GRE retake question

[Gerter]

Right, I just registered for a GRE retake. I got 770 last time and should be able to get a 800. Just wanted to confirm two things I've heard.

1. I've already sent the 770 score so if I don't get an 800 this time I can just not submit the scores and the schools will not know of the retake. Is this absolutely certain?

2. If I score anything else than an 800 on the retake, I shouldn't submit the new score? So if I get a 790 I should just leave it at 770 as a one-off 770 is a better signal than a pair of 770 and 790?

Thanks.

[tm_guru]

1. Yes, that is the supposed process. As long as you have received a confirmation from ETS that the schools have been sent your score, then you can take it and not worry about anyone seeing it if you don't want them to, this year at least.

2. That is the percieved wisdom.. whether it is correct or not is a different matter :-)

[Gecko]

Er - as for question 2 my personal preference would be to send if I got a higher score. a higher signal is a weakly better signal right? ^_^

[tm_guru]

The advice here is that 770 ~= 800, if you only take it once.

If you take it twice, 770 & 790 does not ~=800.

The idea is that anyone can be nervous, inexperienced with standardized tests, have a bad day etc. if they only take it once. If you have a second crack at it, you damn well better score 800.