Introduction
GRE Score Policies:
The GRE General Test and GRE Subject Tests have primarily been designed to assess academic knowledge and skills relevant to graduate study. The GRE Tests are measures with known statistical properties and high-quality technical characteristics. Thus, the scores from these tests, when used properly, can improve graduate admissions and fellowship selection processes.
Score Policies
GRE Score Policies - Score Cancellation by the Test-Taker in Computer-Delivered GRE General Test
At the end of the test, test takers will be given the option to report(view) or cancel their scores. If test takers choose to report their scores, those scores will become a part of reportable history and cannot be canceled. Although test takers have the option to cancel their scores, the test takers should consider very carefully before doing so because the score reporting choices available with the ScoreSelect option allow test takers to report only the scores that they feel reflect their personal best.
Test-Takers cannot cancel their score for one section of the test and have the scores for the remaining sections reported.
Scores will be reported to GRE score recipients only upon the request of the test-taker.
Canceled scores will not be available for review online and are also not reported to any score recipients. No refund will be made.
Canceled scores are not added to the test-takers' reportable history. Anyone who wishes to take the test again, must reregister and submit another test payment
GRE Score Policies - Score Cancellation by the Test-Taker in Paper-Delivered GRE General Test
At the end of the test, test takers will be given the option to report(view) or cancel their scores. If test takers choose to report their scores, those scores will become a part of reportable history and cannot be canceled. Although test takers have the option to cancel their scores, the test takers should consider very carefully before doing so because the score reporting choices available with the ScoreSelect option allow test takers to report only the scores that they feel reflect their personal best.
Test-Takers cannot cancel their score for one section of the test and have the scores for the remaining sections reported.
Scores will be reported to GRE score recipients only upon the request of the test-taker.
Canceled scores will not be available for review online and are also not reported to any score recipients. No refund will be made.
Canceled scores are not added to the test-takers' reportable history. Anyone who wishes to take the test again, must reregister and submit another test payment
GRE Score Policies - Score Reinstatement - Fee US$50
Test-takers can reinstate scores that were once canceled within 60 days after the test date.
Scores can be reinstated Online or through Mail or Fax.
Test-takers can designate up to four free score recipients. If no score recipients are selected, the test taker will have to pay US$27 per recipient to have scores sent at a later date.
Scores will be reinstated and reported approximately two weeks after the request for the computer-delivered test or on the approximate score report mailing date for the paper-delivered test. The scores will be sent to the designated score recipients shortly thereafter.
GRE Score Policies - Absence From a Test
If a test taker is absent from the GRE test, he/she will forfeit the test fee.
Institutions will not receive any information about the absence or about any previous scores that he/she may have on file.
GRE Score Policies - Score Reports Sent to Designated Score Recipients-
Test takers scores will be reported to GRE score recipients only at their request. If test takers choose to report their scores, test takers will be able to view their unofficial Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning scores at the test center. Because of the essay scoring process, test takers will not be able to view their Analytical Writing scores at the time test takers test.
Test centers cannot provide printed copies of unofficial score reports.
After test takers view their scores at the end of the test, test takers will be asked to designate their score recipients and choose the ScoreSelect option regarding which scores should be reported (Most Recent or All scores). If an institution is not listed, ask the test center administrator for the appropriate form to indicate unlisted institutions. Complete the form and turn it in before leaving the test center. The form will not be accepted after test takers leave the test center.
If test takers do not select score recipients on the test day, or test takers would like to send their scores to more than four score recipients, test takers will need to submit an Additional Score Report request for a fee of US$27 per score recipient.
[Click Here] For Ordering Additional Score Reports.
Severe weather conditions or other circumstances beyond the test administrator or ETS's control may require a delayed start or the rescheduling of their test appointment.
In the event that a technical problem at the test center makes it necessary to cancel their test session, or if it is later determined that their scores could not be reported, test takers will be offered the opportunity to schedule another test appointment free of charge or receive a full refund of the original test fee.
In the event of a technical problem at the test center, the test taker may seek reimbursement from ETS for reasonable and documented expenses associated with traveling to the test center, even though technical problems are generally not the fault of ETS.
To request reimbursement, contact GRE Services with the following information within 30 days of the original appointment: test takers name, date of birth, mailing address, daytime telephone number, email address, original test date and registration or CBT appointment number, and a brief description of what occurred at the test center. All reimbursements will be made in U.S. dollars.
GRE Score Policies - Score Reports Sent to Designated Score Recipients-
- The official institution score report, received by candidate's designated recipients (universities chosen by the test taker), will include his/her name, address, email address, phone number, intended graduate major, GRE test scores and associated percentile ranks. It will not include any information concerning the other score recipients (other universities) they have chosen. [ Sample Score Report ]
- The photo and Analytical Writing essay responses of the candidate will also be shared with the designated recipients.
- Institution score reports include only the scores that the candidate selects to send them using the Score Select Option
- If an institution that he/she have designated to receive their scores requests information in ETS’s files be sent to that institution, ETS will send information to those institutions as necessary to detect or prevent unlawful activity and to protect the integrity of the GRE test.
