Since GRE score records are maintained for five years, students who have taken or are considering taking the GRE more than once sometimes worry that the multiple scores will adversely impact their chances for admission. Fortunately, there is no evidence that multiple scores hurt your application chances, and at many schools, additional scores can increase your chances of admission1.
A review of graduate school admission policies reveals two basic approaches to how they handle multiple GRE scores2:
1. All scores are reviewed, and score increases are emphasized
Many schools consider your portfolio of GRE performances but place special emphasis on score increases. For example, the University of Michigan states:
The Admissions Committee will be given all of the applicants’ scores. We do not average them nor do we take the higher or lower scores. Improvement in scores will be taken into consideration.
This means that all scores will be viewed by the admissions board, but a noticeable score increase will be given the most attention. This is great news for students who do not score as well as they would like on their first attempt.
2. All scores are reviewed, and the best individual section score is taken
Other schools look at each performance and take the best individual score from each section. Yale University, for example, is a school that takes your highest composite score:
GRE scores are but one of many criteria used to evaluate an applicant. Individual department’s practices may differ, but overall the best score from each section is used. However, you must submit ALL of your GRE scores in order to have the department consider the highest from each section.
To better understand this policy, consider the case of an applicant who takes the GRE two separate times with the following results:
First GRE results:
Verbal = 620
Quantitative = 510
Writing = 4.0
Second GRE results:
Verbal = 700
Quantitative = 500
Writing = 5.0
Yale, and many other schools, would use the 510 Quantitative score from the first test, and the 700 Verbal and 5.0 Writing score from the second test. This “best section performance” approach is a great benefit to applicants because it diminishes the effects of a poor performance on any particular section.
Neither of the two approaches described above is unfavorable to candidates with multiple scores. But, because different schools have different policies regarding multiple scores, you should contact each individual school and inquire about their multiple score policy. Understanding how the schools will use your scores places you in the best position to make an informed decision about whether to take the GRE again or whether your admission chances have been hurt by multiple tests you took in the past.
You should also note that some graduate programs put much more weight on a specific section of the GRE than on other sections. For example, if you were applying to an English program, the admissions committee would likely pay more attention to your verbal score and less attention to your quantitative score.
Also, keep in mind that if you do not feel as though you have performed as well on the GRE as you would like, you can always cancel your score before it becomes official (although a score cancellation notice will still appear on your record).
1. Data collected by the GRE Board shows that students who take the GRE more than one time typically experience a slight score gain.
2. PowerScore is unaware of any GRE program that averages multiple scores, but please check with each individual school for details on their specific policies.