<p>I recently received a letter from ETS offering me a free retest on the verbal section only, noting that "the computer algorithm may have selected a more limited range of test questions than was desirable."</p>
<p>The only catch to the free retest is that the new verbal score will unconditionally replace the old one. Hence, it may go up, down, or stay the same.</p>
<p>My original scores were 800Q/620V/5.0W. (By comparison, my SAT scores were 800M/730V/780W.) I am an electrical engineering student and understand that verbal scores aren't crucial, but then again, this is a free retest for my weakest section. Due to a rescheduled college final, I didn't have time to do any practice tests for the GRE, but I'm now free over the winter holiday. On the day of the test, I didn't recognize half of the vocab that showed up during my exam. I figured that if luck were on my side this time around, I might see words that I actually knew.</p>
<p>Do you think this is a risk that's worth taking?</p>
<p>It sounds like ETS is admitting to a fault that they believe unfairly lowered your score, otherwise they would not be offering you the free retest. I say take some time, study some word lists, do a few practice tests and take the retake. I mean, 620 is not a bad verbal score, but given the circumstance and the extra time you can have to focus on the one section, I doubt it could hurt you any. Worst case you do score lower, it won't change your 800Q which is the most important for an EE. I'd look at it (like you said) as a free retest of your weakest section without the chance of hurting your perfect quant score. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal.</p>
<p>Free is free, but then again it's your time. For reference, MIT's EE grads have an average GRE verbal of less than 600, so I'm not even sure that you should bother.</p>
<p>Considering your SAT score, I think your 620 is very good. I scored 800 twice on the SAT verbal, but only got 640 on the GRE verbal (I was getting 700+ on practice exams... don't know why it dropped so much). I am also an EE, but I am very bad with simple arithmetic (that's why I retook the SAT even though I got 800 verbal). </p>
<p>Putting myself in your shoes, I think I would retake it. I'm not saying that's a wise move, but I'm 100% sure that's what I'd do. :p Mainly just for the fun and challenge of it. I didn't practice/study for the verbal at all, so I would be stoked to take it all by itself without worrying about the quant! But you definitely don't need to take it at all. 620 is well above average for EEs.</p>
<p>I just took the GRE this Monday. How long did it take for you to get this notice? Even though I bet it's rare, I'm sort of hoping I get a similar offer. I'd love to retake the verbal and get my 700+ without stressing about the quant. :)</p>
<p>I just got offered the retest for my GRE. I had a 640 verbal. I'm taking it!! This is going to be fun. :)</p>
<p>Did you do the retest, "student"?</p>
<p>I knew my verbal was low compared to the few practice tests I took. I also remember feeling like the computer was sticking with easy questions, even though I was 100% sure I was getting them right.</p>
<p>I guess the retake offers are not that uncommon for the verbal.</p>
<p>When did you guys take the original test? My verbal score in November was 120 points lower than my score in October. I want to get a free retake, haha</p>
<p>Hmm. A 620 is good, especially for an engineering program, and if you don't get in I'd say that it's probably not because of your verbal score. Personally I'd probably focus on applying and preparing for graduation rather than retake the exam, since you are going into engineering (if it were another verbal field I'd say go for it).</p>