Retaking the GRE – for some it is more than like a luxury that they want to pursue with the hopes of improving their chances at the top schools or go some additional funding, and for others it is a necessity considering they badly are looking to improve their scores.

If you belong to 1 of these 2 groups, and specially the latter, then it is possible that yous're full of questions. It's not uncommon to spend a few sleepless nights thinking:

Should I consider retaking the GRE? 😏

Is it worth the extra time, money and attempt? ⏲️💰😪

Will I exist able to meliorate my score significantly? 🤔

Should I written report on my ain or join an online form? 💻

And what if I score fifty-fifty lower than before? 😱

Whoa, now that'southward a question to keep you lot awake final night, isn't it? 👀

Yous're not alone in this

Maybe y'all didn't get the score you wanted. Maybe yous're sure you didn't study at all the final time and want to requite it another go. Perhaps your score does not meet your target university's standards.

But whichever may be the reason, it is perfectly alright to think of retaking the GRE. Because while you might recall you lot're the only one retaking the GRE in the entries world, that is not true.

Because according to this latest ETS survey, more than than i in every four people effectually the globe takes the GRE more than one time. 😲

Fascinating, isn't it? And then you're non alone. While you might think yous're the simply one who couldn't attain their target GRE score, rest assured that in that location are at least 100,000 more like y'all around the globe.

At least 25% of test takers around the world accept the GRE more than once!😲

ETS Survey

And more chiefly, the vast bulk of those who retake the GRE test really come across an improvement in their scores!

So, if you lot're not happy with your current score, and if you're wondering whether retaking the GRE test is the right matter to do, then this guide should help you decide.

Should you go for a retake?

Of course, whether or not to take the test once once more is a subjective question, and the answer might differ from ane person to the other. However, this brief guide is an attempt to enquire y'all the right questions then you can decide it for yourself.

The GRE comes with a motive of testing your aptitude, belittling thinking, and exact reasoning skills. Despite what many high scores might want you to believe, retaking the GRE is no piece of cake.

Except for a small minority of exam takers, most students terminate up getting scores that are below their targets. So, it is important to recollect that fifty-fifty if you lot are putting your best efforts, you lot might sometimes not exist able to achieve it at 1 go.

But if your scores are non up to the mark, and so do not worry; There can exist a lot of reasons why you did not perform well on the GRE in the by. Simply y'all always accept an open up window to ameliorate your test scores, all you need is to buckle up for another month or 2, and only retake the GRE test!

Having said that, retaking the GRE is retaking not an easy task. You'd have to do everything that you've already washed, once more – the written report plans, the belatedly night practice sessions, the iv-hr full-length tests, the vocabulary flashcards, the in-depth reviews, the painful hard-hitting realities, and all of the other things that y'all endured simply a while ago.

Ugh. Seems like a nightmare, doesn't information technology? No wonder why many examination takers brand this determination rather grudgingly.

disappointed baby GIF

We all know that GRE test can be difficult to score for a lot of people for diverse reasons. And that is why ETS has a provision that allows retaking the GRE test up to 5 times a year, so that you accept multiple chances to improve your scores.

Retaking the exam does non affect your applications to your dream university every bit you can decide which score you lot would like to submit in your awarding. While you are nonetheless in the mode of studying, you tin retake the GRE after 21 days and work on your weaknesses immediately; and in a year you can have the examination 5 times.

Consider These Before Retaking the GRE

Taking the GRE test was quite a piece of work. Just when you lot retake the GRE, along with the hard work, you might need a different arroyo to scoring well. To make things easier for you to sympathise, here are a few things to consider before yous retake the GRE. This can exist a modest checklist for you while you plan your manner through.

#1: Purpose of retaking the GRE

Retaking the GRE examination ways going through the same or even more difficult work all over again. It demands yous to invest a whole lot of time and patience in it. Hence, if you want to retake the test, you have to exist very clear of your purpose to do so.

