Should I Take It Again?

[tomsmonticello]

I plan on applying to Masters programs in Political Science mainly abroad, but I will be applying to some U.S. universities. I took the GRE twice in 2009 and twice in 2010. My scores, I felt, did not fully reflect my ability and were on the low end of what the top programs look for. The mouth section was my biggest weakness. On the writing section, though, I received a 5.0 twice and a 5.5 twice.

 

Since it has been so long since I took the test, do you recommend I retake the new GRE? Or since I'm primarily focusing abroad, will it make a difference?

[dworkable]

If you feel that you scores do not accurately reflect your ability, then I think you should retake. With admissions as competitive as they are, it is important both for your sanity and your chances that you have faith in every part of your application.

In political science, both math and verbal scores are important. (AW, your higher score, seems to often be less so.) It is interesting that you have taken the GRE so many times but feel that your scores did not reflect your ability: it might be useful to invest in studying a lot and taking many practice tests! (I know the act of sitting in a room for four hours made me crazy...but grad school applications are just hoop after hoop to jump through.) In the end, do what will make you proud of your application but also allow you to apply on time.

[tomsmonticello]

Thanks for the reply. I did not prepare as much as I should have, number one, and, number two, I typically do not do well with those types of generalized exams. All through undergrad I grew accustomed to written examination. So it was difficult nut to crack all around. In addition, I hear that the new format could benefit test takers like me.

[Usmivka]

I disagree. The GRE is only one part of an application, and certainly not the most important one. Really, it only matters insofar as making "drop dead" cutoffs--above a certain threshold, nobody cares if you go up an extra 5%, programs know that standardized tests aren't the best indicator of graduate success. Further, scores rarely change much with repeated testing (5% up if everything goes great, but check the ETS website for more recent stats). I realize that ETS is now allowing test takers to pick and choose which scores are sent (they really want your money), so repeated testing no longer makes your application look bad (as it did as recently as a year ago), but at some point you are just throwing money down a pit for limited gains. Spend your time and effort publishing your current research, making a great statement of purpose, applying for fellowships. All of these are more important and will strengthen your application much more that whatever slight bump you can glean on the GRE.

 

EDIT: Particularly if you aren't strong at standardized exams, you shouldn't be wasting more time on the GRE. Address it in your statement of purpose. The new format won't be any better for you.

Edited January 5, 2013 by Usmivka

[dworkable]

I also think that Usmivka gives good advice...ultimately it is up to you to do what will make you feel best about your chances. If there is another part of your application that could use the money/time then by all means, focus on that!

In your initial post you said you were at the low end of what top programs look for: that could be interpreted as being near the unofficial cutoff or near the average. If you're in the realm of the average, then you are probably fine. If you're close to the cut-off, then it's scarier...GRE is not the biggest piece of the puzzle but it is impossible to know what any one professor on the adcomm will value. (I just know that I would hate to be rejected and feel that I could have done better. But...possibly projecting my own feelings onto you oops)

[midnight]

Another issue to consider is that you'll be taking the revised GRE, so even though you've taken the GRE four times, you haven't taken the current version at all. The verbal is very different now (albeit easier IMO), and the AW no longer lets you pick your topic and gives you less time for the issue essay.

 

Personally I think the new GRE is more intuitive than the old, so it may be worth a shot. I love that the new GRE lets you skip around and come back to hard questions. The new GRE also has the Score Select option and a diagnostic rundown of questions you missed that's available once you receive your official scores, both of which are helpful.

 

I took the old version in July 2011 and the new in November 2012; my verbal and quant scores went up--quant significantly--after some directed studying and practice.

 

If you have the time, energy, and money, go for it.

Edited January 5, 2013 by midnight streetlight

[tomsmonticello]

Another issue to consider is that you'll be taking the revised GRE, so even though you've taken the GRE four times, you haven't taken the current version at all. The verbal is very different now (albeit easier IMO), and the AW no longer lets you pick your topic and gives you less time for the issue essay.

 

Personally I think the new GRE is more intuitive than the old, so it may be worth a shot. I love that the new GRE lets you skip around and come back to hard questions. The new GRE also has the Score Select option and a diagnostic rundown of questions you missed that's available once you receive your official scores, both of which are helpful.

 

I took the old version in July 2011 and the new in November 2012; my verbal and quant scores went up--quant significantly--after some directed studying and practice.

 

If you have the time, energy, and money, go for it.

 

I've heard similar things about the new format; verbal is my strongest area and I feel that I could improve this score given the new format. At the same time quantitative was my most challenging section and the changes could benefit me in that regard.

 

And, if I understand correctly, the score report would include only the scores from my latest section rather than all of my scores to date. Is this correct?

[midnight]

I've heard similar things about the new format; verbal is my strongest area and I feel that I could improve this score given the new format. At the same time quantitative was my most challenging section and the changes could benefit me in that regard.

 

And, if I understand correctly, the score report would include only the scores from my latest section rather than all of my scores to date. Is this correct?

 

Re: scores: If you choose that option, yes, schools will only see your current score.