We Took The GRE At Home. Here’s What We Learned.
You’re in luck—everything you’ve wondered about the GRE at home is here. Not only are we going to cover technical requirements, such as what to do before test day, and what to expect on test day, but we’re also going to cover the experience taking the GRE at home from the perspective of a single person (“Stuart”)—during 2020, that is. Stuart told me about his experience and so I just want to make sure you know that this isn’t necessarily what your experience will be like. Still, in case it might be helpful, we decided to report how it went down for one of our teachers. (Stuart isn’t his real name.)
To get started, what happens first?
Your tech requirements
First, you’ll have to install the ETS Test Browser as well as the appropriate web browser and extension (ProctorU recommends the Chrome browser). You’ll also have to run the ProctorU system check.
Once you’re inside ProctorU, you have the option of filling out a Live Technician form to chat with a technician if you want to—this is optional. It’s straightforward—you just give the technician access to your computer, and they can then see and hear you over your webcam. They can also take over your mouse (like they will during your actual test).
If you have bad luck and experience a tech-related issue on test day that is so extreme that it prevents you from taking the test, all’s not lost. Yes, it’s annoying, but you’ll probably be given the option to reschedule your exam for free. I’ll talk more about this momentarily.
In general, be sure to carefully check out the technical requirements on the ProctorU resource center page and the ETS At Home information page prior to your test day. You are allowed to take the GRE on a computer, but not a mobile device. As of this writing, you can use a PC or a Mac. Oh, and ETS is now offering the GRE at home to test takers requiring accommodations, but be sure to confirm your accommodation with both ETS and ProctorU before your test to ensure that you’re all set.
Registration/Scheduling
You can register and pay for the exam here. After creating an ETS account, logging in, and locating the “Register/ Find Test Centers, Dates” button, you will select the GRE General Test. From here, you should be able to choose the “test at home” choice. (Hover over the “info” icon for the essential requirements.)
Before you can pick your test date and exact time, you’ll need to both register and pay your fee of $205. The at-home test is administered 24/7 as of this writing.
Finally, ETS will send you an order confirmation via email. You’ll get a separate email with instructions for scheduling your test date and time, which you should receive within 24 hours. You’ll be given an initial password, but, as always with initial passwords, our suggestion is to change it to a password that you’ll easily remember. Finally, after doing all of this, you’ll get your test reservation and see a countdown timer on your ProctorU dashboard.
Rescheduling/Cancellation
According to the ETS website, the normal cancellation policy applies to the at home GRE—you’ll need to cancel at least 4 days in advance in order to receive a partial refund. However, you can reschedule your test for free at any time before your appointment. Just go to your ProctorU dashboard.
Getting ready for test day
As of this writing, the official website FAQ page does not address accommodations. However, several of our students have been told that accommodations are not being offered for the at-home option, and that test takers requiring accommodations will need to wait until testing resumes at test centers. It is possible this policy could change, and we will update this post as we learn more.
Getting Ready for At-Home GRE Test Day
Here’s the most important part: since you’ll have to use a surface that you can erase on (like a white board that teachers use in classrooms) for scratch paper, you will need to buy one. If you order one online, be sure to allocate plenty of time for it to arrive. Deliveries are still delayed, so be generous about this time allocation!
You should watch the Student Walkthrough Video so that you know what the check-in process will be like. Be sure also to check out the ETS At Home information page as well as the Pre Exam Checklist Video.
What to expect on test day
Half an hour before your scheduled time (this is according to ETS, that is—ProctorU doesn’t actually tell you that you need to be early at all, so this is just playing it safe), sign in on your ProctorU dashboard. Your ProctorU exam link will become active just before your scheduled start time, and you’ll be given some instructions.
Make sure you have an government-issued ID on hand. Then ProctorU will screen share, access your video and audio, and take over your computer. Your proctor might be early or late—if late, just hold tight; they’ll get there.
Once your proctor shows up, he/she/they will tell you what to do next. You’ll probably be asked to place your phone out of reach (like across the room), and you’ll probably ask to pan your camera around to show the proctor the four corners of your room. You’ll also have the show the proctor what your erasable surface looks like (your whiteboard, or whatever you’re using). Finally, the proctor will unlock your test, and you’ll be free to begin!
Our instructor “Stuart’s” experience taking the test
Mostly Stuart’s proctor interacted with him through the chat rather than verbally, but a handful of times, she did hop on the mic. Before his test started, Stuart’s proctor told him that he could use both a whiteboard and the Manhattan Prep GMAT yellow pad. (Not everyone has been told this, however, so be aware that you may have a proctor who only allows you to use one erasable surface. Also, one person was asked to rip off the cover of the yellow pad because it had writing on it—so be prepared possibly to have to do that if you’re using a yellow pad—you may want to have scissors nearby. Also note that, though the GMAT yellow pad can’t be used for the GMAT Online.)
Even though it was not ETS policy, Stuart’s proctor also allowed him to have snacks on the table next to him, so that was interesting.
When Stuart asked the proctor if he could get up for a bathroom break during a section (as opposed to during the break), the proctor told him to ask verbally if he needed to leave the room. Stuart didn’t end up needing to try this, but that’s what he was told.
The only technical glitch Stuart had was during his essays section. There was an issue using his mouse, and so he tried to flag down the proctor but didn’t get a response. He spent about three minutes trying to get the proctor’s attention (of 30 minutes allocated for writing that essay) and ultimately decided to proceed with the section, never having heard from the proctor.
It wasn’t until Stuart’s 10-minute break (the only break during the test) that Stuart once again tried to communicate with the proctor. He spoke and waved and, getting no response, got up to take his break. When he returned, his break time hadn’t expired, so he waited, eventually accessing the chat with the proctor through the Windows menu on his screen. The proctor then started the next section of the exam.
At the conclusion of Stuart’s exam, he received his scores for the quant and verbal portions of the test, just like one does at a test center. (Note that your scores don’t appear in your ETS account right away—that takes a few days.)
What to take away from Stuart’s test-taking experience:
- Particular calls made by your proctor around what and what not to permit may not align with ETS’s stated policies. Rules seem to vary based on who is proctoring your test.
- Stuart had some issues trying unsuccessfully to communicate with his proctor, but it didn’t ultimately have a negative impact on his test in any significant way.
- For Windows users, it could be useful to know that your Windows key could be helpful if you find that you are unable to access the chat window to communicate with your proctor.
Conclusion
ETS has announced that the GRE At Home will be available for as long as necessary due to the pandemic, so you will continue to have this option should you prefer it to a test center, at least for the time being.
Want help studying? Go take a look at our GRE Starter Kit study syllabus, where you can also take a free full-length practice test. Good luck!
RELATED: Coronavirus GRE Updates and Accommodations
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Mary Richter is a Manhattan Prep instructor based in Nashville, Tennessee. Mary is one of those weirdos who loves taking standardized tests, and she has been teaching them for 15 years. When she’s not teaching the LSAT or GRE for ManhattanPrep, she’s writing novels under the last name Adkins. You can find them wherever you buy books. Check out Mary’s upcoming GRE prep offerings here!