The GRE, a computer-based test, gives you the option to cancel your scores immediately after you’ve finished taking the four-hour test. If you cancel, you will not see your scores, and they will not be sent to any schools.
When should you use this option? Short answer: NEVER.
Unless you’ve injured yourself seriously or an emergency has interrupted your test, you should not cancel your score. Let me repeat it again: unless some outside circumstance has prevented you from completing the test, do not cancel your scores.
People who are tempted to cancel their scores are often convinced they did not do well on the test. But it’s only been a minute since you finished, so panic is natural. If you studied and practiced, your performance on the test is worth recording, even if you don’t achieve the score you were aiming for. With ETS’s new score reporting options, you may be able to suppress certain scores and send only your best scores. And remember, if you cancel your scores, you won’t know how you did, which will only hurt you when preparing to take the test another time.
I’ve met students who have canceled the scores partway through this type of test and have had a very challenging time actually making it to the end of the test. One student canceled his score three times before getting through the whole test. Not only did he waste his time and money, but he also prolonged and worsened his anxieties about the test. Canceling your scores may seem like a way out of a bad situation, but it is actually a huge psychological obstacle that may prevent you from achieving the scores you want. So, don’t cancel!
