The Classroom Higher Education Prep Computerized GRE Scores Vs. Written

The paper and computer versions of theGRE are different.

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The Graduate Record Examination, familiarly known as the GRE,is the the most common standardized test required for admissionto graduate school. The non-profit Education Testing Service, orETS, designs and administers a computer and a paper version ofthe exam to help graduate schools decide which students toadmit. Although ETS claims that the two versions are functionallyidentical, there are a few important differences between thepaper and computer tests. It's possible that these differencesmay affect GRE scores.

Familiarity of PaperMost prospective graduate school applicants are familiar withpaper-based standardized tests. Almost all tests administered ingrade school and college entrance exams like the SAT and ACTare conducted on paper. Consequently, many students feel morecomfortable sticking with paper exams as they apply to graduateschool. Extra familiarity might seem insignificant, but University ofCalifornia, Berkeley psychologist John Kihlstrom says it might bevery important. The psychological principle of contextdependency suggests that people perform better on tests infamiliar environments. Students do better on exams when theytake them in the same room where they attended class, forexample. Context dependency implies that students mightpreform better on paper exams than computerized exams,Kihlstrom says.

Skipping and Returning to QuestionsWhile skipping questions is possible on the computerized GRE,it's more difficult than on the paper version. Students familiar withstandardized tests know that skipping difficult questions andreturning to them later can be an effective strategy to boostscores. Community college instructor Jim Wright notes thatsaving harder questions for the end allows students to answer

more easy questions on a time-limited test. On a paper test, skipping questions is very easy becausestudents can circle unanswered questions and find them again. The computerized GRE, however,

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Computerized GRE Scores Vs. Writtenby Nick Robinson, Demand Media

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presents only one question at a time. Students can skip ahead and return, but it requires more extensivemaneuvering. That can waste time and may increase the odds of accidentally leaving a questionunanswered.

Convenience and LocationConvenience is a potential advantage for the computerized GRE. Graduate school applicants can takethe computer version at hundreds of testing centers around the United States any time the local center isopen for business. According to ETS, the paper tests are only offered on specific dates three times peryear. Students who need flexibility in scheduling their tests will find the computer version much moreconvenient.

Faster Writing with ComputersOn paper and on the computer, the GRE contains two writing assignments in which students write shortessays in response to a prompt. Although the grading criteria for the paper and computerized essays arethe same, handwriting can influence exam scores. If a test-taker's handwriting is illegible, graders maymisinterpret the essay. Since the computerized GRE allows students to type their essays, there's no riskof sloppy handwriting interfering in the grading process. Many people can also type much faster than theycan write by hand, so the computer version may allow them to write more.

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ReferencesJohn Kihlstrom: How Students Learn--And How We Can HelpThem(http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~kihlstrm/GSI_2011.htm)Jim Wright: Managing Test Anxiety forStudents(http://www.hagerstowncc.edu/sites/default/files/documents/11-test-anxiety-tips.pdf)ETS: 2013-14 GRE Paper-based Test Centers(http://www.ets.org/s/gre/pdf/gre_pbt_center_lists.pdf)

ResourcesETS: Frequently Asked Questions About the GRE Tests(http://www.ets.org/gre/institutions/faq)Powerscore Test Preperation: Computer-Based GRE vs. Paper-BasedGRE(http://blog.powerscore.com/gre/bid/140652/Computer-based-GRE-vs-Paper-based-GRE)U.S. News and World Report: Test Prep: 6 Tips for GRESuccess(http://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/2012/04/30/test-prep-6-tips-for-gre-success)

About the AuthorNick Robinson is a writer, instructor and graduate student. Before deciding to pursue an advanceddegree, he worked as a teacher and administrator at three different colleges and universities, and as aneducation coach for Inside Track. Most of Robinson's writing centers on education and travel.

Photo CreditsComstock/Comstock/Getty Images

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