The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test that is an admissions requirement for most graduate schools in the United States. Administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS) in 1949, the exam aims to measure verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, and critical thinking skills that have been acquired over a long period of time and that are not related to any specific field of study. The GRE General Test is offered as a computer-based exam administered at Prometric testing centres as well as a paper - based exam in areas where computer-delivered testing is not available.
The overall testing time for the paper-delivered GRE® revised General Test is about three hours and 30 minutes. There are six sections with a 10-minute break following the second section. The overall testing time for the computer-delivered GRE® revised General Test is about three hours and 45 minutes. There are six sections with a 10-minute break following the third section.
Measure |
Number of Questions |
Allotted Time |
Analytical Writing |
Section 1: "Analyze an Issue" task |
30 minutes per section |
Verbal Reasoning |
25 questions per section |
35 minutes per section |
Quantitative Reasoning |
25 questions per section |
40 minutes per section |
Source: www.ets.org
The unscored and research sections are experimental questions that are introduced by ETS to further enhance its testing standards. They can either be analytical or verbal.
Registration Fee:
The cost to take the test is US$195, although ETS will reduce the fee for those GRE applicants who prove economic hardship.
The GRE® revised General Test is available at more than 850 test centers in more than 160 countries. It is offered as a computer-delivered test year round at most locations around the world and as a paper-delivered test up to three times a year in areas where computer-delivered testing is not available. You can take the GRE revised General Test once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period (365 days).
The GRE revised General Test is the only admissions test for graduate or business school that lets you skip questions within a section, go back and change answers, and have control to tackle the questions within a section you want to answer first. The unique ScoreSelect option lets you retake the test and then send ONLY your best scores. Since thousands of schools all over the world accept GRE scores, it gives you more opportunities. Lastly, the GRE scores are valid for 5 years, giving you enough time to apply to colleges in an informed manner.
The GRE is accepted for courses other than MBA, and some business schools have even started accepting GRE scores in lieu of GMAT scores for over 1200 MBA programs. However, most of the business schools still accept the GMAT as the only test for admission purposes. The preferred GRE – GMAT conversion tool used by the business schools is the ETS Comparison Tool. Both scores are valid for 5 years and judge almost the same areas of aptitude. The GMAT consists of 4 sections: an analytical writing assessment, integrated reasoning, the quantitative section, and the verbal section; whereas the GRE consists of six sections: an analytical writing section, two verbal reasoning sections, two quantitative reasoning sections and one experimental section which can be either verbal or qualitative. GRE is offered in both paper based and computer adaptive formats, whereas the GMAT is available only in the computer adaptive format. Candidates of GRE get 3.5 hours for the paper format and 3.75 hours for the computer adaptive formats. The GMAT offers 3.5 hours for the test. If one talks about the cost of registration, the GRE is US$55 cheaper than the GMAT.
To decide which test to take, it always helps to look up the requirements of the schools you wish to apply to. Taking mock tests for both is also a good idea to judge which test is more suitable as it may vary from person to person. For further guidance, get in touch with the nearest Career Launcher centre.