1. The General GRE

2. GRE Designed by Education Testing Service (ETS)
Standardized test used as an admissions tool for most graduate schools in US
Test measures verbal, quantitative, analytic writing, and critical thinking skills
Not related to any specific field of study
Offered as computer based exam
Approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes to take entire exam
Commonly taken late in the summer prior to senior year
Should be taken in time to receive scores in time for grad school and external funding application due dates (be in close contact with your advisor and schools of interest to be sure your testing date is appropriate)
The structure of the computer-based GRE revised General Test consists of six sections. The first section is always the analytical writing section involving separately timed issue and argument tasks. The next five sections consist of two verbal reasoning sections, two quantitative reasoning sections, and either an experimental or research section. These five sections may occur in any order. The experimental section does not count towards the final score but is not distinguished from the scored sections. Unlike the computer adaptive test before August 2011, the GRE revised General Test is a multistage test, where the examinee's performance on earlier sections determines the difficulty of subsequent sections. This format allows the examined person to freely move back and forth between questions within each section, and the testing software allows the user to "mark" questions within each section for later review if time remains. The entire testing procedure lasts about 3 hours 45 minutes. One-minute breaks are offered after each section and a 10-minute break after the third section. The paper-based GRE General Test consists of six sections and is only available in areas where computer-based testing is unavailable. The analytical writing is split up into two sections, one section for each issue and argument task. The next four sections consist of two verbal and two quantitative sections in varying order. There is no experimental section on the paper-based test.

3. How GRE is used Another measure of overall academic ability
As an “objective” index for comparing students from different undergrad institutions
Verbal score as an indication of ability to learn to write, Quant. Score as indication of facility with quantitative and statistical reasoning
As an indicator of potential to bring in outside fellowship/grant money (NSF, Ford, etc.)
As a cutoff score

4. How GRE is used
Used by graduate departments as part of an overall assessment of student
Part of a profile of student, along with transcripts and letters of recommendation
However, preparing for and taking the GRE can be a powerful part of preparation for your graduate career
Learn to think “outside the box,” problem solve, increase your discipline, and push the boundaries of your own expectations
GRE is a process that takes a long time to prepare, so is an indication of your ability to stick with a challenging project for an extended period of time (Junior year is good time to start prep)

5. Preparing for GRE
ETS provides PowerPrep II practice tests to prepare test takers for the real test.
Downloadable to PC or Mac
Allows test taker to understand what’s being tested, gain familiarity with questions, become familiar with the tools including on-line calculator, understand scoring, take test under timed or untimed conditions, and receive commentary on analytical writing
The free POWERPREP® II software allows you to download the comprehensive overviews of each section of the GRE® revised General Test available on this website. It also contains a Test Preview Tool and two practice tests to help you get ready for test day. It is designed to help you: Understand what's being tested. Gain familiarity with the various question types. Become familiar with the testing tools, including the on-screen calculator. Understand scoring. Practice taking the test under timed or untimed conditions. Review scored Analytical Writing responses and reader commentary. For PC Users: POWERPREP II software includes the option to take the practice tests under extended time and extra break conditions. If you need screen magnification or selectable colors to take the computer-delivered GRE revised General Test, you must download a special version of ZoomText software (PC-compatible only). Please note that if you use your own screen color and/or magnification software when taking a practice test, the POWERPREP II software may not work correctly, and you may not have the same experience as in the actual test. When taking a practice test with its built-in screen magnification software, you must disable your own magnification software to prevent any conflicts. FOR MAC USERS: POWERPREP II software includes the option to take the practice tests under extended time and extra break conditions. If you need screen color or magnification accommodations, you will need to use your own screen color and/or magnification software when taking a practice test.

6. Structure Six Sections
The first section is always analytic writing (Issue and Argument Tasks)
The next five sections include two verbal reasoning sections, two quantitative reasoning sections and either an experimental or research section
Experimental section not part of final score
The structure of the computer-based GRE revised General Test consists of six sections. The first section is always the analytical writing section involving separately timed issue and argument tasks. The next five sections consist of two verbal reasoning sections, two quantitative reasoning sections, and either an experimental or research section. These five sections may occur in any order. The experimental section does not count towards the final score but is not distinguished from the scored sections. Unlike the computer adaptive test before August 2011, the GRE revised General Test is a multistage test, where the examinee's performance on earlier sections determines the difficulty of subsequent sections. This format allows the examined person to freely move back and forth between questions within each section, and the testing software allows the user to "mark" questions within each section for later review if time remains. The entire testing procedure lasts about 3 hours 45 minutes. One-minute breaks are offered after each section and a 10-minute break after the third section. The paper-based GRE General Test consists of six sections and is only available in areas where computer-based testing is unavailable. The analytical writing is split up into two sections, one section for each issue and argument task. The next four sections consist of two verbal and two quantitative sections in varying order. There is no experimental section on the paper-based test.

