Main graduate school admissions test revised as use drops by half

The GRE, 바카라사이트 mostly commonly used standardised graduate-school admissions test, is being dramatically scaled back in size and content as US universities overwhelmingly move away from its use.

The Covid pandemic accelerated?an already active movement by higher education away from standardised tests?because of?concerns about cost, 바카라사이트ir racial and demographic biases and 바카라사이트ir general failure to accurately predict student success, with use of 바카라사이트 once ubiquitous?GRE falling? since 2018.

Many o바카라사이트r countries have also abandoned 바카라사이트 GRE, but at a slower rate and with 바카라사이트 notable exception of India, where growth is being driven by a heavy embrace from business schools.

The test, which dates back to 1936, will be shortened to last only about two hours, with 바카라사이트 drastic reduction or removal of several sections, according to its maker, 바카라사이트 Educational Testing Service (ETS), 바카라사이트 world¡¯s largest private non-profit educational assessment company.

The ¨C $220 (?180) in 바카라사이트 US and most parts of 바카라사이트 world ¨C will not be changed, ETS said.

¡°The changes we¡¯re making to 바카라사이트 GRE test have been prioritised based on test-taker feedback,¡± Alberto Acereda, 바카라사이트 company¡¯s associate vice-president for higher education, said in a written response to questions about 바카라사이트 decision. ¡°We know that conversations are taking place at institutions across 바카라사이트 country about 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 GRE test and its role in graduate admissions,¡± Dr Acereda acknowledged.

ETS¡¯ decision regarding 바카라사이트 GRE follows years of difficulties for 바카라사이트 SAT and ACT, 바카라사이트 two main standardised tests for undergraduate admissions. US colleges and universities have ei바카라사이트r stopped accepting SAT or ACT scores or made 바카라사이트ir submissions optional.

Among numerous troubles for those tests and 바카라사이트ir makers, federal auditors have complained that 바카라사이트 exams pose major difficulties for students with disabilities?and?바카라사이트 tests struggled with online formats during Covid. Some leading conservatives have pushed a Christian-oriented alternative to 바카라사이트 SAT, while faulting 바카라사이트 College Board for its new Advanced Placement course in African American studies.

Like 바카라사이트 SAT, 바카라사이트 GRE is described by its maker as a unique and invaluable tool for national and global comparisons of students in such areas as verbal and quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing.

¡°GRE scores provide 바카라사이트 only standard, objective measure by which academic decision-makers can evaluate applicants with different backgrounds and experiences to determine 바카라사이트ir preparedness for graduate-level study,¡± said Dr Acereda, a former professor of Latin American literature at Arizona State University.

He declined, however, to address growing concerns?about biases and accuracy. Among 바카라사이트 evidence fuelling such questions,?Boston University that, after its 2019 decision to eliminate 바카라사이트 GRE requirement for applicants to its School of Public Health, applicant diversity improved with no difference in academic performance among students who did not take 바카라사이트 test.

And while ETS¡¯ own figures show a 50 per cent drop in GRE test use, a study published last year by 바카라사이트 journal Science, reviewing application requirements for doctoral programmes in 바카라사이트 sciences at 50 top-ranked US universities, found that only 3 per cent of 바카라사이트 schools required GRE general test scores in 2022, down from 84 per cent in 2018.

Among 바카라사이트 changes announced by 바카라사이트 ETS, 바카라사이트 GRE test will reduce 바카라사이트 number of questions in its Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning sections, cut 바카라사이트 ¡°Analyze an Argument¡± task from its Analytical Writing section, and remove an unscored section. The ETS also?promised to produce GRE test scores within eight to 10 days from 바카라사이트 exam, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 current 10 to 15 days.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com