GRE

Format · Timing · Scoring · Policies

The Graduate Record Examinations® (GRE®) General Test is a standardized test administered by ETS and accepted by graduate schools, business schools, and other advanced programs worldwide. It evaluates analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning skills. The test is delivered by computer, either at a test center or at home.

TOTAL TESTING TIME

QUESTIONS + ONE ESSAY

VERBAL & QUANT SCORE

ANALYTICAL WRITING SCALE

SCALE

Test Structure

The current GRE General Test is a shorter, section-level adaptive exam with five sections. The Analytical Writing section always comes first; the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections may appear in any order after it. There is no unscored research section and no scheduled break.

Measure	Sections	Questions	Time
AnalyticalWriting	1section	One“AnalyzeanIssue”task	30minutes
VerbalReasoning	Section1	12questions	18minutes
	Section2	15questions	23minutes
QuantitativeReasoning	Section1	12questions	21minutes
	Section2	15questions	26minutes
Total	5sections	54questions+1essay	About1hr58min

Current Format

The first Verbal and first Quantitative section are of average difficulty. The difficulty of the second section of each measure depends on your performance on the first. Within a section you can skip questions, mark them for review, and change answers.

What Each Measure Tests

Measure	Questiontypes	Skillstested
Analytical	Analyze an Issue (30-minute essay)	Articulatingcomplexideas supportingapositionwith ,
Writing		relevantreasonsandexamples andcontrollingstandard ,
		writtenEnglish
Verbal	ReadingComprehension;TextCompletion;Sentence	Analyzingwrittenmaterial understandingwordmeanings ,
Reasoning	Equivalence	andrelationships anddrawingconclusionsfromdiscourse ,
Quantitative	Quantitative Comparison; Multiple-choice (one answer);	Arithmetic algebra geometry anddataanalysis; , , ,
Reasoning	Multiple-choice (one or more answers); Numeric Entry; Data	interpretingquantitativeinformationandsolvingproblems
	Interpretationsets	withmathematicalmodels

Scoring and Score Reporting

Measure	Scorerange	Increment
VerbalReasoning	130–170	1point
QuantitativeReasoning	130–170	1point
AnalyticalWriting	0–6	Halfpoint

Verbal and Quantitative scores are reported separately; many programs also look at the combined 260–340 total. Official scores are posted to your ETS account 8–10 days after the test date, and they remain reportable for five years. With the ScoreSelect® option, you decide which test dates to send to each institution.

Registration, Fees, and Retakes

Policy	Details
Registrationfee	$249inmostlocations($23130inChina) .
Reschedulingfee	$55inmostlocations
Additionalscorereports	$40perrecipient
Retakerule	Once every 21 days up to five times in any continuous rolling 12 -month period ,
Deliveryoptions	Testcenterorathome(samecontent format andscoring) , ,
Calculator	Basic on-screen calculator for the Quantitative Reasoning sections

Exam Tip

Fees and policies are set by ETS and can change. Confirm current details in your ETS account when you register.

Why the GRE Is Important

Benefit	Whyitmatters
Wideacceptance	Accepted by thousands of graduate and business schools including top-tier institutions ,
Versatility	UsedforprogramsfromthehumanitiesandsciencestoMBAandmanylawprograms
Competitiveedge	Strengthensanapplicationandcansupportscholarshiporassistantshipeligibility
Self -assessment	Preparationrevealsskillgapstoclosebeforestartingarigorousgraduateprogram

The GRE assesses the skills that graduate study demands: analytical thinking, critical reading, and quantitative problem solving. Time invested in preparation builds a foundation for success in your chosen field.