Should I Take the GRE? 3 Practical Tips for Prospective Graduate Students

If you’re considering applying to graduate school, a crucial step in that process might be taking the Graduate Record Examination, or the GRE.

The GRE evaluates your academic skills in three different areas: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. All three are major contributors to student success in graduate school, and your performance can help a program determine if you’re likely to thrive there.

But, the system isn’t perfect. Some schools are transitioning away from the GRE because they say it isn’t an accurate measure of preparedness. Studies have also shown that the GRE can put marginalized people groups at a disadvantage because of accessibility concerns and scoring biases.

Why Should I take the GRE?

With some schools ditching the GRE, many students are left wondering if they should still take the test. To help you better gauge if the GRE will benefit you, required or not, we’ve outlined some of the reasons you should add the test to your grad school preparations.

1. It’s still required for admission at many schools.

While more programs than ever are cutting out the GRE, some programs do still require the submission of GRE scores in order to evaluate preparedness. Because graduate programs receive so many applications from students with similar achievements, your GRE score can help them determine how you rank compared to your peers.

Beyond that, the GRE gives schools a good idea of how you perform on tests and how you score in various academic fields.

Pro Tip: You can find some answers to frequently asked questions about the GRE here.

2. It will give you flexibility in applications.

Even if your top programs don’t require the GRE for admission, it might be worth your time to take it anyway for flexibility’s sake. If you aren’t accepted into those programs, or you discover a new program with the test requirement, you’ll be prepared to pivot.

Robust and diverse application prep will help you keep your options open. Plus, you can always retake the GRE if you received a score you aren’t happy with.

3. It will prove to YOU that you’re ready for graduate school.

Long hours of studying for the GRE and sitting for the lengthy exam itself will mimic the long hours of work involved in graduate school. If you can handle the preparation process for the GRE, you might enjoy the independent and self-driven structure of graduate school.

Need a confidence boost? Receiving a quantitative score in key facets of graduate-level education and course work such as verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing will show you that you’re ready for the kind of critical thinking and problem solving required in graduate school.

West Virginia University: giving you the tools to succeed in the GRE and beyond.

For more tips on studying for the GRE, check out our GRE Cheat Sheet eBook. We’ll help you know how to prepare to ace the exam and go on to a successful graduate education experience.

You can also request more information, subscribe to our monthly podcast for tomorrow’s graduate students, or start your online application today.

We can’t wait to help you make your home at WVU!