<p>Son took computer based GRE yesterday. He thinks that GRE is a rip-off. In addition he thought that since GRE is computer based it is more stressfull than paper based SAT - He personally was more stressed. In paper based SAT you have the ability to go back and correct your answer or if you have skipped a question you can answer that, but in computer based one you hit enter - the question is gone. He also thinks that in GRE it is slightly better to be wrong later (say question # 33) than question # 1. If you are wrong early, the program thinks that you are stupid. (he scored lower than SAT :(</p>
<p>Why did he think it was a rip-off???</p>
<p>I took my standardized exams (SAT, LSAT, GRE) in the dark ages (my LSAT was on a 800 scale!) and I have to admit I’m glad I don’t have to take the computer version of the exams. I, too, liked the luxury of going back to correct errors/leave some blanks to be filled in later.</p>
<p>It is too expensive.</p>
<p>Simba, that is how it works, the latter questions given depends on how well you answered the previous questions, so it is better to get the first couple of questions correct to get a good score. Tell him to practice more, it is actually easy to get 800 if you know how the system works.</p>
<p>My bubble-queen daughter thought it was great! Finished in half the time, 800 on the verbal (no surprise), 760 on the math (she hadn’t taken a math course in 6 years), which is higher than the average grad student entering at Caltech or MIT (she is doing grad work in musicology/Italian Renaissance studies).</p>
<p>Does it prove anything? We both agree it is an absurdity. But, for some reason, many grad schools seem to use it as the tiebreaker when awarding graduate fellowships. But it would be nice for her to get a part-time job taking bubble tests.</p>
<p>“Why did he think it was a rip-off???”</p>
<p>$130 ? SAT may act as an equalizers amongst thousands of HS, but GRE? He thinks that graduate admissions are mainly GPA and Rec driven.</p>
<p>mini he would have like her verbal.</p>
<p>Simba:</p>
<p>Molliebatmit had some GRE advice which was to concentrate on the first ten questions on the exam and making sure they were answered correctly. I agree about the penalty associated with answering wrongly. Unfortunately, my S is the type to answer easy questions wrongly!</p>
<p>The importance of the GRE score depends a great deal on department and individuals. Some use the GRE scores for triage; others barely glance at the scores. </p>
<p>The cost is definitely a rip-off.</p>
<p>well. In GRE there is no double penalty like SAT.</p>