GRE Info – GRE Cancelling Score

At the conclusion of the GRE, you will be given the option to cancel your score before your answers are graded. If you choose to cancel your scores, you will not receive unofficial scores letting you know how you performed, your exam will not be graded, and you will not have official scores to send to designated schools. You also cannot choose a specific section of the GRE to cancel, meaning all of your scores (Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, GRE Total Score, etc.) will be canceled.

At one time, canceling your scores made sense; if you knew you hadn’t performed well and did not want low scores on your GRE record, the smart move was to cancel those scores. Even though a school would see that you had canceled scores when viewing your score report, they would not know exactly what those scores were, giving you the chance to present only your best test scores as part of your graduate program application.

But now, test-takers should think carefully before canceling scores, as Educational Testing Service (ETS), the administrator of the GRE, offers a service known as ScoreSelect that allows you to send out only the GRE scores you choose. Institutions you designate to receive your scores will not see any special indication on your score report that you have taken additional GRE tests; they will only see the scores you choose to send them.

On the day of your exam, you have two ScoreSelect options:

  1. You can submit your most recent GRE scores;
  2. You can submit all of your GRE scores if you have taken the test previously.

On test day, you can also choose not to send any scores at that time. If you choose to send your scores later (for a fee of $40 per score report), you will have the following ScoreSelect options:

  1. You can submit your most recent GRE scores;
  2. You can submit all of your GRE scores;
  3. You can submit scores from a specific test administration if you have taken the GRE more than once.

The only thing you cannot do is combine and submit scores from different test administrations. This means you cannot submit Verbal Reasoning scores from a test you took in January and Quantitative Reasoning scores from a test you took in April.

If, however, you still choose to cancel your scores after taking the GRE, you may do so at the end of the test, and the scores will not be added to your reportable history. It is important to note that you will not receive a refund after canceling your scores and should you wish to take the GRE again, you will need to register again and pay the registration fee of $220.

If you choose to cancel your scores after taking the GRE, then change your mind and want to have the exam scored, you have up to 60 days after taking the test to reinstate your scores. This must be done online through your ETS account, and there is a fee of $50 for score reinstatement. When you reinstate your scores, you may select up to four designated programs to have your scores sent to at no additional charge. Reinstated scores will be reported to you and sent to designated programs approximately two weeks after your request for score reinstatement has been received.

Reasons ETS Might Cancel Your Scores

According to ETS, standards and administration procedures for the GRE exist with three primary goals:

  1. giving test takers equivalent opportunities to demonstrate their abilities;
  2. preventing any test takers from gaining an unfair advantage over others;
  3. providing score users with valid scores.

In order to promote these objectives, ETS reserves the right to review test scores deemed questionable and to cancel test scores with forfeiture of test fees. Scores may be canceled for the following reasons:

  • A testing irregularity occurs
  • Discrepancy in a test taker’s identification
  • Misconduct, including someone taking the GRE for someone else
  • Obtaining improper access to test questions or answers
  • Disclosing test questions or answers to third parties
  • Plagiarism
  • Other reasons that would invalidate the score.

If ETS chooses to cancel a test score that has already been shared with schools or programs, score recipients are notified of the score cancelation and may receive an explanation for why scores were canceled.

What Do Canceled Scores Mean for Your Application?

Thanks to the introduction of ScoreSelect by ETS, canceled scores mean nothing for your application because you are in charge of which scores designated score recipients receive. Scores will never be reported to an institution without the test-taker’s explicit permission. Since you can choose not to send certain scores to programs, there is really no longer any reason to cancel scores. There is always the chance that you performed better than you think and if you did not, you do not have to share those scores. Remember, should you cancel your scores and need to retake the GRE, you must reregister for the exam and pay the full $220 registration fee. And should you decide to reinstate your scores after choosing to cancel them, you will have to pay an additional $50 to have your exam graded so you can view your scores.

It is worth preparing as diligently as possible for the GRE in order to minimize how many times you must take the exam to achieve your desired scores. It is also worth having at least some idea of what you will do if you do not achieve your desired scores the first time around. You must wait 21 days between exams, so schedule your first GRE well before applications are due, giving yourself enough time to take the test a second time if need be (21 days), as well as enough time for schools to receive your scores after completing the exam (8-10 days). Manage your stress and boost your confidence by preparing early, taking the GRE as soon as you are ready, knowing your application deadlines, and doing your best on exam day.

After the GRE: Admissions Counselling

Many aspiring graduate students, including a majority of students applying to MBA or law programs, consult experts as part of the admissions process to help them understand the competitive marketplace and find a position that will maximize their career options and productive capabilities. While earning competitive scores on the GRE is an excellent foundation for success, especially when combined with a strong GPA from a good university, admissions counsellors can help students understand how to present all their characteristics in the best light while finding institutions that will help them develop their strengths and overcome their weaknesses.

For students who are uncertain what sort of career they want to pursue, admissions counselling can be an invaluable tool for strategic assessment and planning. The best graduate school applications are built over the course of many months, and serve as the capstone for a long period of dedicated work and achievement. Graduate school offers a chance to explore new challenges and opportunities, but aspiring students must first figure out what skills to highlight in their application. Understanding all available options is the first step in building a successful and fulfilling career, and admissions consultants offer a breadth of experience and exposure that would otherwise be inaccessible to students.

For students who have already chosen a graduate path, admissions consulting can help give them a competitive edge by tailoring their applications to reflect the specific qualities that graduate programs (and later, corporations) seek. At Manhattan Review, we understand that attending graduate school has more significant and specific consequences than any decision most students have made before, and we dedicate ourselves to thoroughly understanding the competitive landscape to help our students find programs that will maximize their talents. Whether it means boosting your test scores to demonstrate your capabilities, or taking an extra class or two to bolster your relevant resume, Manhattan Review counsellors can help you make strategic choices to thrive in the graduate school and career of your choice.

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