If My Gre Scores Are Bad Should I Forget About Graduate School
Overcome a Disappointing Exam Experts say prospective graduate school students who are trying to raise their GRE score should take…
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Overcome a Disappointing Exam
Experts say prospective graduate school students who are trying to raise their GRE score should take comfort in the knowledge that others have done it before.
"This is the one part of your application that can drastically change between now and the time when you need to apply," says Dennis Yim, director of academics at Kaplan Test Prep, where he tutors GRE and GMAT test-takers.
Here are 10 ways to either improve or compensate for a low GRE score.
1. Don't Let One Bad Test Day Define You
Experts say that sometimes grad school applicants are convinced they are incapable of doing well on the GRE simply because their first attempt didn't go well. But these applicants are often selling themselves short, experts warn.
"Often, applicants will say that they are not good test takers, which is definitely true for many," U.S News contributor Don Martin, a grad school admissions consultant and former graduate admissions dean, wrote in 2012. "But too often applicants only take the test once."
2. Commit to Serious Test Prep
Sometimes the key to raising your test score, experts say, is studying harder and devoting a significant amount of time to test prep. Achieving a top GRE score will most likely require effort, experts say, but the good news is that time invested in studying for the GRE can pay off.
"If you work hard, if you follow the game plan, you can get where you need to be, if you're able to put the effort in," Kaplan Director Yim says.
3. Refresh Your High School Math Skills
Experts say a frequent reason for poor performance on the GRE is that tester-takers forget their high school math lessons.
"If you're preparing for the GRE alone, a text like 'Algebra for Dummies' or 'Geometry for Dummies' could be a great help, and both come with example problems to work," Eric Reiman, a GRE tutor, told U.S. News in 2012.
4. Do More Reading
Experts say the reason for a low GRE score could be a language barrier or limited English vocabulary.
"As an international student, I found that the best way to enhance your reading skills as part of preparing to take the GRE was by reading in English extensively," U.S. News contributor Yao Lu wrote in 2014. "That means reading not only academic papers and your course textbooks, but also the daily news, pieces in magazines and even celebrity gossip websites."
5. Take Multiple Practice Exams
It's important to complete multiple GRE practice tests before taking the real exam, experts warn.
"To walk into this test unprepared, to sit down [and take it] having never done it before is suicide," Neill Seltzer, the CEO of Noodle Pros test prep and academic tutoring company, told U.S. News in 2012, when he worked for the Princeton Review.
Experts also say the GRE's computer-adaptive format can be intimidating for test takers who are unaccustomed to it, and this is one more reason test-takers should practice in advance.
6. Use Free Test Prep Resources
Experts say it's foolish not to use the free GRE test prep materials available online from ETS, also known as the Educational Testing Service, the nonprofit organization that creates the GRE exam.
The organization's website includes practice exams, sample test questions and a 100-page overview of math concepts that are tested on the GRE.
Khan Academy also offers various free lessons on math skills that are tested in the quantitative portions of the GRE exam.
7. Consider a GRE Class or Tutor
Experts say grad school applicants who are not disciplined enough to self-study for the GRE may find additional motivation if they sign up for a test prep course or tutor.
In general, experts say, it's important to tailor your test-prep strategy to your learning style. "People learn over time what kind of learners they are," Dave Killoran, the CEO of PowerScore Test Preparation, told U.S. News in 2014.
8. Capitalize on the ScoreSelect Option
Grad school applicants who take advantage of the GRE's ScoreSelect Option have the ability to choose which GRE test scores they report to target institutions.
"That allows you and gives you the option to really shoot for the highest score possible," Yim of Kaplan says. He says applicants used to worry about low GRE scores becoming a permanent ding on their academic record, but having the ScoreSelect option eliminates that source of test anxiety.
9. Choose Your Target Schools Wisely
Experts say grad school applicants who are struggling with the GRE should probably focus on grad schools that don't automatically weed out applicants based on GRE scores.
"If a graduate program starts the review process by immediately eliminating applicants based on GPA and test score, you may want to consider how much you really want to be a student there," U.S. News contributor Martin wrote in 2012.
10. Polish Other Parts of Your Application
Experts say grad school applicants should remember that the GRE is only one component of their application.
So applicants with lackluster GRE scores may want to devote extra time to their admissions essays, experts suggest.
Another way to impress admissions officers, experts say, is to take a graduate-level course and earn an A. "It shows that you mean business, are serious about demonstrating your academic ability, and have what it takes to succeed," Martin wrote in 2012.
More About GRE Test Prep
Discover tips and tricks that will help you excel on the GRE exam, and find advice on applying to grad school. Access our complete rankings of the 2018 Best Graduate Schools.
Consider following U.S. News Education on Twitter and Facebook.
More from U.S. News
Ask 7 Questions Before Applying to Graduate School
GRE vs. LSAT: What Prospective Law Students Need to Know
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10 Steps to Tackle a Low GRE Score originally appeared on usnews.com
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If My Gre Scores Are Bad Should I Forget About Graduate School
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