test-taker’s reportable history (past five testing years) and is intended only for the test taker’s information and personal records. 17

18. Score Reporting • Scores from computer-based tests are reported to designated score recipients about 10–15 days after the administration • Scores from paper-based tests are reported to designated score recipients about six weeks after the administration • All paper and electronic score reports include: • Background information, including email address, telephone number and intended graduate major • Concordance information, when appropriate, to help score users compare candidates who took the GRE® General Test before August 2011 with those who take the GRE® revised General Test • Percentile ranks for each of the three GRE® revised General Test measures, based on a recent three-year period 18

19. Important Tools to Help Score Users Understand Scores on the GRE® revised General Test • GRE® Guide to the Use of Scores • Guidelines for Using GRE® Scores • Percentile ranks used for score reporting • Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning concordance tables • Standard Errors of Measurement (SEM) of score differences • A Snapshot of the Individuals Who Took the GRE® revised General Test • GRE® Comparison Tool for Business Schools • “Scores” section of GRE website 19

20. Test Preparation 20

21. Free GRE® Test Preparation Materials Are Available • POWERPREP® II software • Offers two simulated test-taking experiences of the computer-based GRE® revised General Test • Mac® and PC Compatible • Can be downloaded on computer labs on your campus at no charge • The Practice Book for the Paper-Based GRE® revised General Test, Second edition • Offers a simulated test-taking experience of the paper-based GRE revised General Test • Math Review • Reviews the mathematical skills and concepts test takers may see on the GRE revised General Test • Math Conventions • Test takers can learn more about mathematical assumptions particular to the GRE revised General Test • Subject Test Practice Books • Offer a simulated test-taking experience of each GRE® Subject Test 21

22. Additional GRE® Test Preparation Materials Are Also Available • The Official Guide to the GRE® revised General Test, 2nd edition (US$35) • Includes two full-length Practice Tests, explanations for many answers and sample Analytical Writing topics and responses with reader commentary • Includes POWERPREP® II CD • Available in print and e-Book 22

23. The Official GRE® Guide Mobile App • An app for iPhone® and iPad® devices • Features authentic test questions with answers and explanations plus more from The Official Guide to the GRE revised General Test, 2nd edition. • Starter Pack (US$4.99) • In-App Purchase (US$19.99) 23

24. GRE® Success Starter Video Series • Three videos are available: • Overview of the GRE® revised General Test • Preparing for the GRE Verbal Reasoning Measure • Preparing for the GRE Quantitative Reasoning Measure • Provide an overview of each of the sections • Available for US$7 each 24

25. ScoreItNow!™ Online Writing Practice • Web-based service intended to help test takers prepare for the Analytical Writing measure of the GRE® revised General Test • Users receive immediate scores on the essay responses they submit online • Campus educators can buy vouchers to use the service in bulk • Available for US$13 (for two essay submissions) 25

26. New GRE® Advisor Kit • Designed to help advisors give students everything they need to know about test registration, preparation, sending scores and more! • Includes easy-access, printable brochures, posters, easy links and more • Some materials are available in multiple languages • All downloadable from www.ets.org/gre/advisorkit 26

27. New GRE® Educate Webinar Series • This new webinar series brings key facts, details, tips and strategies taken from the GRE Test Preparation Workshop for Campus Educators • Titles • An Overview of the GRE revised General Test • A Closer Look at the GRE Verbal Reasoning Measure • A Closer Look at the GRE Quantitative Reasoning Measure • Coming in 2014 – A Closer Look at the GRE Analytical Writing Measure • For advisors, educators and others who conduct test preparation workshops on campus • Webinar registration is open at www.ets.org/gre/educatewebinars 27

28. Two New Test Preparation Books • Published by McGraw-Hill • Will be available later in 2014 • Titles: • Official GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions • Official GRE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions • Each book will contain 150 test questions • Will be available in the following formats: • Print • Ebook • Test questions will also be available in accessible format • Will be available for $20 each 28

29. General Strategies 29

30. General Strategies for the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning Sections • Test takers taking the computer-based test should familiarize themselves with the Help section provided in the free POWERPREP® II software before they take the actual test • They may review the Help section at any time during the actual test, but this reduces the amount of time they have available to answer the test questions • Test takers should work as rapidly as they can without being careless • Since no question carries greater weight than any other, test takers should not waste time pondering individual questions they find extremely difficult or unfamiliar 30

31. General Strategies for the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning Sections (continued) • Test takers may find the following strategy advantageous: • Go through a section the first time quite rapidly, stopping only to answer those questions the test taker can answer with certainty, and marking those that require more thought • Next, go back and spend time answering the questions marked for further review • Finally, if there is time, go back and answer the questions that seemed to be the most difficult • To maximize scores, it is better to guess at an answer than not to respond at all 31

32. General Strategies for the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning Sections (continued) • The review screen is intended to help test takers keep track of their progress on the test. They should not spend too much time on the review screen, as this will take away from the time they spend on the test questions • The test taker should always check the review screen before completing the session to make sure he or she didn’t miss any questions • The test taker should not use the calculator just because it is available • Most of the questions in the Quantitative Reasoning sections don't require difficult computations • Some questions can be answered more quickly by reasoning and estimating than by using the calculator 32

33. General Strategies for the Analytical Writing Section • Test takers should be attentive to time, but not rush • Test takers should be sure to organize their thoughts and prepare outlines for the two essays • Test takers are advised to save a few minutes at the end of each timed section to check for obvious errors • Although an occasional typographical, spelling or grammatical error will not affect a test-taker’s score, severe and persistent errors will detract from the overall effectiveness of the writing and lower the score 33

34. Questions? 34