GRE tests
The GRE is a widely recognized standardized test that helps graduate schools and business programs evaluate the preparedness and potential of their applicants. It assesses key skills in verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing. Accepted by numerous institutions globally, the GRE provides a uniform benchmark for comparing applicants’ abilities. Typically, individuals take this test to gain admission to graduate programs across diverse disciplines, including business, social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities.
What is The GRE tests
The GRE is open to anyone interested in pursuing a graduate or business administration program, typically aimed at college graduates or those planning to further their education internationally.
Many students opt to take the GRE to apply for master’s or doctoral programs, while others do so to enhance their chances of securing scholarships or fellowships. Additionally, the GRE is often a requirement for specific professional degrees, including the Master of Business Administration (MBA).
For international students, taking the GRE may be necessary as part of their application process for studying abroad. Prestigious universities frequently mandate this test to assess applicants’ qualifications.
Learn more about the GRE test
The GRE consists of six sections, starting with a 60-minute writing segment that includes both an argumentative and an issue-based task. Following that, there are two verbal reasoning sections, each lasting 30 minutes, and two quantitative reasoning sections, each lasting 35 minutes. Additionally, there is a 30- or 35-minute experimental or research section, which can be either verbal or quantitative.
The writing section is always administered first, while the other five sections can appear in any sequence. Test-takers have optional one-minute breaks after each section, as well as a 10-minute break after the third section. Overall, the computer-based GRE takes approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete, while the paper-based version lasts around 3 hours and 30 minutes.
- Analytical writing
- Verbal reasoning
- Quantitative reasoning
- Experimental or research section
- Computer adaptation
The Analytical Writing section of the GRE exam assesses your ability to think critically and communicate ideas clearly in writing. It consists of two tasks:
Issue Task: You are given a statement or issue and asked to take a position on it. You need to develop an argument, provide reasoning, and support your viewpoint with examples.
Argument Task: You are provided with a short argument or reasoning, and your task is to critique the logic of that argument. You don’t need to agree or disagree with the argument, but rather evaluate its reasoning and identify any flaws.
Key Points:
- Time: You have 30 minutes for each task.
- Evaluation: Your writing is scored on clarity, coherence, grammar, and the quality of your argument and analysis.
Focus on presenting well-organized responses with clear reasoning and proper use of language.
The Experimental or Research section in the GRE exam is an unscored section that is included to help ETS test new questions. It typically appears in the Verbal Reasoning or Quantitative Reasoning sections.
Here’s a brief overview:
- Purpose: It’s used to gather data on new questions for future exams.
- No Impact: It doesn’t affect your score, so you can focus on it without worrying about the outcome.
- Unlabeled: You won’t know which section is experimental, but it’s usually placed randomly.
- Content: The questions are similar to the scored sections but are not part of the actual scoring process.
Just treat all sections the same way and focus on doing your best!
The GRE is a computer-adaptive test (CAT), which means the difficulty of the questions you receive depends on your performance as you progress through the exam.
Here’s how it works:
Verbal and Quantitative Sections:
- The first section of each (Verbal and Quantitative) consists of 20 questions, and the difficulty of the second section is determined by your performance on the first. If you answer questions correctly, the second section will contain harder questions. If you answer incorrectly, the second section will have easier questions.
Impact on Scoring:
- Because the test adapts to your ability, your score is based not just on the number of correct answers, but also on the difficulty level of the questions you answered correctly.
Why Computer-Adaptive?:
- The goal of the adaptive format is to provide a more accurate measure of your ability by tailoring the test to your skill level.
Experimental Section:
- In addition to the adaptive sections, you may also encounter an unscored experimental section (Verbal or Quantitative), which does not affect your score.
The CAT format helps the GRE assess your abilities more efficiently, and it can make the test experience feel more personalized.
Types of GRE tests
GRE General Test
The GRE General Test is designed to measure the general abilities and skills required for graduate-level education. It assesses verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills. The test serves as a common standard for evaluating applicants in various fields of study, such as business, social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities.
GRE Subject Test
GRE Subject Tests are specialized tests that assess knowledge and understanding in specific subject areas. These tests are available for subjects such as biology, chemistry, English literature, math, physics, and psychology. Unlike the GRE General Test, the GRE Subject Test focuses on a specific discipline and is ideal for candidates who want to showcase their expertise in a particular field.
Note: Not all institutions and universities accept all tests, so you should check your university’s website and the official GRE website to make sure the test is available in your country and accepted at your university.
GRE exam questions and answers
How many times a year is the GRE test taken?
The GRE test is administered to applicants multiple times per academic year. Students can take the GRE test once every 21 days up to 5 times during any continuous 12-month period (365 days), meaning that you can only take the test 5 times per year and the year starts from the date of your first test.
Which month is the best month to take the GRE test?
Is GRE available online in 2024?
The GRE computer-adaptive test is available every month in most countries, except for weekends and public holidays. ETS has also introduced a new version of the GRE test at home, which is available if the applicant meets the system requirements set by the company
Is two months enough time to study for the GRE?
Yes, with a proper study schedule, 8 weeks (2 months) is enough to prepare for the GRE. It is possible to achieve the target score within this time frame.
What is the total duration of the GRE exam?
The duration of the GRE General test is 3 hours and 45 minutes. For the GRE Subject test, the total duration is 2 hours and 50 minutes.
Can I take the GRE test multiple times?
Yes, you can retake the GRE multiple times if you wish. However, it’s worth noting that different institutions have different policies regarding score consideration. Some may consider the highest scores from multiple attempts, while others may only consider the most recent score. It is necessary to check the specific requirements of the institutions to which you plan to apply. As we explained before, you can choose the score you wish to submit to the university or educational institution and it does not have to be the last one.
