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Here you'll learn about recent and possible future changes in the test, and what changes might be in store for the GRE scoring and reporting process.
Prior to Spring of 2007, ETS had planned to implement extensive revisions to the General GRE, all at the same time. The planned revisions (all of which were to take effect sometime in 2006) were to include, among others, the following:
Verbal Ability
- Eliminating Analogy and Antonym test items
- Expanding Sentence Completions to incorporate several 1- to 5-sentence passages each with either two or three fill-in blanks, three choices per blank
- Incorporating paragraph-length arguments with questions desgned to gauge your ability to follow an argument's line of reasoning and to identify and distinguish between an argument's premises, intermediate conclusions, and final conclusion
Quantitative Ability
- Incorporating numeric-entry questions
- Incorporating multiple-choice, multiple-blank questions
In Spring of 2007, ETS decided instead to phase in the above-listed revisions (and others) over a multi-year period. Beginning in November of 2007, GRE test takers may encounter one (but no more than one) test question of one of the following two types:
- Verbal Ability — one complex text completion item, which involves a 1-5 sentence passage with either two or three fill-in blanks, three choices per blank (no partial credit will be given for selecting less than all of the correct choices)
- Quantitative Ability — one numeric entry question, a type of Problem Solving question for which the test taker enters an number response (e.g., "125" or "-14.2") using the keyboard rather than select among multiple choices
Until further notice by the testing service, some test takers will encounter one complex text-completion item; some test takers will encounter one numeric entry question; and some test takers will encounter neither question type on their exam. In any event, No test taker will encounter both question types.
NOTE: Initially, the two new question types will NOT be scored. Once the testing service obtains a sufficiently large sample of responses to these questions (we're not informed when that will occur), these new questions will begin to count toward GRE scores. The testing services advises test takers to treat these new questions as if they are scored.
During the years ahead, the exam will incorporate an increasing number of both question types. Eventually, ETS will also implement more extensive revisions per its earlier plan. Don't worry; the testing service will provide prospective test takers ample notice of any such changes.
Also, ETS plans to provide test-taker essay responses to all score recipients (test-takers and schools) at some point. Finally, ETS is currently exploring further refinements in the computer-based GRE and in the scoring and reporting process. Possible future refinements include: - Customizing GRE scores for each school. For example, if a particular school determines that Reading Comprehension should be weighted more heavily than Antonyms, scores can automatically be adjusted accordingly. (Currently, separate scores are not reported for the different components within the Quantitative and Verbal sections.)
- Incorporating questions that measure other cognitive abilities.
- Refining the computer-adaptive algorithm to allow test-takers to review previous questions and/or change responses to questions.
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