GRE: Exam Day Identification Requirements

If you have plans to take the Graduate Record Exam soon, you better start securing these identification requirements needed to avoid issues on exam day. It is every test taker’s responsibility to ensure that you have all the necessary, valid, and updated IDs. Otherwise, you may not be allowed to take the test.

Identification requirements will depend on your citizenship. It will also depend on where you want to take the GRE. Here is some important information to remember when securing ID for exam day.

·        You must bring valid ID that has your name, signature and picture on it. You will need this in order to be admitted to your test center. This requirement is strictly enforced. As mentioned, you may not be allowed to take the GRE exam if you cannot present valid ID.

·        Only IDs with recent photos will be accepted. Bear in mind that your picture should be resemble you.

·        The ID that you present should be current. Expired identification documents will not be accepted. However, there is one exception. You may present an expired driver’s license as long as you have your renewal certificate with you and as long as the names on the driver’s license and on the renewal certificate match.

·        Photocopies will not be accepted. You need to bring the original identification documents with you.

·        If you forget to bring your valid ID to the testing center, you will not be permitted to take the GRE. This would also mean forfeiture of your test fees.

·        The name on your ID should match the name that you used on your registration form. If spelling discrepancies are found, you will not be able to proceed with the test. Also, your test fees will not be refunded and you will be asked to register and pay again if you wish to take the GRE in the future.


Your identification requirements are very important when taking the GRE. Ensure that you have valid ID prior to registering for the test.

What To Do On The Night Before The GRE

Every year, over 500,000 examinees take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) in hopes of getting the chance to study in some of the best graduate schools in the world. However, not everyone does well on the test and gets the chance to study at their dream school. Either they did not prepare enough for the test or they had a hard time focusing on the questions on exam day. In this article, we would like to share with you some preparation tips that you can do on the night before the GRE. These are tips that will help you enhance your concentration on exam day.

1.    Sleep early. As much as possible, get enough sleep before the test. At least 8 hours of sleep would be ideal and will keep you focused throughout the test. The common mistake that many GRE takers make is failing to sleep 8 hours. Some get too tensed or excited that they stay awake throughout the night. This results in loss of focus on exam day.

2.    Eat a good meal. Make it a point to eat a balanced meal before the test. With the right amount of protein, carbohydrates, and vitamins, you will have enough fuel to keep you focused throughout the test.

3.    Prepare the night before. Before you sleep, ensure that you have everything that you need in your bag - admission slip, ID, water, pencils, and pens.  Lay out the clothes that you’ll wear. You would not want to be rushed in the morning so keep everything neatly prepared.

4.    Be on time. Coming in late to your test room leads to increased anxiety. When you have increase anxiety, you can start to lose your focus. To avoid this, sleep early the night before and wake up early on your exam day. More importantly, know where the test center is located. Plan your route to the test center a couple days before the actual exam, and make the trip so that you can time how long it will take to get there. This will ensure no surprises. 

5.    Stop studying. On the day before the exam, don’t study. Watch a movie or spend time with your friends. This will help clear your mind and get focused for exam day. 

These tips are basic. But in most cases, tension mounts for many GRE examinees and they end up forgetting the basics. Keep these tips in mind and get a high score on the GRE Exam

Self Discipline: The Key to Doing Well on the GRE

Over 600,000 individuals take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) every year. However, only a small percentage of the examinees are happy with their results. Just like any other major exam, the GRE requires intensive preparation. But more than just academic preparation, it also requires a lot of self-discipline. No matter how strong your will is to succeed, if you do not allot enough time to prepare for it, succeeding on the GRE will not be easy.
1.    Make schedule and stick to it. Most GRE examinees start their review at least 2 months before the actual exam day. However, you always have the option to start your review as early as you want. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you allot enough time to study each section. The GRE exam is composed of different sections and each section is administered with a certain style and pattern. Determine how much time you have for the review then divide your time to master each section in the GRE. Post your schedule in an area which you see every day and ensure that you follow your schedule strictly. Tell your friends that you are studying.  This “social commitment” will help you stick to your schedule.  Plus, the support of your friends will be of great help!

2.    Allot a few minutes of your time to the GRE prep every day. Most of the questions in the GRE are based on the lessons that you've learned in school. Finding time to refresh your mind on your previous lessons will make things easier for you. Spend at least 15 minutes of your time before you sleep to review the GRE. 

3.    Get in the right frame of mind.  Setting the right mindset for the test is the most difficult challenge for most examinees. But this is not what the GRE is all about. If you want to succeed, you will need to enforce a disciplined and timely execution of your study plan. This includes changing your lifestyle temporarily. Forget your weekend parties in the mean time and allot the time for your GRE review instead. 

Giving enough time for your GRE preparation helps you achieve a good score. But more than that, enforcing self discipline to efficiently go through every step of your study plan is also very important. Limit your social activities.  Find friends who will support you during this process.  These lifestyle changes are temporary; doing well on the GRE can improve your career and life.

3 Tried-And-Tested Tips To Passing The GRE

Competition is stiff in the corporate world. This is why more and more individuals take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) every year. Studies show that more than 600,000 people take the GRE yearly. Unlike most college-entrance examinations, the GRE is a computer-adaptive test. Examinees take the test on a computer. Each question is generated based on your answers to the preceding questions. The further you go, the harder the questions get.
If you plan to take the GRE, consider the following tips to ensure a successful test.

Take your time.
Contrary to what most people tell you, it is very important that you take your time in mastering the first few items of the test. Instead of rushing, ensure that you answer every question. Patience is a virtue especially for the first 10 questions. Bear in mind that the questions on the first part weigh more than the ones on the later part.
One common mistake that most examinees make is that they hurry too much and they fail to concentrate on the early part of the test. Because of the time constraint, most people worry about not having enough time to get to the end of the test when in fact, it is the last part of the test that weighs the least.

The first 10 questions are the most important.
Examinees should pay enough attention to first 10 questions of each part. The test starts with questions of average difficulty which when answered correctly, moves on to tougher questions. The scoring range is adjusted every time an examinee answers the questions either correctly or incorrectly. If you answer the first 10 questions right, you are more likely to get a relatively high score despite what happens on the rest of the test.

Review your high school lessons.
Most GRE examinees have forgotten the basic lessons of high school Math. If you seem to be having a  hard time getting the ratio of a certain problem, it's time to revisit high school notes. High school Math plays a huge role in the quantitative part of the test. Scan your old notes on Geometry and Algebra and refresh your mind with your high school statistics. Experts suggest that you browse resources like Algebra for Dummies for basic and well-explained refresher lessons.
A high SAT score does not always ensure that taking the GRE will be easy. To increase your chances of passing the GRE, most testing experts advise that you start preparing at least two months before the exam date.