When planning for a career abroad, Graduate Record Exam (GRE), is a standardized exam taken up by students where four abilities verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, and critical thinking skills are tested. GRE is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), who introduced a computer based GRE exam in 2011.
With introduction of computer based GRE exam, the scoring pattern was altered and also, special focus was led on reasoning skills and critical thinking of both quantitative and qualitative sections.
Since the emergence of computer based test, students wanting to take up the GRE exam needs to make an initial decision of whether to opt for the computer based GRE exam or the paper version.
Here’s clearly stating one solid reason how each kind of GRE exam – computer and paper has their own unique benefits.
| Benefit of Paper Based GRE Exam |
|---|
| The benefit of paper based GRE exam is students have scope of going through the entire paper and altering answers as they wish. Hence, the scoring opportunity is more when one takes up the paper based GRE exam. |
Yet, the total number of GRE applicants is greater in the computer based exam. How is taking up this format of GRE exam extra beneficial? Here’s a solid reason.
| Benefit of Computer Based GRE Exam |
|---|
| The number of times and number of locations in which this exam is conducted is more than paper based GRE exam. This makes computer based GRE exam more easy and convenient to apply for most candidates. |
Here are the differences between computer and paper based GRE exam.
| Points of Difference | Paper Based GRE Exam | Computer Based GRE Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Report/Score | Marks of paper based GRE exam is conveyed after 6 weeks from the test taking day. | For computer based GRE exam test takers, scores of Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning are given out on the day of the exam (unofficially). Analytical and Writing score of computer based GRE exam is given out in 10-15 days from the test taking day. |
| Access and availability | Paper based GRE exam is conducted three times in an academic year. | This exam is conducted all through the year, over different locations across the globe. |
| Preparation tips | When preparing for paper based GRE exam, you can lend your entire focus on the core GRE syllabus and continue preparing. | When preparing for computer based GRE exam, its important to be familiar with the electronic machine, the exam pages, rules and formats. Online platforms like BenchPrep allows students to take demo computer based GRE exam. Its important to practice these when there is time in hand, for no technical glitches to happen on the GRE test day. |
| GRE Subject test | GRE Subject test is only conducted in paper format. | This form of GRE exam does not allow special subject based GRE exam. |
The similarities between computer based and paper based GRE exam are as follows:
a) Both are conducted by the ETS.
b) Both the GRE test score are valid for 5 months.
c) Candidates can apply for re-test in both types of GRE exam.
The decision whether to opt for the computer based or paper based GRE exam depends on the capability and convenience of applicants. Both form of the GRE exam are accepted for pursuing higher education.
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