<p>I just took the GRE and while I was working on my last section (quantitative), the proctor told me to skip it because she was sure that the last section is always the unscored research section. I was about 2/3 done and I took her advice and skipped (not a wise thing to do).</p>
<p>After getting my score, I suspect that the section she told me to skip was actually the scored section. Filed a complaint with ETS and was told that it would take 7-10 business days for them to review my case.</p>
<p>So I was wondering if anyone has had similar problems and how did ETS resolve the issues? If it turns out that the section that I skipped was the scored section, would ETS allow a retake for that one section? Or would they administer the entire exam again?</p>
<p>It should be quite clear which quant section is unscored. The questions should be abnormal and rather unfamiliar if you ever took a practice exam (my unscored quant section featured a calculator and had me type in fractions and decimals).</p>
<p>oops… I guess I should define skip a little better… I only finished 2/3 of the exam, exiting the section around question #18. </p>
<p>What I’m afraid of is the section that I did not complete was actually the scored section and not the research section that the proctor claims it to be.</p>
<p>yea… it was hard for me to tell because both sections seem relatively the same and similar to the ones in the powerprep software with all the comparisons and data interpretation stuff. none of the questions require me to use a calculator.</p>
<p>Sorry, I realized I misinterpreted you and deleted that first post. </p>
<p>That sounds odd to me. Usually the unscored section is used to test different types of questions. In any case, I guess you’ll find out your answer within a couple weeks.</p>
<p>The research section for me was clearly labeled as such – including mention that I could skip it without consequence and that a certain number of people would be entered in a drawing for a cash reward if their score was higher on that one than on their scored section. For me, the research section was just another argument essay (i.e. half the analytical writing section) so it was also clear from that it was not scored. However, I may have had a research section as opposed to an experimental section.</p>
<p>From Princeton Review book: “One of the … sections was experimental, though of course we don’t know which one.”
“The GRE will occasionally include a research section. This section will always be the final section of the test, will be optional, and will be clearly identified. ETS uses this section to test out new oddball questions. Nothing you do on the research section–including skipping it–will change your score in any way.”</p>
<p>Perhaps your proctor confused the experimental (which 50% chance would be the one that counts) with research (0% chance it would count).</p>
<p>I gave the GRE twice. The first time, the very last section of the entire exam was the experimental/research section as it was stated explicitly.</p>
<p>The second time I gave the GRE, there was absolutely NO mention of which section was the experimental section. So I had to do all three (Quantitative, Verbal, Quantitative).</p>
<p>Before I even wrote the first GRE, I had the impression that the research section is always unidentified so as to garner equal attention and effort by the test-takers. Of course I was surprised when the software explicitly informed me of the experimental section and how skipping it would be of no consequence.</p>
<p>I was expecting the same the second time around, but as I said, all three sections after the Analytical section were completely unidentified and I was given no indication whatsoever about the experimental section.</p>
<p>MatthewM04 is right. apparently, there are two types of unscored sections - the research section which always appear at the end and they will explicitly tell you that you can skip OR the unidenfitifed experimental section which can appear anytime after the writing part </p>
<p>sucks really… I finally got a reply from ETS today and they confirmed everything; the proctor told me to skip the wrong section, so i’m offered a free retake…</p>
<p>and ETS said a request to cancel the previous score has to be reported separately… so now, i’m wondering if i should request for my previous score to be cancelled or letting it be…</p>
<p>1) After the analytical section, you did a Quantitative, Verbal and then a Quantitative which you skipped, correct?</p>
<p>2) You saw your score and suspected that the section you skipped was probably not the experimental section … this is because your Quantitative score was worse than you expected for the first section (if it were not experimental) and definitely on par with the latter Quantitative section which you did not complete … is this correct?</p>
<p>3) How was your Verbal score? If it was really really good, then I’d keep the score, given that your Analytical score was decent as well. You can tell the graduate school that there was a mix-up with the Quantitative section.</p>
<p>4) Try to do well on the Quantitative section on the re-take and they will consider this one knowing that there was a mix-up with the last one. Just try not to bomb the Verbal section this time around.</p>
<p>1) After the analytical section, you did a Quantitative, Verbal and then a Quantitative which you skipped, correct?</p>
<p>Yes</p>
<p>2) You saw your score and suspected that the section you skipped was probably not the experimental section … this is because your Quantitative score was worse than you expected for the first section (if it were not experimental) and definitely on par with the latter Quantitative section which you did not complete … is this correct?</p>
<p>Yes again, and ETS just confirmed the incomplete section is the scored section</p>
<p>3) How was your Verbal score? If it was really really good, then I’d keep the score, given that your Analytical score was decent as well. You can tell the graduate school that there was a mix-up with the Quantitative section.</p>
<p>I thought my verbal score was pretty good (640). I don’t know what admission officers will think of it. I’m applying for PhD programs in biological sciences, so I reckon the verbal score is good enough to apply. I don’t know yet about my writing, but I think it would be around a 5?</p>
<p>A 640 is quite a decent score for biosci. I would definitely keep the scores and just make sure you don’t bomb it the second time. Give a very brief explanation of the score in your app. You should be fine.</p>