Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions has announced that Educational Testing Services will begin issuing a new version of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) in October.
The new GRE will be administered approximately 30 times per year and will cost more than the $115 that millions of students per year currently pay to take the exam.
The GRE is required for entry to most graduate schools across the country.
"It is really important for students to understand time lines and when to begin prepping, which is usually three months ahead of time," said GRE project manager Matt Fiddler. "If you can prepare to take the test before the changes occur, take it."
The exam's length will increase from two-and-a-half hours to at least four hours. The verbal section will no longer include analogies and antonyms and will focus primarily on critical reading skills.
University admissions officers will also now be able to view an applicant's entire essay instead of receiving only raw scores for the written portion of the exam.
"Students should talk with their prospective graduate schools and understand how they will incorporate these changes into the admissions process," Fiddler said.
Prospective graduate students need to register early to ensure they will receive desirable test-taking times.
Students not planning to attend graduate school immediately following undergraduate graduation can still register to take the test, as their scores will remain valid for five years.
Kaplan will sponsor a free GRE practice test on Feb. 25 from 10:30 to noon in the Humanities building. Although the prep test will feature the current, outgoing version of the exam, it will still give students the opportunity to identify areas for focus. In addition, students will have the opportunity to learn about other test prep options available to them.
For further questions regarding the changing GRE, please visit Kaplan's website at http://www.kaptest.com/newgre.
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