7. Structure
Performance on earlier sections determines the difficulty of subsequent sections
Person can move back and forth within each section
Software allows person to mark questions for review so you can return and address a difficult question later

8. Analytic Writing Two different essays Issue Task Argument Task
Scored on a scale of 0-6 in half point increments
ETS uses a special word processing package but does not have spell check
The analytical writing section consists of two different essays, an "issue task" and an "argument task". The writing section is graded on a scale of 0–6, in half-point increments. The essays are written on a computer using a word processing program specifically designed by ETS. The program allows only basic computer functions and does not contain a spell-checker or other advanced features. Each essay is scored by at least two readers on a six-point scale. If the two scores are within one point, the average of the scores is taken. If the two scores differ by more than a point, a third reader examines the response. Readers are trained to assign scores on the basis of the overall quality of an essay in response to the assigned task. The essay score is then reviewed by e-rater, a computerized program developed by ETS, which is used to monitor the human reader. If the e-rater evaluation and the human score agree, the human score is used as the final score. If they disagree by a certain amount, a second human score is obtained, and the final score is the average of the two human scores.

9. Verbal Section
Assess reading comprehension, critical reasoning and vocabulary usage
Verbal test is scored on a scale of in 1 point increments
20 questions in each section (30 minutes to complete each section)
Remember! The second section difficulty will be based on how well you do in the first section
The verbal section assess reading comprehension, critical reasoning and vocabulary usage. The verbal test is scored on a scale of , in 1-point increments (Before August, 2011 the scale was 200–800, in 10-point increments). In a typical examination, each verbal section consists of 20 questions to be completed in 30 minutes.[11] Each verbal section consists of about 6 text completion, 4 sentence equivalence, and 10 critical reading questions. The changes in 2011 include a reduced emphasis on rote vocabulary knowledge and the elimination of antonyms and analogies. Text completion items have replaced sentence completions and new reading question types allowing for the selection of multiple answers were added

10. Quantitative Section
Assess basic High School mathematic knowledge and reasoning skills
Scored on a scale of in 1-point increments
20 questions per section with 35 minutes per section
9 problem solving questions, 8 quantitative comparisons,, and 3 data interpretation sections
assess basic high school level mathematical knowledge and reasoning skills. The quantitative test is scored on a scale of 130–170, in 1-point increments (Before August 2011 the scale was 200–800, in 10-point increments). In a typical examination, each quantitative section consists of 20 questions to be completed in 35 minutes.[11] Each quantitative section consists of about 8 quantitative comparisons, 9 problem solving items, and 3 data interpretation questions. The changes in 2011 include the addition of numeric entry items requiring the examinee to fill in a blank and multiple-choice items requiring the examinee to select multiple correct responses

11. What to do with your scores
At the end of the test, you can choose whether or not to keep your score. BUT, you don’t see your score. If you choose not to accept, no one, including you will ever see that score.
You will see your verbal and quantitative scores right away if you choose to accept the results of the test.
You can send up to four reports to schools of your choice on test day (included in fee).
If you wish to send more scores later, you can order more scores from ETS for a fee.
You will be able to see your verbal and quantitative scores prior to sending reports.
A ScoreSelect option is available for a fee that allows you to choose your best score to send.
Your test fee entitles you to request that scores be sent to up to four graduate institutions or fellowship sponsors. And with the ScoreSelect option, you can decide which test scores to send to the institutions you designate, so you can send the scores you feel show your personal best, giving you more confidence on test day. If you wish to send scores to additional institutions or decide to send scores after test day, you may do so by ordering additional scores for a fee. You can also send your scores to prospective employers. On test day, after completing the test and viewing your unofficial Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning scores, you will be asked to designate which score recipients you want to receive your General Test scores. If an institution is not listed, ask the test center administrator for the appropriate form to indicate unlisted institutions. Complete the form and turn it in before you leave the test center. The form will not be accepted after you leave the test center. You will have the option to select the ScoreSelect Most Recent option or ScoreSelect All option for up to four institutions for free. You also can choose not to send any scores at that time. After test day, you can order Additional Score Reports for a fee of US$27 per recipient. At that time, you can choose to send scores from your Most Recent, All or Any test administration from your reportable history. If an institution that you have designated to receive your scores requests to see your photograph taken at the test center, ETS will send that photo or other information in ETS's files to that institution as necessary to detect or prevent unlawful activity and to protect the integrity of the GRE test.

