The GRE stands for the Graduate Record Examination and is required for entrance to many graduate programs that need to be studied for, including PA programs. The GRE consists of three main subjects: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. The GRE is a computer-based exam that is usually taken in-person at an approved testing center. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the administration of the exam and caused many test dates to be canceled. This caused a predicament for thousands of pre-PA students who had scheduled a GRE to fulfill this standardized exam requirement of many PA programs. ETS, the company that administers the GRE exam, is now offering an option for test takers to complete the GRE at home. As of right now, at home administrations are available every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday through June 30th, 2020.
The ETS website displays this official statement regarding GRE cancelations and alternative options: “To meet the needs of students who are unable to take the GRE® General Test at a test center due to public health concerns, ETS is temporarily offering a GRE General Test at home option. The test is identical in content, format and on-screen experience to the GRE General Test taken at a test center. It is taken on your own computer at home and is monitored by a human proctor online through ProctorU®.” You are eligible for the option to that the GRE at home if you meet the following criteria:
1. “The test is offered in your country or location.”
2. “Your computer must meet the equptiment requirements for the test, including installation of the ETS Test Browser and the ProctorU Systems Check”
3. “You must have a room that provides an acceptable environment for the test.”
Breaking down this criteria further, the standards for being eligible to take the at home GRE are high. The required equipment includes a computer, either a laptop or desktop. This does not include tablets, iPads, or mobile devices. The computer must use a Windows operating system. This has caused issues for test takers who only have an Apple computer with an iOS operating system. However, Mac computers can qualify for the criteria if Windows is installed. The required browser is either Chrome or Firefox. Next, the computer must have the ETS Test Browser installed and must run the ProctorU System Check.
Aside from software, there are also specific criteria for the computer’s speaker, microphone, and camera. The speaker must allow the test taker to hear the proctor clearly, either with an internal or external speaker. The test taker may not wear a headset or wireless earphones. The microphone must also be either internal or external but cannot be a part of a headset. The camera must either be a built-in camera on the computer or a separate webcam.
The test taking environment also determines your eligibility for the at home exam. The ETS website states that “you must be alone in a room with no on else entering during the test. Testing in a public space such as a park, internet café or restaurant is not allowed.” This requires test takers to seclude themselves from others in a closed off setting. There are also specific requirements for your test taking set-up: your computer and keyboard must be on a desk or tabletop surface, the surface must be clear of all items not approved for use during the exam, you must be sitting in a “standard chair,” and you are not allowed to have any food/drink during the exam. In addition to these environment standards, there is also clothing and appearance rules. These rules are as follows: “Your ears must remain visible throughout the test, not covered by hair, a hat or other items. You must be dressed appropriately for your test. You will be monitored via camera by the proctor, and your photo will be shared with institutions that receive your scores. Avoid wearing such items as jewelry, tie clips, cuff links, ornate clips, combs, barrettes, headbands and other hair accessories.”
A big caveat to the online GRE procedure is that taking notes during the exam on “regular” paper is prohibited. The only way a test taker can write down notes is on a white board with erasable markers or a paper with a transparent sheet protector and erasable marker. Taking notes is very important throughout the whole exam. Test takers often jot down notes to plan for their essays in the writing section, to keep track of long reading in the qualitative analysis section, and to solve mathematical problems in the quantitative section. All notes must be completely erased from your white board or transparent sheet protector and shown to the proctor at the end of the exam.
Only after you qualify for all of requirement above can you register for the at home GRE test. You go about registering as you would for an in-person exam but choose the option for at home test in the section “Find Test Centers and Dates.” You will then receive an email from ProctorU, the online proctoring service used for this exam. Here you will pick your date and time. You will be monitored throughout the whole exam through your video camera by a human proctor from ProctorU. It is important to note that “suspicious movements could invalidate your test.” You are given a 10-minute break after the third section, in which you can leave your seat, and 1-minute breaks between sections, in which you must stay in your seat. After completion of the GRE, your official scores will be available in 10-15 days and if you choose to retake the GRE, you must wait 21 days.
