When & How To Take The GRE

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Before making plans to study abroad, you need to seek answers to some challenging questions. The first step is the most difficult one, as most aspirants wonder – what is the right time to take the GRE and, more importantly – How much time does it take to prepare for the GRE? The answers to these questions can be complicated as the needs of every student are different, depending on the student’s profile and the university intake deadline. An experienced admission consultant like Jamboree could help the aspirant by perspicuously guiding students on how much time is required to prepare for GRE.

For example, suppose the GRE aspirant targets to meet the Fall intake deadline of the university of his choice. In that case, you must schedule the Test between March to October of the previous year. It will give you sufficient time to prepare for university applications based on the GRE score obtained. As the GRE score is valid for five years, taking the GRE test 3-4 months before the university intake deadline would give you adequate time.

In this Blog:

1.    When to take the GRE
2.    Things to consider before scheduling GRE
3.    Importance of GRE
4.    How to take the GRE?
5.    Don’t rush your application- Take time

When to take the GRE?

So, when is the right time to take the GRE? The answer depends on the time you have for the targeted deadline and the type of applicant you are.

Here are some scenarios based on the kind of GRE applicant you are

1. Undergrad Students – Students planning to study abroad after finishing their Bachelor’s degree should take the GRE, preferably in the second last year of college. Ensure there is no gap in the study, and you get ample time to prepare along with your undergrad coursework. All you need to do is find a balance between GRE preparation and Undergraduate studies.
2. Working Professionals – The preparation for the GRE is a challenge for working professionals as dedicating a lot of time might not be possible. The Online prep could be beneficial with a flexible online study schedule based on your requirements. Still, the aspirant should be mindful of the university deadline and work experience requirements.

As the GRE takes place throughout the year – anytime is a good time for taking GRE. But remember, well-planned preparation reaps the high benefits – good results and sufficient time for preparing Letters of recommendation and writing university essays.

Things to consider before scheduling the GRE

The GRE aspirants should consider critical factors like university intake deadline & requirements and their target GRE Score before scheduling the test.

1. University intake deadline & requirements

The goals should be clear when you decide to study abroad and gear up for scheduling the GRE tests. The GRE score requirements may vary based on your target university and program. In universities abroad, there are various intake dates.

The most common intakes are – Fall and Spring intake. The fall starts around September and ends in December, whereas the Spring intake starts in January and ends in May. The exact dates may vary based on the institution. There are also options for ‘Early applicant’ and minor intake ‘Rolling deadlines’ provided by some universities.

The fall intake is the most preferred as it works well for those who have completed their school and are doing their undergrad in India. Indian students looking for a Master’s or PhD in research-based domains also prefer fall intake, as it’s a more feasible time for acquiring an internship or assistantship. For fall intake – There are a more significant number of courses offered, more chances of acceptance, and more job opportunities.

2. Set Your Target Score

Setting a clear target GRE score would help plan your preparation and decide when to take the GRE. Give yourself enough time to retake the test if you did not meet your target score on the first attempt.

The other factor that needs to be considered before scheduling the test is the time required for preparing university admission applications and related documents. Based on a profile assessment and your target study abroad destinations. Jamboree can assist you in planning your prep and guide you to pick the right time to take the GRE.

Importance of GRE

The most important part of the admission application process is your GRE score and academic profile. A high GRE score supported by strong academics could boost your chances of acceptance. Universities abroad generally ask for a GRE score as mandatory criteria for admission into the MS, PhD and even some Business Management programs.

The GRE score provides a standardized objective measure to compare applicants from different backgrounds and supports the institution’s efforts to find academically prepared applicants for graduate study.

How to take the GRE?

Educational Testing Service (ETS) conducts and administers the GRE under the guidance of the Graduate Record Examination Board. GRE

You can register for the GRE on ets.org. So, visit the ETS Website

1. Create your account
2. Fill up your information
3. Set username and password
4. Register for your appointment – Choose the Test centre or register for GRE Test at home
5. Select your GRE date and time
6. Verify the entered details
7. Pay the GRE registration fees

Click here to know more about the GRE Exam pattern and GRE Test preparation,

Before you register, it is always a good idea to take GRE diagnostic assessments and GRE mock tests. The GRE Diagnostic test will give you an exact idea of how prepared you are for the GRE Test and the areas you need to work on.

Based on your assessment, plan your test prep and schedule your test. Prepare a plan based on your strengths & weaknesses and the time you want to dedicate for the test prep 0-3 months, 3-6 months, or more than 6 months.

Don’t rush your application- Take time

The university application process takes time, and rushing your application could hamper your acceptance chances. So, take time before you apply. Here are some tips that can help you.

1. Make sure you have time to retake the GRE – If you didn’t get the desired score and feel you could do better if you retake the test. Please go for it. Retaking the test doesn’t affect your chances. Make sure you have enough time to study and retake the test to meet the deadline.
2. Consider the time frame and deadline for sending the scores –  It takes two weeks to generate a GRE score. You are given your GRE Verbal and Quantitative section score on the exam day on the spot, but the AWA score takes time. Official Test Scores are submitted via ETS, which takes around five days to 3 weeks. Universities take roughly a week to reflect upon their scores and application. So it would be best if you were ready with your application and scores well before university deadlines.
3. Need time to prepare for and appear in the TOEFL or IELTS. Report generation and submission take at least two weeks for a language proficiency score.
4. Book your test date and centre well in advance – Close to the intake dates, there is a massive rush to book preferred dates. So, book the slot to streamline your preparation schedule, giving yourself sufficient time to prepare.

The right time to schedule the GRE Test varies for every individual. All you need to consider is to give yourself sufficient time to prepare and get a score with a complete profile, admission application, and required IELTS/TOFEL score. Jamboree guides GRE aspirants to schedule a Test prep plan and build speed, accuracy, and stamina for the test. Jamboree′s Online Test Prep packages like GRE live for Online classroom like prep, GRE online, which provides prep flexibility, and GRE Test series with dedicated Vocab Tool: Optimized for the GRE.

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