Graduate school hopefuls planning to take the Graduate Record Examinations after Oct. 1 can expect a new test format.

Instead of the 35-question multiple-choice analytical section - one of three multiple-choice sections - test-takers will have to write two essays. One essay requires the student to offer his or her personal opinion on a stated public interest issue, and the other asks the student to critique a written argument.

The essay section, formally called the Writing Assessment, is an optional section until Sept. 30.

But with change comes debate.

History senior John Rauchman, who is considering taking the test within the next year, said he is uncertain how effective the change will be.

“It involves thinking and less guess work,” Rauchman said. “Critiquing an argument sounds like a good idea, but to express your personal opinion on a standardized test isn’t a good idea because some judges might disagree with you.”

Tom Rochon, executive director of the GRE program, said the organization is optimistic about the new examination.

“We’re really excited about this writing measure,” he said, adding that the idea to change the test came up two years ago. “While you can learn a lot about a person’s reasoning ability through multiple choice, this is much better.”

He said he asked deans across the nation what they would like in a student, and their responses were a key reason why the test was created.

“What information would you like to have anywhere in the application?” Rochon said. “(Deans) say writing ability and critical thinking ability. The scoring of the essays hinges on the quality of the analytical argument.”

Rochon said students are always intimidated by change, but with the listing of all 300 possible essay questions for both sections on the group’s Web site at www.gre.org, students can relax a little.

Graduate School Dean Karen Klomparens said test takers can use the Web site as a key resource for preparation.

“People who are good writers will have the opportunity to show how good they are. If you’re not a good writer, then practice up,” Klomparens said. “Good writing is important to any graduate.”

Klomparens said being able to show off your critical thinking and writing skills is crucial if you want to be one of the 1,600 students admitted to graduate schools yearly - there are 12,000 applicants per year.

Yet both Klomparens and Rochon said the change should not affect graduate school enrollment across the nation.

“I would suspect if anyone wanted to go to graduate school, this would not deter them,” Klomparens said. “It’s just part of the application.”

If graduate school hopefuls are still unnerved, they can take refuge in knowing that the verbal section, which includes word and concept relationships, and the quantitative section, which focuses on mathematics, will both remain unchanged.

The revamped test will cost test takers an extra $10, bumping up the total to $115 for students in the United States and its territories.

Interdisciplinary studies in social science senior Jennifer Lambourne, who took the GRE on Saturday, did not learn about the new requirement until Friday, so the change did not affect her.

Lambourne said if she had known about the new requirements, she might have hurried to take the test before Oct. 1 to avoid the change.

Still, Lambourne said she might take the Writing Assessment independently. She said students will probably not be thrilled with the change, but they will have to get used to it.

“A lot of schools are just requiring (the essay section) from now on,” Lambourne said. “I think it’s just so students can be on the same playing field.”

Kristofer Karol can be reached at karolkri@msu.edu.