How many times can you take the GRE

[Alkesh]

I know you can take is as many times as you want, but my friend claims that it's pointless to take it more than two times.

 

[czech09]

Guess it would depend on the institution you're applying to? Maybe some accept only the highest and some an average of all? I'm pretty sure it's as many times as you want though...check their site to be sure it has to be up there.

 

[erub]

i concur with your friend. then again, at $125 and a 4 hour long tough exam, I don't know why a person would want to take it more than once. I know of a few people who took it twice, but nobody who took it 3 times (rarely going to see any improvement anyway). If your score is close to good let it ride..

 

[Mo0o]

I'm guessing it's similar to any standardized entrance exam. Take it too many times and you start looking incompetent

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: czech09
Guess it would depend on the institution you're applying to? Maybe some accept only the highest and some an average of all? I'm pretty sure it's as many times as you want though...check their site to be sure it has to be up there.

Reread the OP.

 

[ArchCenturion]

IMO, you should just take it once. The GRE is a standardized test that allowes other schools/professors to measure your general intelligence. They have a good idea of the type of student it takes to make it through their graduate programs. For me, if i destroy the math, and do ok on the English, thats all it will take probably to get into a MechEng program.

If you gotta keep taking and retaking the test just to get a decent enough score for grad school, you are only setting yourself up for either a ton of very hard work that could possibly be above your maximum level of understanding, or failure.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: ArchCenturion
IMO, you should just take it once. The GRE is a standardized test that allowes other schools/professors to measure your general intelligence. They have a good idea of the type of student it takes to make it through their graduate programs. For me, if i destroy the math, and do ok on the English, thats all it will take probably to get into a MechEng program.

If you gotta keep taking and retaking the test just to get a decent enough score for grad school, you are only setting yourself up for either a ton of very hard work that could possibly be above your maximum level of understanding, or failure.

I agree, but sort of disagree. Studying one subject is totally different than taking a standardized exam. Most of the GRE, GMAT, etc....exams are all pretty basic... For me, I only took the GMAT once, but hit lots of algebra and geometry that I had to remember from high school. I'm talking things I hadn't seen in 5-8 years. It helps to take it once or twice to get used to the kinds of questions to expect...then study up. If you take it and don't study for the next time, it would be pointless.