12. What is on your GRE report?
Your official GRE score report contains your:
Contact information (name, phone number and )
Date of birth
Gender
Intended graduate major

13. What’s on your GRE report? (cont.)
Test date(s) GRE test score(s) and the associated percentile ranks.
Authorized score recipients or fellowship sponsors and the scores reported to those institutions.
Cumulative record of scores reported within the last five years.
Official score reports sent to the institutions you designate include your:
Contact information (name, address, phone number, ). Intended graduate major. GRE test score(s) and the associated percentile ranks.
Score reports sent to institutions will not include any information concerning the other score recipients you have chosen. Additionally, institution score reports include only the scores that you selected to send to them using the ScoreSelect® option. There will be no special indication if you have taken additional GRE tests

14. Interpretative data used on score reports

15. Interpretative data used on score reports (cont.)
Quantitative
Reasoning
Verbal Reasoning

16. Analytical writing interpretative data used on score reports

17. Example of Score Report
Your official Examinee Score Report will indicate your designated recipients and your cumulative record reported at that time. Your score report is intended only for your information and personal records. Your official Graduate Institution Score Report, received by your designated recipients, will include your name, address, address, phone number, intended graduate major, GRE test scores and associated percentile ranks. It will not include any information concerning the other score recipients you have chosen. Additionally, institution score reports include only the scores that you selected to send to them using the ScoreSelect option. There will be no special indication if you have taken additional GRE tests

18. Example of score report (cont.)

19. Minority and Special Population Issues
Stereotype threat may affect scores (Stricker & Bejar, 1999)
However, concerns about stereotype threat being exacerbated by testing environments or race of proctors were not supported (Walters et al., 2004)
Whites, Asians, and Other tended to score better on GRE from (ETS, 2001)
Examination of GRE General Test score data reveals mean score differences by racial, ethnic, and sex groups. men tend to have higher mean scores, particularly on the quantitative measure. The table also shows that mean scores for non-U.S. citizens are higher than those for U.S. citizens on the quantitative and analytical measures, and lower on the verbal measure.

20. Minority and Special Population Issues
Test not necessarily biased.
Differences in testing may represent different developmental and environmental influences.
ETS claims to address these issues.
Test has been assessed by external faculty to identify topics that are offensive or culturally specific to certain groups.
However, inequality in socioeconomic status, education history or access to strong testing coaching may affect scores.
Differences in average scores of certain groups do not necessarily mean that the test is biased or favors one group over another. Group differences in performance can result, in part, from group differences in early education and under- graduate course-taking patterns. Male and female students often differ in their interests as well as in their educational experiences. It would be surprising if such differences were not reflected in performance on broad-based educational tests. Group differences may reflect the unequal knowledge and skills resulting from different educational, economic, and social systems in which everyone does not receive equal opportunity. It is important that tests identify this inequality; such test information can help educators identify and correct deficiencies that can impede success in advanced studies. Further instruction could decrease or eliminate the differences.
ETS has designed several procedures intended to build fair- ness into its tests: involving external faculty members in the design and oversight of the tests, the fairness review process, and the differential item functioning (DIF) analysis. The purpose of involving faculty members in the design and oversight of the tests is to make sure that the perspectives of a diverse group of people are considered in planning and ongo- ing operational activities. The purpose of the fairness review process is to ensure that tests reflect the multicultural nature of society, and to screen out any material that might be offensive or less accessible to major subgroups of test takers, such as those based on age, disability, ethnic group, race, or sex. The purpose of the DIF analysis is to identify any test questions on which members of a particular group of test takers perform differently than would be expected on the basis of their overall ability in the areas covered by the test.