What Is The Experimental Section In GRE?

What is the GRE experimental section exactly?

The GRE experimental section is a placebo test for the GRE test takers, where an unbiased section, verbal or quant, may be presented as an experiment. 

What did I do to deserve this?

Nothing. Though it might seem more like a punishment than an experiment, the experimental section was made a part of the test, because ETS has to test new questions they created for future purposes.

Can’t I just figure out which section is experimental and skip it?

Well, you can and you can’t. The thing is, you cannot know exactly which section is an experimental section. But you can, at the very least, know whether the experimental section is math or verbal.

Is the GRE experimental section computer adaptive?

Fortunately, your performance on the GRE experimental section has no effect on the next section. The experimental section is not computer adaptive, and hence does not affect the difficulty levels of the upcoming sections.

Is the experimental section easier or more difficult than other sections?

Well, sadly, no one can tell. Since all the sections look alike, and since any one of the sections can turn out to be the experimental section, you won’t notice any differences.

Is there anything else I should know?

Yes, There is always something about the GRE that you should definitely know. Sometimes, instead of an experimental section, you may be presented with a research section at the end of the test.

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