Done with school? Now is the perfect time to uncover the opportunities that graduate schools have for you. We all have a dream school to graduate from, don’t we? And all graduate schools have their admission tests, and some ask for GRE score reports while some for other standardized tests. If you are into business or law, you are one step away from getting into your desired school, and that’s GRE.
‘When should I take the GRE’ or ‘what is the best time to take the GRE’ are the most asked questions of students before applying to a graduate school. Remember, you cannot make this decision in a rush, and it’s not a good way either. Today we have made a complete student step-by-step guide to help you decide when is the best time to take the GRE.
Let’s read it and make the best decision together!
Before worrying about the GRE or any other exam, choose the graduate schools you want to apply to. Make a list of a maximum of 3 to 4 graduate schools that offer the major you want to study. We have asked to make a list of 3 to 4 schools because it’s better to have options. However, keep your desired university on the top.
Take the help of your internet buddy to gather all the information about graduate schools, like how much GRE score is required and other data for admission purposes. Make sure you have enough resources and academic history of being a part of a specific university. Once you are sure about your graduate school and program, you are ready for the next step.
If graduate schools have admission deadlines like spring, fall, summer, or winter terms, the GRE has registration deadlines. The best practice is to note down the dates and time limits you have for all schools. Remember, your process of applying for graduate schools and taking the GRE test should be deadline-driven. Give yourself at least four to five months to prepare for the GRE. As the score reporting process of GRE also takes three weeks to reach the university mailrooms and your relevant departments, you must consider all of these time durations to prevent any mismanagement later.
For example, if a graduate school application’s due date is February, you should take your GRE in December or ideally in October. This gap is to deal with the unhappy circumstances, like just in case if your GRE score didn’t meet your expectations, you can avail the retake opportunity. Yes, the GRE offers so, and we’ll discuss it later in this blog.
GRE full form is Graduate Record Examination. It is taken globally to measure the applicants’ argumentative writing, critical thinking, arithmetic, logical reasoning, strategic reading, paraphrasing, and advanced vocabulary skills. It has three sections:
We sincerely advise you to discover everything you should know, like exam format, sections, timings, scoring criteria, and preparation courses. However, there are a few reliable academic platforms in Hong Kong that offer GRE training or preparation classes online and privately, and one of them is My Tutor Source. They have a great list of exceptional and expert GRE tutors who help students understand everything about the GRE and teach them to attain a high score on the first attempt.
Another essential thing to consider to get the answer to when you should be taking the GRE is figuring out whether you are ready for the GRE or not. There are many other questions you also need to ask yourself to make a clear and correct decision. After finding out all the due dates, count the months or days you have for GRE preparation today. GRE cannot be prepared in three weeks; you need a maximum of four to five months to refine your skills or a minimum of three months. Ensure you have enough time, resources, and energy to stick to a rigorous study plan to achieve the desired score.
You can take the GRE at home or at the testing centers nearby. If you have a GRE testing center at a reasonable distance, we suggest you register your seat. However, taking an exam from home is not a bad idea either but make sure you meet their home testing equipment and environment requirements.
Nobody knows your learning style, daily routine, and current condition better than you, so take a moment and examine it all and reflect on whether your circumstances support you and do you have ample time to focus on GRE preparation or not. Because you see any red flag, don’t take the risk. It’s better to hold off or wait for the next exam date than waste your time, money, or energy and regret later.
The best time to take the GRE is when you are ready. Be sure about your graduate school goals, explore and take GRE preparation courses to master your skills. We would recommend you to take the GRE helping material or prep course first before registering for it. Once you are sure about your preparation, you will know. It will be worth your while to figure things out and then pick the GRE test day.
In the perfect world, you are all set for taking the GRE, and it’s time to register yourself. It is an essential step and takes 15 to 20 minutes only. No need to move places; the internet is doing it for us. Go to the GRE official website and make an account, and set up your username and password. Your personal and credit card information will be required to fill in the form and to register yourself. Choose the GRE testing center and dates that suit you. Verify the details and pay the fee. Once you get the confirmation mail, you are done.
You can log in to your account anytime to check updates, so don’t forget your credentials.
As told before, the GRE allows you to take the exam five times with a gap of 21 days within 365 days. Isn’t it great? Indeed, it is.
To get into a dream graduate school, students often take the GRE more than twice. You can also avail this opportunity without losing hope after the first bad score. Not getting the desired score on the first attempt also works in your favor; you learned where you need improvement. So, avail the GRE retake opportunity.
At some point, you must have thought of not taking the GRE and choosing an alternative way. GRE might be hard, but it opens the windows of opportunities for test-takers. We have mentioned all the important factors to consider before jumping to a conclusion. Take a look at your daily schedule, make a GRE study plan, and start working on polishing all the skills required for GRE. Learn the GRE day strategies and rules beforehand and get ready to hit the highest scores.