- The Candidate
- The institutions designated by the candidate
- Approved graduate fellowship-granting sponsors designated by the candidate
- Vendors the institutions might designate to process the scores they receive
- Independent reviews by qualified individuals
- Pretesting questions for the GRE® General Test
- Feedback from test takers after they have taken the test
- Careful analysis of performance data on each question after it has been administered in a test
Cancellation
GRE Score Policies - Cancellation of Scores by ETS-
ETS strives to report scores that accurately reflect the performance of every test taker. Accordingly, ETS's standards and procedures for administering tests have two primary goals: giving test takers equivalent opportunities to demonstrate their abilities and preventing any test takers from gaining an unfair advantage over others.
ETS reserves the right to cancel any test score, whether or not it has already been reported, and to take such other actions as ETS deems appropriate, including banning the test taker from future tests and referring the matter to law enforcement authorities, when, in ETS's judgment, a testing irregularity occurs:
- If there is an apparent discrepancy in a test taker's identification.
- If the test taker may have engaged in misconduct, including without limitation having someone else take the test for him/her.
- If obtaining improper access to test questions or answers.
- If disclosing test questions or answers to third parties.
- If any plagiarism, or copying or communication; or the score is invalid for another reason.
- any entity which ETS recognizes as an authorized user of test scores, including without limitation any entity to which ETS reports test scores at the test taker’s request.
- Any government agency with responsibility for administration or enforcement of U.S. criminal and/or immigration laws. When ETS cancels a test score that has already been reported, it notifies score recipients that the score has been canceled and may also explain why the score has been canceled. ETS will provide a copy of the cancellation letter, test takers will receive recipients of their respective scores.
"Testing irregularities" refers to problems with the administration of a test. Testing irregularities may result from actions of test takers, test center personnel, ETS, or from natural or man-made causes. When testing irregularities occur, they may affect an individual or groups of test takers. Such problems include:
- Without limitation, administrative errors (such as improper timing, improper seating, defective materials [e.g., improper test forms], and defective equipment)
- Improper access to test content
- Other disruptions of test administrations (such as natural disasters or other emergencies).
When in ETS's judgment or the judgment of test center administrators there is a discrepancy in a test taker's identification, the test taker may be dismissed from the test center.
In addition, ETS may decline to score the test or cancel the test score if the documents or photos from the test day cannot be validated or if ETS has evidence that he/she did not appear for the test.
ETS will also cancel test takers scores and ban them from future testing and notify score recipients of the cancellation if anomalies are detected after their scores have been reported.
[Click Here] to know more about GRE General Test ID Requirement.
When ETS or test center administrators find that there is misconduct in connection with a test, the test taker may be dismissed from the test center, or ETS may decline to score the test, or may cancel the test score.
Misconduct includes but is not limited to noncompliance with the Test Center Procedures and Regulations. Test takers whose scores are canceled will forfeit their test fees and must pay to take the entire GRE test again at a future administration. No record of the score cancellations, or the reason for cancellation, will appear on their future score reports sent to colleges, universities and/or fellowship sponsors.
ETS may also cancel scores if, in its judgment, there is substantial evidence that they are invalid for any other reason.
Substantial evidence means evidence that is sufficient to persuade a reasonable person; the substantial evidence standard is lower (i.e., requires less proof) than the reasonable doubt, clear and convincing, and preponderance of the evidence standards. Evidence of invalid scores may include, without limitation, discrepant handwriting, unusual answer patterns and inconsistent performance on different parts of the test. Before canceling scores pursuant to this paragraph, ETS notifies the test taker in writing about its concerns, gives the test taker an opportunity to submit information that addresses ETS's concerns, considers any such information submitted and offers the test taker a choice of options.
The options may include:
- Voluntary score cancellation
- A free retest
- A voucher for a future test or arbitration in accordance with ETS's standard Arbitration Agreement.
Note:
✦ The retest option is available only to test takers in the United States, U.S. Territories and Canada. The arbitration option is available only to test takers who test in the United States and U.S. Territories.
Test takers essay responses on the Analytical Writing section will be reviewed by ETS essay-similarity-detection software and by experienced essay readers during the scoring process. In light of the high value placed on independent intellectual activity within graduate schools and universities, test takers essay response should represent the original work. ETS reserves the right to cancel test scores of any test taker when an essay response includes any of the following:
- Text that is unusually similar to that found in one or more other GRE essay responses
- Quoting or paraphrasing, without attribution, language that appears in any published or unpublished sources, including sources from the Internet and/or sources provided by any third party;
- Unacknowledged use of work that has been produced through collaboration with others without citation of the contribution of others.
- Essays submitted as work of the test taker that appear to have been borrowed in whole or in part from elsewhere or prepared by another person.
Score Use
GRE Score Policies - Test Fairness and Score Use-
The tests and test scores are fair for all test takers regardless of the location of the GRE aspirant and group membership. Also, a set of Score Use Guidelines was developed by the GRE Board to ensure the appropriate use of GRE test scores designed to encourage institutions to use GRE scores appropriately.