Practicality isn't a word usually associated with the Graduate Record Examination, but beginning in August 2011, some practical changes might make the test less threatening.
The test will have the same basic parts as before, but it will be updated to better suit present-day graduate school applicants.
"The revised test is going to have a much more test-taker friendly design," said Dawn Piacentino, director of communications and services for GRE.
Previously, test takers had to learn a specific testing style that was unique to the GRE.
"Test takers will really appreciate the changes because it will allow them to use natural test- taking strategies," Piacentino said.
The test will have questions that better reflect the types of things students will be doing in graduate school, Piacentino said.
Nancy Bernard, director of Student Career Services, said the most beneficial change will be with the technology and computer updates.
Previously, the GRE was taken on basic, low-tech and restricted computers.
On the revised GRE, there will be an on-screen calculator and options to edit answers and go back to previous questions, Bernard said.
Another change is in the verbal reasoning portion of the test.
"They are changing the verbal reasoning to be more related to topics and to involve higher-level cognitive skills," Bernard said. "With the vocabulary, I didn't really see the point. Now it is going to involve more cognitive skills and trying to assess the test takers' ability with reading and skills."
Debra Worthington, associate professor of communications and journalism at Auburn University, said she has seen students take Latin classes to prepare for the vocabulary on the GRE, but it did not help them significantly. The vocabulary on the revised test will no longer be out of context, she said.
Updating the test has also initiated a change in the scoring.
"Because the verbal and quantitative portions are changing, we are changing the scoring scale," Piacentino said. The previous scoring scale for the verbal and quantitative reasoning portions was 200-800 in 10-point increments. The new scale for both will be 130-170 in one-point increments.
By compressing the scale, missing a question will not cause such a drastic change in score, Bernard said.
The preparation required for the test, however, is not expected to change.
Test takers are now open to many resources on the GRE website, including sample questions and free downloads of software to simulate the revised test.
"They have a lot of resources online and students need to take advantage of that," Bernard said.
There are also various test preparation books available for purchase.
"This is a positive move on their part as a better indicator to see if students are ready for graduate school," Worthington said. "We are always looking for ways to evaluate incoming students, and our experience is that GRE scores are not always a good indicator, so we look beyond the GRE at recommendations, GPA and writing samples."
Piacentino advises students to become familiar with the test before they take it.
"For anyone that wants to take the test, but does not need to until next year, they should take it in August or September of 2011 for a discount of 50 percent off," Piacentino said.
The GRE general test costs $160 in the United States, and the 50 percent off discount is valid through August and September of 2011.
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