You must first understand if you actually need a retake. You take a target score to reach according to the universities you are applying for. Now what's a good GRE scoremay exist relative to your goals, only it is important that you aim really loftier.

For case, you want to pursue a Master'south degree in the pinnacle fifty universities across the United states of america that demand a expert GRE score, then your target should be around 325.

But in another cases where institutes are not that concerned about the GRE score, a 300-310 would be a skillful score.

If you haven't achieved a "adept score" at your first attempt, you should consider retaking the exam. But, it is completely harmless if y'all are a little aggressive and you desire to score more than. To add together to the benefits of a better score, you can even get a scholarship for farther pedagogy.

If the purpose is clear plenty in your listen, it becomes a lot easier for you to further excel in the exam. You finer understand what areas you need to work on and how to prepare accordingly.

Hence, the first step is understanding the demand for retaking the GRE.

#2: Pros and Cons of retaking the GRE

If you are nevertheless in a fix in deciding whether or not to requite the test again, here is another tip. To brand it easier to understand if y'all need to retake the GRE, you lot can brand a listing of pros and cons

Here is a general list of pros and cons of retaking the test. You tin can add your ain pros and cons to the list based on your experience or situation.

Pros:

  • You become another risk to improvise if you lot couldn't do the examination due to reasonable circumstances.
  • With the opportunity, you lot can score ameliorate.
  • If y'all have taken the test multiple times, with ScoreSelect, y'all can decide which score to ship out in your applications.
  • Retaking GRE does not take a major event on your application.

Cons:

  • The test costs a lot. If you take a financial hardship, yous need to exist very sure if it is worth.
  • You might take a time limitation. If there is a crunch in a deadline of applications, you might want to reconsider taking the test.
  • It is of no use if you lot are not prepared plenty for the test. Hence, you lot accept to make sure that you study well before giving the test again.
  • Giving a retest once is harmless, simply giving it multiple times might affect your application.

#three: Financial Aspects

In the above points, we mentioned a few limitations of retaking GRE. But as every problem has a solution, there is e'er a fashion to overcome the cons.

It is certain by now that retaking GRE needs to be well planned with a clear goal.

When information technology comes to the fiscal demands, you need to pay the fees of the aforementioned amount every bit you paid while giving it for the kickoff fourth dimension. Currently, the GRE sets you back past $205. Having said that, that amounts to nothing, compared to what you will be incurring during your Master'due south degree.

Moreover, call up of this as a teeny tiny investment yous're making in yourself to get into a much better college, and eventually get a much higher paying job than you would accept otherwise. It'south no wonder near people who retake the GRE feel like it is the best decision they take always fabricated. So yous tin can never go wrong. 🙂

#iv: Fourth dimension Management

Understanding the timelines for retaking the GRE is very crucial. We are now enlightened that nosotros can repeat the test after 21 days. Nonetheless, you need to check whether or not information technology is well before your applications deadline. If information technology is, you can go for a retest without any worries. But if y'all go the retest slot a few days before the applications deadline, go for information technology just if it is really needed.

When it comes to fourth dimension management, nosotros sometimes tend to fail how much time nosotros need for the preparations.

Programme a sufficient amount of time to prepare earlier the retest.

This can let you effectively ameliorate on your scores. To decide how much time you lot will demand you can checklist a few factors below;

How far are you from your target score?

How well did you score in your practice examination?

Which areas do yous need to improve?

How much time do yous demand to improve based on your studying capacity?

By answering these questions you might go a tentative idea on how many days y'all will need to gear up. Accordingly, you can apply and book your slot for the retest. If you lot tin't decide how much time you need to prepare, you tin can plan out your training by referring to "Programme to reach your goal" beneath.

#5: Expectations when retaking the GRE

Now that you take registered and got an appointment, it's fourth dimension for you to start preparing. Before you get-go with your studies, it is always good to come with a plan and keep small targets that can assist you prepare for the ultimate test. In the case of the retest, the first step is to empathise which places crave improvement.

