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GRE Physics paper varies by country?

Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2016 1:12 am
by thunderflash
Hey guys, so I did the Physics GRE in Hong Kong, while one of my friends did his in Malaysia, on the same day, Oct 29th 2016. But after we discussed, we found out that our papers are not similar...and one of the papers seemed considerably easier than the other...how is this a standardized test? Is this a common practice of ETS? I would like to know if anyone has a answer to this question, as even the curves would be affected since it would be location-dependent.

Re: GRE Physics paper varies by country?

Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2016 11:24 am
by Qwaps
The different papers would be graded differently, each with their own curve (say, cut-off for 990, among other things).

Re: GRE Physics paper varies by country?

Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2016 11:40 am
by thunderflash
That is ridiculous. How is that a standardized test? Ridiculously unfair.

Re: GRE Physics paper varies by country?

Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2016 4:41 pm
by hanxx
You may get 990 with a raw score of 80 if the test was difficult and you may only get 900 with a raw score of 80 if the test was easy.

Re: GRE Physics paper varies by country?

Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2016 5:28 pm
by TakeruK
This is why ETS no longer publishes the raw score. Instead, the scaled score (out of 990) accounts for the difference in tests from one place to another. Also, although maybe between the two of you, the questions that you remembered/discussed made it appear that one test is easier than another, that doesn't mean it's objectively true!