HYDERABAD: The revised Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) that was to be introduced from September this year has been cancelled by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) citing lack of enough testing sites.

According to David Payne, executive director of GRE Programme, at the ETS, the main reason for scrapping the new test was that ETS did not have the testing space necessary to accommodate the large number of candidates taking the examination. The current GRE is computer-based and administered at least six days a week throughout the year , while the new Internet-based test was to be conducted only 35 times a year.

Originally, the ETS had planned to launch the revised GRE worldwide in September. The test was designed to prevent possible cheating. The idea was to design 35 different tests for the allotted days so that students cannot memorise the questions and pass them onto other students. The plan was also to deliver the revised test through a new worldwide network of 3, 200 Internet-based testing centres in 198 cities.

Since there were not enough testing centres given the huge demand, it was decided to opt for the present format.

It is expected that nearly five lakh candidates from all over the world take the GRE test for admissions into US universities.

However, the decision sounds sweet to Indian students who were shocked with the closure of GRE registration last month without prior announcement.

Students now hope that the ETS will open registrations immediately.

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