First time taking a GRE test

[rabolisk]

And I was wondering you can cancel your scores completely. If I retake the test, does the institution see both takes or do they see the best or latest score? I'am considering taking the test in September as their 50% discount means that its not such a huge loss since it's non-refundable.

Thanks.

Edited August 11, 2011 by rabolisk

[Kitkat]

I think the only time you can cancel scores is after you take the test but before you see the score. Otherwise, that score is stuck on your record, and when you send them out they will see both.

[Kitkat]

I wish that were true, but they only go away after 5 years, and thats much larger then the time people normally have between the first time and the retake.....

[runonsentence]

KitKat is right, your schools will see all of your scores. The only way to "cancel" your scores is to elect not to have your scores recorded when you are finished taking the exam. (But again, you don't get to know what your score is before you decide to cancel it.)

I wasn't quite sure from your post whether you've taken the exam before or not... But, if you have and you thought your scores were low—and thought you could do better retaking it—it's still worth it to try retaking the exam. Although schools will see all of your scores on the ETS report, they'll use your best scores when calculating whether you meet any university admission minimums or cutoffs for funding.

What's the point in retaking if schools can just see that you studied harder after doing poorly the first time?

Preparation isn't the only reason people have trouble with the exam, and adcoms know how capricious the experience of taking the GRE can be.

[sollee]

Really? I just assumed they only send the latest, but I guess I was wrong. What's the point in retaking if schools can just see that you studied harder after doing poorly the first time? I wouldn't think that would look good...

Schools see all your scores, but I'd think studying and improving your score would look very good to a school - it shows determination and focus, a willingness to work harder when you fall short. But as another poster said, schools also realize that your GRE score is not solely a representation of how hard you studied; maybe you were sick, maybe you got lost on the way there and arrived flustered, maybe a million scenarios that might have affected your first score.

[rabolisk]

I just checked their website. They say you can cancel your score but they don't mention if you can see your score before canceling it. Can anyone confirm this? If this is true, is there anyway to send your latest GRE score to an institution only?

Can I cancel my scores?

At the end of the test, you will be given the option to cancel your scores. You cannot cancel your score for one section of the test and have the scores for the remaining sections reported. Although you have the option to cancel your scores, consider very carefully before doing so. Your scores will be reported to GRE score recipients only at your request. If you cancel your scores, they will NOT be reported to you or any score recipients and no refund will be made. Canceled scores are not added to your permanent record. If you wish to take the test again, you must reregister and submit another test payment.

If you view your scores at a computer-based GRE revised General Test session, you cannot cancel them at a later date.

http://www.ets.org/g...sed_general/faq

[Kitkat]

I just checked their website. They say you can cancel your score but they don't mention if you can see your score before canceling it. Can anyone confirm this? If this is true, is there anyway to send your latest GRE score to an institution only?

http://www.ets.org/g...sed_general/faq

It says at that link that the scores will not be reported to you or any schools. "If you cancel your scores, they will NOT be reported to you or any score recipients and no refund will be made." So I am assuming that means that you make the decision before you see your scores.

To other posters who were questioning what scores they see when you send out your score report, also from this link they say, "You may choose to send only General Test scores, only Subject Test scores or both scores, but you may not choose to have only those scores from a specific test date reported." And on the website, where they talk about score reporting they say, "GRE score reporting is cumulative. All test scores earned during the five-year period prior to the current testing year (July 1 to June 30) will be included in your cumulative score report and reported to each score recipient you designate."

So basically, all of your General Test scores get sent whether you like it or not.

[kaykaykay]

The next sentence says: If you view your scores at a computer-based GRE revised General Test session, you cannot cancel them at a later date.

If you see your scores: you cannot cancel them- and they will be in your record for five years, they will be sent wherever your newest points are sent. Some institutions only take into account your best scores though, some consider trends, you have to find this out from your university or department.