IS GRE EXAM AT HOME BETTER?

Did you know you may take the GRE General Test anywhere besides a testing facility? This is a safer and more practical alternative for those who would instead remain indoors, especially now that there is a worldwide health emergency. There has been an increase in test takers who opt to take the GRE at home because some test centres are forced to cease operations because of the Covid-19 outbreak. This is also a good time for at-home GRE study programmes like Achievable GRE to gain popularity.

HOW DOES IT FUNCTION?

Before you do anything else, you need to familiarise yourself with how the entire arrangement operates. The only difference between this test and the real one is that you will be utilising your equipment and being observed online by a human proctor. The human proctor will verify your ID, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies will be used to monitor the session for added security.

REQUIREMENTS FOR EQUIPMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT

First and foremost, you need a desktop or laptop computer; you cannot use a phone, tablet, or another portable device. A speaker, a microphone, and a camera should all be included in your computer. Using headsets, headphones, or earbuds during the exam is not permitted.

As taking the exam outside or in public is wholly prohibited, you should only take it at home alone. Remove everything that is superfluous or not authorised for usage during the exam. A flat desk or table must support your computer, and you must sit comfortably in a conventional chair.

The ETS Secure Test Browser should be downloaded and installed on your computer. After downloading the file, run it, and then shut the window when you get a confirmation message indicating the programme has been installed successfully. The ETS Secure Test Browser is available for both Windows and Mac OS; Windows OS must be at least version 7 or above, and Mac OS must be version 10.5 or higher.

REGISTRATION

You may now go on to the registration portion after ensuring your equipment and exam room satisfy the standards. Once you have logged in to your ETS account, select “Register / Find Test Centres, Dates” from the menu. On the “Find Test Centres and Dates” screen, click “Test at Home.” Verify your time zone, then choose the day and hour of your exam. You can pay for the exam once you’ve provided these details. When your money has been received, ETS will send you a confirmation email with a link that you may use to sign in and start the exam the following day.

RESCHEDULES AND POSTPONEMENTS

If you want to change your test date or cancel it entirely, you can use your ETS account or call ETS’s phone lines. You may also change your test location from a test centre to your house through your ETS account and vice versa. You must choose a new schedule within a year of the original date, or you may be charged a rescheduling fee.

According to ETS’s cancellation policy, you must cancel at least 4 days before your test date to receive a refund of 50% of what you initially paid.

FIRST, PLAN WHILE TAKING THE AT-HOME GRE

Checking in on the ETS browser at least 12 minutes before your scheduled time is important. Your exam will be automatically cancelled unless you accomplish this.
Candidates with impairments and other needs linked to their health can take the exam at home. Aside from providing special services like refreshable Braille, recorded audio, tactile figure supplements, big print figure supplements, and other resources that may be downloaded or acquired through the ETS Disability Services, ETS can also grant requests for accommodations.

It is crucial to remember that you must submit your papers, together with your request for accommodations, before your exam is scheduled. These should be supplied as soon as possible so that ETS can determine if the products or services you have selected are the most fantastic fit for your requirements. Before ETS can give a confirmation and test-go signal, a review takes around 6 weeks.

COMPILE THE NECESSARY MATERIALS FOR CHECKING IN

As soon as you log in, the proctor will walk you through the registration process and request your ID to verify your identification. Verify that the ID is current and not expired (i.e., a passport, driver’s licence, etc.). Additionally, get out your whiteboard or translucent sheet for taking notes, markers, and a handheld mirror to assess the space.

MAKE SURE THE PROCTOR HAS A CLEAR VIEW OF YOU AND YOUR SPACE

The proctor will request that you bring a mirror to your computer screen to demonstrate your setup. A 360-degree view of the complete area, including the top of your desk, will be displayed using your computer camera, as previously indicated. Place the camera so the proctor can see you and your surroundings well. Whisper and avoid sideways glances; these behaviours might be interpreted as suspicious.

UTILISE A WHITEBOARD FOR NOTE-TAKING

Should they need to take notes, students are free to use whiteboards. If a whiteboard is not accessible, you may write on a paper by slipping it inside a clear plastic sleeve. When you write and erase on your whiteboard or notes page, the proctor should be able to see it.

BE MINDFUL OF YOUR ATTIRE

Put on appropriate and comfortable clothing. Make sure the proctor can see your face and ears. Do not wear jewellery or barrettes, clips, or other hair decorations. Before the test even begins, a picture of you will be taken and submitted to the schools alongside your test results.

RETESTING AND POST-TESTING

Your scores will be delivered to institutions and your ETS account 10-15 days following the test, as is customary. If you wish to retake the test, follow the same procedures and meet the abovementioned prerequisites. The GRE General Test may be taken five times in a calendar year or once every 21 days.

GRE TESTING MADE SIMPLER

The good news is that ETS has permanently made the At-Home GRE option available, giving candidates a more secure choice than visiting a testing facility. However, applicants like you should continue to make every effort to prepare for the GRE General Test, as you would typically do in a typical test-centre environment. Deciding to take the GRE at home would make the scenario we are all in less stressful and more convenient.