3 Common Misconceptions About the GRE

Guest post: David Recine

The GRE is one of the most well-known graduate school entrance exams in the world. Still, there are a number of misunderstandings about this important test. Today, we’ll look at three common misconceptions about the GRE… and the real truths behind these myths.

Misconception #1: The GRE is necessary for all US and Canadian graduate programs. 

Many students feel like they need to take the GRE before they can even think of going to graduate school. This is a mistake. It’s better to investigate the graduate programs you want to go to before you begin any GRE prep. Some graduate programs require the GRE, but there are also plenty that don’t.

Grad programs in mathematics and science-heavy fields are more likely to require the GRE. Master’s and doctoral programs in the humanities—areas such as creative writing, social work or literature – are less likely to ask for GRE scores. Also, an Ivy League school or a similarly elite non-Ivy institution are more likely to require the GRE, compared to a mid-tier school or midsized public university. And of course, graduate business programs usually ask for the GMAT instead of the GRE.

So before you start your GRE studies, make sure you actually need to take the GRE. This exam is a common requirement, but it is not a universal requirement.

Misconception #2: It’s possible to “fail” or “pass” the GRE. 

It’s possible to get GRE scores that are below the minimum for the university you apply to. But you can’t “pass” or “fail” the GRE in the same way that you could pass or fail a university exam or professional certification test.

In fact, you won’t even get a “whole test” score. In older versions of the test, students did receive a single score for the whole exam. But the redesigned GRE only gives section scores. Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and the Academic Writing Assessment are all scored separately.

Moreover, every graduate program has different GRE scoring standards. A GRE score that is too low for one program may be high enough for admission into another program. There are no universal “pass” or “fail” GRE benchmarks that apply to all schools.

It is even sometimes possible to exceed a school’s minimum GRE score requirement and still get waitlisted or turned away. This is because the GRE scores are not the only factor that schools consider. Where university admissions are concerned, “passing” is not simply a matter of your GRE score. For that matter, you can have a low GRE score and still get accepted, if you have a good undergrad GPA, impressive work experience, and so on.

Misconception # 3: GRE preparation materials are expensive. 

OK, this misconception is partly true. Certainly, some GRE prep resources do cost a lot of money. But the best GRE study materials – the official ones from the makers of the exam – are surprisingly affordable. If you search the web for “GRE PowerPrep”, you’ll get a wonderful free study resource from ETS. ETS’s web-based GRE PowerPrep service offers tons of practice questions. And ETS’s Official Guide books for the GRE are US$20 new, and much cheaper if you buy them used.

David Recine is a GRE Expert at Magoosh, a website that helps students prepare for the GRE and other exams. David and his colleagues know that GRE fees can add up quickly, so they offer affordable GRE prep and lots of free resources.