5. TAKE THE TEST

The big day has come at last - you're gonna nail that test! The hyperactive excitement you feel is natural, and you should try to funnel it into the GRE (though not too much, or you'll get evicted from the test center for disturbing the peace). Even though there's not much you can do at this point, you can take the test under the best conditions possible. Here's some advice:

  1. Resist the temptation to throw a wild party the night before the test; get a good night of sleep.

  2. Eat a good breakfast.

  3. Allow time to arrive at least 30 minutes early to the test center. And if you've never been to the center before, don't rely on your natural navigational skills, Kemosabe - map out directions beforehand.

  4. Although you may want to make a statement and wear a tuxedo or an evening gown, there is no formal dress code. However, do dress in layers and wear clothes that will be appropriate for both warm and cool temperatures (you never know if the center's air conditioner or furnace will be on the fritz).

  5. Bring two forms of acceptable identification. "Acceptable identification" means that it must be valid, have your name, your picture, and your signature on it. If for some reason the test administrator questions your first piece of evidence, you should always have some backup ID handy.
    Acceptable forms of identification include:

    • Passport
    • Driver's license
    • Employee ID card
    • National identity card
    • Military card
    • Student ID card
    Unacceptable forms of identification include:

    • Expired passport or driver's license
    • Social security card
    • Credit card
    • "License to party" card
    • Note from your Mommy
  6. Bring the names and codes of the schools where you want your scores to be sent. We, being the do-gooders that we are, have a list all ready for you, though you'll need to download Adobe Acrobat to see it.

  7. Don't bring calculators, cellular phones, dictionaries, or cameras - they're prohibited (so if you were planning on bringing your personal Hollywood movie crew for a documentary, think again).

  8. Don't bring food or beverages, because they're also prohibited. So make sure you get a drink before leaving the house. And by the way, using the bathroom is strictly forbidden. Just kidding! You will be given a ten-minute break after the second section, but any other break you take will be on your own test time. During the test, you may be photographed, videotaped, or thumb-printed, so if you see yourself on America's Most Wanted the following week, don't be surprised.

After you've finished the test, you will have to make a gut-wrenching decision whether to drink heavily or just go to sleep. Before that, however, you'll also to have to decide whether or not to view your score. If you think you're sitting pretty with a high score, you can view your unofficial score on the screen and then have it sent to up to four institutions at no charge (besides the original $99 you had to fork over). However, if you think your scores don't represent your intellectual prowess, then you may cancel them (without seeing your score). If you do nullify the test, you cannot reinstate it, even if you beg, plead, or bribe, and you will not get a refund. So think twice about canceling them, because you can learn your strengths and weaknesses from the scores, and don't forget that you may take the test once every month, so there's always a second chance.

Now that you know the general basics of the GRE, it's time to read our other article: SoYouWanna ace the GRE? This SYW will teach you all the tricks about how to get the highest score you can muster. So once you've committed yourself to taking the GRE, head on over there and learn how to ace that sucka!