Should I Register To Retake The Gre While I Register To Take It For The First Time

Chris Lele

Should I Retake the GRE?

Yes. And no. Information technology depends. Sure, that's not the sort of wishy-washy answer you desire to hear, just the truth is the answer depends on your own specific case. We cover a lot of that in our Retaking the GRE flowchart. If you're totally lost in the woods, follow that link for a bit of guidance! Granted, it can't business relationship for every possible case, only information technology includes some of the questions that thing the most, many of which I'll talk about below. And how yous respond those questions will determine whether you should retake the GRE.

How hard did y'all prep?

A little bit of math and some reading passages. No big deal, right? Well, oftentimes students of mine have dabbled in the GRE, picking up a book here and there, and figuring the reading comprehension will accept care of itself, and…then they end up coming to me the 2d time around, well-aware that dabbling is non going to cut it. So if you just gave it a fifty% or even 70% effort, then you lot may want to retake the test, particularly if yous are willing to prep difficult.

How much fourth dimension do you take?

Even if the prior question resonated with y'all, committing the time and dedication to studying might not have been possible. Unless, yous feel you are fix to attack GRE prep with a newfound vigor and intensity, you lot may want to reconsider taking the examination.

Improve your GRE score with Magoosh.

Another fashion of interpreting this question is from the standpoint of deadlines—you need to utilise to a program by a certain date. Unlike the onetime GRE, the new GRE requires you to wait 21 days earlier you can retake the test. If applications are due, retaking the test may not exist viable and you may not take a choice but to stick with your current score.

How did yous prep?

Preparing for the new GRE is no easy feat. To brand things worse the spider web is veritable blitzkrieg of quick fixes and "ultimate" vocabulary lists. Off-line things aren't much ameliorate – most books give you the fake impression that past only reading them, your score will automatically go upwardly.

The truth is a lot more than complicated – to achieve your potential you should prep with a diversity of resources, both online and newspaper-based. Even so, some sources are helpful whereas others are harmful. So if you used a Kaplan GRE book (or Princeton Review or even Barron's for that matter) and were shocked test day – both by the content of the examination and your concluding score – y'all are not alone. There are amend ways to prep. And then if you exercise not employ a combination of the all-time prep resources, you lot should definitely consider retaking the GRE.

And so of grade, in that location are the classes. About half of all of the students I've tutored are casualties of the ane-size-fits-all, read-from-a-script test prep classes. While you lot may be in this group, and experience actually scammed afterwards all the money you spent (or at least filled with this dread that y'all are no good at standardized tests), taking a class isn't necessarily going to assist your reach your maximum potential. There are neat tutors, dandy on-line forums, and neat study materials (similar Magoosh!) to make retaking the GRE well worth your while.

How was test twenty-four hours?

Kickoff fourth dimension walking into a testing room? The staff made you feel as though you were about to serve a ten-twelvemonth jail judgement? Overcome with examination jitters? (It's natural). Hungover? (shame on you!) At that place are many reasons for a less than optimal score. And then enquire yourself, is there something unexpected that happened test mean solar day that I could somehow anticipate this fourth dimension around? Even if it is simply a expert night'due south sleep versus four hours of fitful sleep, retake the test.

What was your score?

If you scored higher up the 90th percentile and yous're a perfectionist shooting for the "ultimate score" when you've already qualified for the programme you're near interested in, your time may be better spent working on the rest of your application (essays, letters of recommendation, etc.), specially if you're strapped for time as deadlines arroyo! If y'all scored significantly lower than yous had been performing on your practice tests and y'all know that at that place'south a lot of room for comeback if you were given a second run a risk, then I'd say yous should buckle downward and get for it. Focus on getting a solid grasp on the material, merely likewise work on pacing and other strategies to make sure you tin score to your full potential on the day of the exam.

To retake or not to retake?

Depending on how you answered these questions, you may seriously want to reconsider taking the exam. The worst thing to do is to know you could have washed much better—but never gave yourself the opportunity to prove this and so.

Update, October 7th, 2014: How-do-you-do everyone! We've decided to plough the comments off on this post for now. We encourage everyone to check out this handy flowchart to help you decide whether or non you should retake the exam. And, if yous have a Premium Magoosh account and would similar a more personalized response, you tin can use the Help tab on the Magoosh dashboard to contact the states. 🙂 Cheers!

Chris Lele is the Primary Curriculum Manager (and vocabulary wizard) at Magoosh. Chris graduated from UCLA with a BA in Psychology and has 20 years of experience in the test prep industry. He'south been quoted as a subject expert in many publications, including US News, GMAC, and Business organisation Because. In his time at Magoosh, Chris has taught countless students how to tackle the GRE, GMAT, Sat, Human activity, MCAT (CARS), and LSAT exams with confidence. Some of his students have even gone on to become near-perfect scores. You can find Chris on YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook!

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