GRE® Score-Related Test Policies for Test Takers

• Absence from a Paper-Based Testing Session
• Preventing Unauthorized Release of Your Scores
• ETS Review of Test Questions
• Cancellation of Scores by ETS
  • Independent Intellectual Activity
  • Invalid Scores
• Test Fairness and Score Use

Absence from a Paper-Based Testing Session

If you are absent from a test session, institutions will not receive any information about your absence or about any previous scores you may have on file.

Preventing Unauthorized Release of Your Scores

Your scores will be reported only to:

• You
• Institutions of higher education granting the baccalaureate or higher degrees that you designate
• Approved graduate fellowship-granting sponsors that you designate

Score reports will be released only upon your request. ETS will not release your scores at the request of institutions or fellowship sponsors except for use in research studies that are approved by the GRE® Board and that provide anonymity for test takers and the institutions they attend.

Your score record and the documents you completed that are retained at ETS may be released to third parties, e.g., government agencies, parties to a lawsuit, if requested pursuant to a subpoena.

ETS Review of Test Questions

ETS routinely follows extensive review and quality control procedures to detect and avoid flawed questions and consequent errors in scoring. Such procedures include

• independent reviews by qualified individuals
• pretesting questions for the General Test
• feedback from test takers after they have taken the test
• careful analysis of performance data on each question after it has been administered in a test.

Nonetheless, occasionally an error may be discovered after scores have been reported. Whenever this happens, we review the specific circumstances carefully and take the corrective action that is most fair to all concerned.

Cancellation of Scores by ETS

• Test Security Issues. ETS strives to report scores that accurately reflect the performance of every test taker. Accordingly, ETS's standards and procedures for administering tests have two primary goals: giving test takers equivalent opportunities to demonstrate their abilities, and preventing some test takers from gaining an unfair advantage over others. To promote these objectives, ETS reserves the right to cancel any test score when, in ETS's judgment, a testing irregularity occurs, there is an apparent discrepancy in a test taker's identification, the test taker engages in misconduct or plagiarism, or the score is invalid for another reason. Reviews of scores by ETS are confidential. When, for any of the above reasons, ETS cancels a test score that has already been reported, it notifies score recipients that the score has been canceled, but it does not disclose the reason for cancellation except when authorized to do so by the test taker, and in certain group cases.
• Testing Irregularities. "Testing irregularities" refers to problems with the administration of a test. When testing irregularities occur, they may affect an individual or groups of test takers. Such problems include, but are not limited to, administrative errors (such as improper timing, improper seating, defective materials, and defective equipment); improper access to test content; and other disruptions of test administrations (such as natural disasters or other emergencies). When testing irregularities occur, ETS may decline to score the test, or cancel the test score. When in ETS's judgement it is appropriate to do so, ETS gives affected test takers the opportunity to take the test again as soon as possible without charge.
• Identification Discrepancies. When in ETS's judgment or the judgment of test center personnel, there is a discrepancy in a test taker's identification, the test taker may be dismissed from the test center. In addition, ETS may decline to score the test or cancel the test score. See Identification Requirements.
• Misconduct. When ETS or test center personnel find that there is misconduct in connection with a test, the test taker may be dismissed from the test center, or ETS may decline to score the test, or cancel the test score. Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, noncompliance with the Test Center Procedures and Regulations. Test takers whose scores are canceled will forfeit their test fees and must pay to take the entire GRE General Test again at a future administration. No record of the score cancellations, or the reason for cancellation, will appear on their future score reports sent to colleges, universities, and/or fellowship sponsors.
• Invalid Scores. ETS may also cancel scores if, in its judgment, there is substantial evidence that they are invalid for any other reason. Evidence of invalid scores may include, but is not limited to, discrepant handwriting, unusual answer patterns, and inconsistent performance on different parts of the test. Before canceling scores pursuant to this paragraph, ETS notifies the test taker in writing about its concerns, gives the test taker an opportunity to submit information that addresses ETS's concerns, considers any such information submitted, and offers the test taker a choice of options. The options include voluntary score cancellation, a free retest, or arbitration in accordance with ETS's standard Arbitration Agreement. In addition, the test taker is sent a copy of the booklet, Why and How Educational Testing Service Questions Test Scores, which explains the process in greater detail. (This booklet is available to any test taker at any time upon request.)

Note: The retest option is not available outside the United States and Canada. The arbitration option is available only for tests administered in the United States.

Independent Intellectual Activity. Essay responses on the Analytical Writing section will be reviewed by ETS essay-similarity-detection software and by experienced essay readers during the scoring process. In light of the high value placed on independent intellectual activity within graduate schools and universities, ETS reserves the right to cancel test scores of any test taker when there is substantial evidence that an essay response includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:

• Text that is similar to that found in one or more other GRE essay responses
• Quoting or paraphrasing, without attribution, language that appears in published or unpublished sources
• Unacknowledged use of work that has been produced through collaboration with others without citation of the contribution of others
• Essays that are submitted as work of the examinee when the words have, in fact, been borrowed from elsewhere or prepared by another person.

When one or more of the above circumstances occurs, your essay text, in ETS's professional judgment, does not reflect the independent writing skills that this test seeks to measure. Therefore, ETS must cancel the Analytical Writing score as invalid and cannot report the GRE General Test scores of which the Analytical Writing score is an indispensable part.

Test Fairness and Score Use

ETS and the GRE Program have taken steps to ensure, to the extent possible, that tests and test scores are fair for all test takers, regardless of group membership. In addition, the GRE Board has developed Guidelines for the Use of GRE Scores, which summarize the considerations for appropriate use of GRE test scores and encourages institutions to use GRE scores appropriately. For more information, see the GRE Guide to the Use of Scores (PDF).

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