The author, an English professor, shares his experience in retaking the Graduate Record Examination in English literature, 25 years after he entered graduate school at the University of Virginia. He took the practice test instead of the "real" test, for a number of reasons. He wanted to be able to look over the questions afterward; to see what percentage of test takers had gotten each question right; and to get his score immediately. Here, the author talks about the test and contemplates the exam's worth in light of his discipline's values.