Sylvan Learning of Gardena

Great place Fernando loves it there. staff very friendly… seeing some improvements on my son

I went here to take my GRE’s and it was a solid test taking site. Everything went smoothly and the noise was minimal. I have no major complaints (contrary to a previous review) and the staff were friendly!

Awesome staff!!!

It’s a friendly and safe environment for all.

This review is because this Sylvan Learning Center is a GRE test center. This facility is actually the closest one in Long Beach. I want to remember my GRE stories, so I’ll write it here.
The first time I scheduled for the GRE was some time last year. At that point in my life, I really didn’t know what I’m going to do. Having recently graduated UCLA, and finished my enlistment contract with the United States Army, doors should have been opened. I scheduled and planned to take the GRE as a practice test— a very expensive practice test. I basically didn’t study at all. I was that confident. But on my way to this testing facility, I had a change of heart. I didn’t want to go straight back to school. I wanted to have more free time, more freedom to enjoy life. I just finished college, I just got out of the Army. I want to fix myself, my personal life, my heart, meet new people. I wanted to play. I realized on the drive there that maybe I should «calm» down for a bit, so I busted a U-​turn and headed to Disneyland. I got to Disneyland and realized that it is not the happiest place on Earth, when you go there alone.
The second time I was supposed to take the GRE was a few months ago. I got tired of «playing» and expendable income was dwindling. I wanted to do something for my future. Education is an investment and going to graduate school will make me even more dangerous. I figure some call it graduate school, while others call it raising the debt ceiling. I’ve been studying for quiet sometime already. A friend of mine joined me early this year too – to study. We planned to take the GRE together. So we scheduled it – Gardena facility. I wrote it on my calendar. Come test day, we go to the testing facility, and they told me I wasn’t registered. My dumb ass forgot to register. The entire half a year studying, thinking that I was registered was a bust. What was funny was I studied more and longer than her. It was because I wrote «GRE» on my calendar. I guess I got confused. I should have wrote «register for this GRE day» instead. For half a year, I thought I was already registered. wah, wah.
Finally, I took my GRE a couple days ago. I had the reciept this time, so I was sure it was at that day. I was prepared. I even took a practice test before I took the actual test. I was there an hour early. When I checked in, they told me I couldn’t take my test with an expired drivers license. They asked me to get my passport. I showed them my military ID and they said that they can’t use that. So I went back home to get my passport. Five minutes on the freeway and I got a call from them telling me to go back, since the military ID should be alright. I drove back to the facility again and when they checked my ID they told me that I can’t use it because there’s no signature, and it was expired. wah wah… So I ended up driving back to my house to get my passport. I should had been stressed out, but I didn’t really care. At this point in my life, I know how to adjust. Adjust, and move on. I got back with my passport this time and took the exam.
So that’s my GRE stories. I did pretty alright. The my scores, the range I got, I think was good enough. I can still study some more. I actually sent my results already.
The people who work here was pretty understanding. It was my mistake for not bringing a valid ID. All was well.
So here’s my tips for the GRE testing day.
1. Bring a valid ID that is not expired
2. Take a practice test, before you take the actual test.
3. Don’t stress out. Just approach the exam as another practice.
4. Jack3D before you take the exam!