Though you don’t need to take many entrance exams for master’s in psychology programs, you do need to take the General Records Exam. Better known as the GRE, this is a test that evaluates your knowledge in different areas. Nearly every graduate school in the country with a psychology program requires that you submit your GRE scores along with several letters of recommendation, a completed application and an application fee.
What is the GRE?
According to the Educational Testing Service, the GRE is a test that consists of a Verbal Reasoning section and a Quantitative Reasoning section. Each section consists of two different levels of questions. If you do well to the easier questions, the exam will increase the difficulty level of questions found on the next section. When scoring your exam, the test will take into account the difficulty of each question you answered correctly and give you a higher score for answering those harder questions. You can take other tests, but most schools only require that you take these two and not any other entrance exams for a master’s in psychology.
How to Take the Test
Prior to taking the test, you must create an account with ETS and register a credit or debit card. The test is available through computerized testing centers, which you can locate on the ETS website. After selecting the location nearest to you, you can search for a time that fits with your schedule. If you live in an area without a nearby testing center, ETS will let you take a paper test, but this version of the examination is only available a few times each year. You must arrive to the testing center at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time to register and prepare yourself. Most students take up to four hours to complete the test.
Submitting Your Scores
When you take the GRE, you have the chance to submit your scores to four colleges or universities. You can select schools from the list available when you register or at the testing center. Students also have the option of requesting that they receive a copy of their scores from the center before deciding where to send those results. The ScoreSelect is another option for those taking the GRE. With this option, you decide where to send your scores and when to send the results, which lets you avoid sending any low scores.
Getting the Scores You Want
There are a number of different books that you can buy that will help you better prepare for the GRE. Those books include tips on studying for the test and samples of questions. Tutoring centers offer test prep courses that give you sample tests and show you where you need further review. If you take the test and aren’t happy with your results, you can retake the test as many times as you need, but you do need to pay the fee each time you take the test.
Entrance exams let schools see your strengths and weaknesses, but many schools only require that psychology students take the GRE. Some schools place a high level of importance on those scores, and other schools will only accept students with a score above a certain level. Most schools no longer have their own entrance exams for Master’s in Psychology, but those schools will test your knowledge with the GRE.
Related Resource: How Should I Start Preparing for a Master’s in Psychology While Earning My Bachelor’s Degree?