Y'all can first by checking how far are you from your target score. You then subject your score to categories of analytical thinking, maths, and vocabulary. You will at present understand which category requires more than attending.

Some other easy manner to analyze your previous exam is by simply using the GRE Diagnostic Service. The diagnostic tells you:

  • which questions y'all answered are correct or wrong.
  • Each question in GRE is designated a difficulty level from 1 to five. The diagnose tells you how many difficult questions y'all have answered correctly.
  • how much time yous have spent in answering a certain question.

With this detailed analysis, it is super easy for yous to figure out where yous need to improve. However, this service expires subsequently 6 months of the test. In case you are likewise late, you lot tin become assistance from the comprehensive analysis at CrunchPrep.

#6: Program to reach your goal

Past now information technology will be articulate to y'all what areas you demand to focus and improve on.

With your targets clear, you can make your written report schedule hands.

Since you lot have given the test before, you lot tin can starting time figure out what topics y'all are well-versed with. You tin keep these topics to study while yous are revising or giving do tests.

Beginning, get-go past studying the topics y'all are not prepared with at all.

When yous are creating a schedule, brand sure that it is comfortable for you and you are giving sufficient time for each topic.

While you are studying, pay shut attention to what topics you are able to sympathize and what topics are hard for you. If your platonic ways of studying are not working, try out some new means to understand those topics.

If you experience that you have studied well you tin can go ahead with practice tests. With these tests, yous volition understand your speed, and how prepared are you lot. In this way, yous can continue improving, hence, perform well.

You should also consider having a different arroyo towards studying. Here is a very useful 80-20 method yous can try out to score better.

#7: Relax and Exist Confident

Retaking the GRE test can be really hectic and put a lot of pressure level on you. Stressing too much might affect your preparation and functioning in the exam. But don't let panicking take your toll.

Initially, it is hard to sit down in one place and study. While you are preparing, in that location will be times where you lot fail to commit to your schedule. Merely information technology'due south completely fine, as long equally you make upwards for it the adjacent solar day. If you neglect to understand a sure topic, yous tin can always motility to the side by side ane and get back to information technology later.

Your persistence and dedication would piece of work similar magic for scoring amend.

For a smooth grooming, avoid final moment hassles every bit it might event in a bad outcome.

If you are prepared for the examination, you don't demand to worry nigh anything.

All you need to practice is relax and be confident while giving the examination. You are sure to attain your target score.

Adjacent step: Applying for a Retake

If you accept thought well-nigh it long enough and have considered all the factors mentioned above, you lot can go alee with applying for a retest.

This process is uncomplicated and very similar to applying for GRE for the first fourth dimension. The only difference is you lot can use the same account on ETS rather than making a new one. We've explained this in greater detail in our postal service about booking a GRE date.

Just before you book your next GRE retake appointment, it would be skillful to sympathize if you lot're there, getting the scores y'all're targeting. And the all-time mode to practise that is to take a practice test.

Nosotros'd usually recommend that yous take the free ETS PowerPrep tests, only considering that you might have already exhausted those complimentary tests, we recommend you to take a gratis GRE practice test that gives y'all equally accurate results. Luckily, nosotros have ane gratis test for y'all at CrunchPrep, so go ahead and take it earlier you lot take the big plunge.

Now Information technology'south Your Turn

At that place can be a lot of reasons for you to retake the GRE test. It's truthful that retaking the GRE doesn't have whatever negative bear on on your application. However, it needs to exist well thought of and well planned if you intend to retest. The factors mentioned above are like a guideline and the basic factors to recall of before you get ahead and apply for a retest. Of these, the most essential part is played in understanding your goals for the retest. Simply information technology is every bit of import for you lot to be patient and calm for the same.

And then, those are some things you should keep in listen earlier you programme on retaking the GRE test. And as ever, if yous take whatever other interesting considerations in mind, do allow u.s. know in the comments below!

Good luck with your GRE test! May the scores be with you! 😉