[nabs-l] taking the GRE

Sun May 27 04:20:03 UTC 2012

Hi,
So you all are saying the self voicing test is via computer; I assume then 
it is read to you through synthesized speech of some kind.
Maybe someone will clarify if it is currently in that format. Anyone here 
taken the GRE in the past year?

Other choices are braille and large print formats. I marked my answers 
through a reader for other braille standardized tests such as the SAT, so I 
would guess that using a reader for answers is the way it is now.
Six hours is double time; sounds like an involved test.
Is there reading comprehension involved? Also, is it
mostly multiple choice? If not, what format?

You all distinguish between paper and pencil test versus computer test.
Does this mean the tests are actually different questions? I thought the 
only difference was that one was on the pc in a soft copy format and had a 
different order of questions than the paper based test.

I can see the advantage of doing it with a reader and computer. Two of them 
are it is scored instantly and
may take less time.
But I also think there would be advantages with braille such as actually 
reading the sections yourself and taking time to analyze it to answer 
questions.

Thanks.
Ashley
-----Original Message----- 
From: Cynthia Bennett
Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2012 5:33 PM
To: Misty Dawn Bradley ; National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] taking the GRE

Arielle did a great job outlining the the GRE. It is unfortunate if
the self-voiced test is not ready, because the new GRE has been out
for a year. In any case, I would say that waiting for it if you can
would be worth it for the advantages like an instant score. You would
get a braille or large print supplement with the self-voiced test. It
would contain all of the questions. It is a hard copy duplicate of the
computer test. All of the math graphics are in the supplement and very
well done. There are descriptions in the self-voiced test, but you can
imagine that being able to touch raised graphics is much more quickly
understandable.

I think you can ask for 1.5 or double time. So, with double time, you
would get a little over 6 hours to take the test, and you can use the
6 hours however you want. With normal time, you would receive about 30
minutes per section, but with double time, you don't have to allot
double the time of each section and then start over. What I am trying
to say is that theoretically, you could use more than double time on
the math part if you needed it and if you could get through the verbal
and writing in less than double those time limits. I read braille very
well and comprehend things very easily and found that I was not rushed
and did not need all of the double time given to me, so I wouldn't
worry too much about whether it is enough unless you have other
circumstances.

If you do take the self-voiced test, ETS will send you a practice one.
You can go through tutorials before beginning the test which will not
use your test time, but I recommend knowing the keystrokes beforehand.

Once I got the accommidations process started, they were approved
quickly, but it is advisable to start a few months early. I had to
have a signed letter from an eye doctor and another letter from the
disabilities office at my school. ETS has to communicate with your
testing center of choice to see if they have the right equipment, a
computer with the right specs, so you need to allow for the time for
these communications to take place.

I bought some used Kaplan books and got a reader to help me with math
review. Be sure you get practice materials that reflect the content of
the new test.

One thing worth mentioning is that when I came in to take the test, I
brought headphones with me. My testing center was very hesitant, and
they wouldn't let me use them until they called ETS. ETS did allow me
to use headphones, but the testing center gave me a pair of theirs.
So, if you think you might want to use headphones, I would write it in
somewhere on your accommidations application and make sure ETS is ok
with it and that your testing center has a pair that you can use. It
wasn't that big of a deal, but on test day, you will probably feel
stressed and pressured and any little mishaps can seem like bigger
deals than they are. So take care of those things beforehand.

I will reiterate what Arielle said. The ETS disability office was very
helpful, and Ruth is easily accessible and can answer your questions.

Cindy

On 5/26/12, Misty Dawn Bradley <mistydbradley at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Arielle,
> So for the self-voicing test, how is the math section done, especially if
> there are graphics? Are they described within the self-voiced test? I just
> thought that I would ask, because if one does not have access to the
> graphics that a sighted person would have access to, then it may affect
> one's score on the test. I like the idea of the computerized, self-voiced
> test.
> Thanks,
>
> Misty
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Arielle Silverman" <arielle71 at gmail.com>
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2012 11:44 AM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] taking the GRE
>
>
>> Hi all,
>> I took the GRE way back in 2007 and many things have changed since
>> then. For the most up-to-date information, I suggest contacting Ruth
>> Loew, assistant director of disability policy at ETS, at
>> rloew at ets.org
>> She has been involved with NABS for a long time and is very interested
>> in helping blind students navigate the accommodations system.
>> I do know that you can get Braille prep materials for the verbal and
>> math sections. You can choose to take the test using Braille, large
>> print or through a reader. There was an accessible "self-voicing"
>> version of the computer test that can be taken independently via
>> computer, but I believe that since the test changed recently, we are
>> still waiting for the new self-voicing version to be finalized and
>> made available to test-takers.
>> If using Braille, I believe the only way to mark your answers is with
>> a reader, at least until the self-voicing test is ready. You are
>> allowed to use a Perkins Brailler to write the essays for the writing
>> section and to do scratchwork for the math section, but you will
>> eventually need to dictate your Brailled essay to the reader.
>> One disadvantage of the Braille test is that it is the "paper-based"
>> test, while the reader-administered and self-voicing versions are the
>> "computer-based" test. Nowadays most of your sighted peers applying to
>> grad school will be taking the computer test, and also the computer
>> test is scored instantly, whereas the paper test takes a while to be
>> graded. However, there are obvious advantages to using Braille if you
>> are a Braille reader. I personally think the self-voicing test is the
>> best option, when it becomes available, as a blind test-taker can
>> complete it independently and there is no risk of having your score
>> affected by a reader's mistakes in recording your answers. However,
>> each person's accommodation decision is an individual one of course.
>> If you decide to use a reader rather than Braille to complete the
>> test, I would suggest doing all your practice and studying with
>> readers rather than with Braille, so you can get used to answering
>> questions and processing the information in this way.
>> Best,
>> Arielle
>>
>> On 5/26/12, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>> I might need this if I try grad school. Also, how long will the test
>>> take
>>> when you get extended time? What subjects are tested?
>>> How can you mark your answers? I'd opt for braille if they can provide 
>>> it
>>>
>>> in
>>>
>>> braille. But you cannot mark in a braille test.
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Reinhard Stebner
>>> Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2012 10:31 AM
>>> To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
>>> Subject: [nabs-l] taking the GRE
>>>
>>> Are there any totally blind people on this list who have taken the GRE
>>> and
>>> could give me prep advice as well as how the actual test administration
>>> was
>>> done? For example, did you have a reader who was provided or did you use
>>> assistive technology? Also, what prep mete4rials did you use. Thank you
>>> for
>>> your help.
>>>
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>>
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>
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-- 
Cynthia Bennett
B.A. Psychology, UNC Wilmington

clb5590 at gmail.com
828.989.5383

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