Experimental section, mandatory?

[invalid username]

When I took the GRE exam, a few weeks ago, I don't quite remember whether the experimental section was mandatory. I just remember being tired, and in a rush to see my scores. I found myself already answering the questions, not being sure whether I could have elected not to take it to begin with. I tried to exit the section all the time but for some reason it didn't let me. So I just guessed on all questions.

Later, I felt kind of bad about it, knowing that ETS may rely on these things to gather statistical data (and I don't want to corrupt their database in any way).

Should I notify them that this happened?

[Strangefox]

When I took the GRE exam, a few weeks ago, I don't quite remember whether the experimental section was mandatory. I just remember being tired, and in a rush to see my scores. I found myself already answering the questions, not being sure whether I could have elected not to take it to begin with. I tried to exit the section all the time but for some reason it didn't let me. So I just guessed on all questions.

Later, I felt kind of bad about it, knowing that ETS may rely on these things to gather statistical data (and I don't want to corrupt their database in any way).

Should I notify them that this happened?

You can try but I am not sure they will be interested. ETS is a big company unable to track down all minor things like that.

When I was registering for TOEFL I noticed that in the list of cities of my country they put my city twice with different spellings and for each of these "different" cities there were dates I could choose from and these dates were slightly different! It was really confusing. So I wrote them a letter about that. They adviced me to contact their regional center, call to Norway or something - very strange... Anyway, I contacted them in June and the mistake is still there!!!! It's really funny

What I want to say is - I don't think they will notice your letter They are toooooooo busy counting our money

[DrFaustus666]

First, remember that something like 450,000 people take the GRE each year.

If 50% of those get an experimental section ... that would be 225,000 (see all this math preparation is helping me ) ... and 50% of those experimental sections are math sections (112,500), I would estimate that probably at least one taker in ten (11,250) does the same thing you did, at least among those who know that the section is experimental (let's assume 50% are told it's experimental), which brings the number to 6,675.

If their scoring algorithms are as sophisticated as they want us to believe, they'll surely have programmed into the analysis software some sort of discriminator that simply throws out altogether any exam that appears to be answered at random.

And as StrangeFox says, the issue is far too insignificant for ETS to expend much effort towards resolution anyway. Think of all the accountants and comptrollers and business school types they need to keep track of all that money: 450,000 X 160 = something like 72 million US $.

Edited September 9, 2010 by DrFaustus666

[newms]

I wouldn't bother with saying anything to ETS - chances are they wouldn't care and secondly if their methods are of any use then they probably will take into consideration that some responders wouldn't be answering those questions at their best with the stress of doing the GRE exam.

[invalid username]

Actually, what I was thinkings is that perhaps the experimental section was not mandatory, and I accidentally elected to answer it. Therefore, there may not be more than 6000 people who did the same thing. I may be the only one in the world who did this, ever .

[DrFaustus666]

I doubt you're the only person who ever did it, ever. But it's possible I suppose. In any event, I still think you shouldn't worry about skewing ETS's statistics on any experimental questions, or any other aspect of their experiment.

People drop out of paid medical trials all the time. People in paid medical trials who don't drop out forget to take their medicine or placebo (as the case may be). They report symptoms on subjective scales that vary widely from person to person. They take double doses after missing a dose, even if they've been expressly told not to take a double dose. And on and on and on.

The point is, there are a lot more important things to concern yourself with than some tiny statistical bump you may have (but probably did NOT) caused in ETS's research.

Edited September 10, 2010 by DrFaustus666

[augustquail]

When I took the GRE exam, a few weeks ago, I don't quite remember whether the experimental section was mandatory. I just remember being tired, and in a rush to see my scores. I found myself already answering the questions, not being sure whether I could have elected not to take it to begin with. I tried to exit the section all the time but for some reason it didn't let me. So I just guessed on all questions.

Later, I felt kind of bad about it, knowing that ETS may rely on these things to gather statistical data (and I don't want to corrupt their database in any way).

Should I notify them that this happened?

I would definately not bother with this since the people over at ETS are a bunch of assholes who 1) make way too much $ off tests 2) use your time in order to conduct their research for FREE (i mean, you really pay them in the end!)