Vast improvement! ...In the wrong section.

[wardword]

The first time I took the GRE, I took it without studying and got:

V: 162

Q: 151

 

I was totally disappointed with how low the math score was and I know I stink at math. (I haven't taken a math class since high school and it was always my worst subject.) So I rescheduled, put the verbal on the side, and studied my butt off for math. Well, I just took the test today and I got:

V:170

Q: 154

 

So NOT studying for the verbal actually gave me a perfect score, and all that work in math only gave me a lousy three points? At this point, I think I'm just going to keep my score, but I am VERY curious to know if anyone is considering taking the GRE a third time after minimal improvement in the area they want. Is it worth it to give it one more go and triple my efforts in math, or should I just accept my own limitations?

 

I'm not applying to any high-ranked schools and I'm going for applied linguistics. I don't think it is that intense of a math field and none of the schools I am applying to give a range for GRE scores. Should I be okay?

Edited October 24, 2013 by wardword

[sacklunch]

Damn. You are golden. I bow to your scores! 

[Cesare]

I took it three times. 1st scores expired, 2nd scores I bombed the math and only scored 1 point higher (based on the score conversion table) than on the old test despite practice tests suggesting 164+. Took a third and final time - Math and Verbal where I want them to be (160s), but then I saw a dramatic drop (4.5) in the AWA (the prompt was stupid/difficult). I refuse to take it a 4th time. 

[wardword]

I think ETS has gotten all the money they're going to get out of me.

I should mention that both times now, I've had 'frozen' tests, where I lose about twenty seconds to a minute. Neither one of them really affected me, so I didn't even bother trying to get a free test, but I can see how that could really screw someone over.

 

And furtivemode, I'm gonna be honest, I think a lot of it REALLY is luck. My verbal questions were so easy that I thought I hadn't even made it to the highest difficulty questions. For some reason, I just got easier passages this time. 

 

But the math is just all over the place. The first time, I missed every single 'counting' and combination/permutation question. The second time, I didn't get a single one! I'll still think about if I want to re-take for the math score, but I am not optimistic at all that my math will get any better.

[awells27]

LOL 170 verbal.  I'll gladly trade you my 164 verbal/160 math.  My adcomms don't even look at math unless it's abysmal.  If you get 5.5 or higher on AW you might be in the running for funding.  I would think linguistics would be a heavily verbal field.  This just goes to show how reckless an endeavor the GRE really is.  I've heard these stories over and over again.  I know someone who had the exact opposite.  They needed a high verbal score, focused almost exclusively on that, and got 95th percentile math and average verbal.  A 170 is worth keeping.  Man I want that score.  

[Maleficent999]

Agreed, sounds like the verbal is probably most important in your field. I'd guess that a perfect score in either area seriously outweighs anything that is lacking in another on the GRE.