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GRE General Test: Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Scoring and More

OverviewGRE General Test▾Application Process▾Preparation▾Score▾Sample Papers▾Cutoff▾News

Content Curator | Updated On - Apr 22, 2024

Wondering about the GRE general test, and why is it important? GRE general test tests your thinking capabilities that graduate schools demand for courses like business and law. The GRE general test consists of Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical writing assessment. What does each of the sections in the GRE general test? Well, verbal reasoning deals with the ability to conclude discourse, understand the meaning of individual words, etc. The GRE quant section measures your ability to analyse and interpret quantitative data. GRE analytical assessment focuses on your ability to articulate complex ideas and support statements.

Do you know about the recent changes made to GRE? The total duration of the general graduate record examination has been now reduced to 1 hour and 58 minutes, instead of 3 hours and 45 minutes. The number of tasks in the GRE AWA section has now one task for 30 minutes. You will now have two sections in the verbal reasoning section of 12 and 15 questions respectively. Both sections need to be completed within 18 and 23 minutes. Before taking the test, make sure that you check the GRE eligibility. What is the difference between the GRE general and GRE subject tests? You must know that the GRE general exam tests your verbal, quantitative, and analytical skills; whereas, the GRE subject tests, evaluate your proficiency in a specific subject like physics, biology, or maths.
How can you prepare for the GRE graduate record examination general test? Firstly, you should make a proper GRE study plan if you want to score a perfect 340 on the exam. You can also prepare a study plan for a month if you want to be ready within a month. For week 1, you should take a diagnostic test and understand your weak and strong areas. Get to know the exam format and score structure. Once you have set your target scores, practice each of the sections in week 2 and focus on areas for improvement. In week 3, you must enhance your vocabulary for the verbal reasoning section using flashcards and books. Week 4 is the final week of your preparation, whereby this time you should be confident about taking the test. How can you understand the GRE scores? Graduate record examination, the GRE general test total score is 340. The verbal and quant section is scored on 150-170 and the GRE AWA is scored from 0 to 6.

Table of Content

GRE Test Pattern
General Test Syllabus
2.1 Syllabus for Verbal Reasoning
2.2 Syllabus for Analytical Writing
2.3 Syllabus for Quantitative Reasoning
GRE Scoring
3.1 Validity of GRE
3.2 What is a Good GRE Scores?
Register for GRE
Prepare for GRE
5.1 Preparation Resources
FAQs

GRE Test Pattern

GRE General Test Pattern is different for computer based tests and paper based tests. The score range for both the tests is 260 to 340 and contains three modules: Verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing. Following chart shows the pattern of GRE Exam:

GRE General Test Syllabus

GRE General Syllabus includes different concepts of three different modules: analytical writing, verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning. ETS GRE book contains the syllabus for all modules. GRE syllabus is designed to evaluate specific skills of candidates like creative writing, reasoning, analytical thinking etc. There is a particular time duration for each section and different question types. Following subsections provide GRE Exam syllabus for GRE general test for Ms and other programs:

GRE Syllabus for Verbal Reasoning

The time duration for GRE Verbal Reasoning is divided in two sections. minutes minutes. There are12 questions in section 1 and you need 1: 18 minutes to complete it. Section 2 has 15 questions and you must completed it within 2: 23 minutes. The question types of Verbal reasoning are reading passages, sentence completion, Text compeltion and sentence equivalence. The topics included in Verbal Reasoning are:

Modifiers
Subject verb agreement
Adjective
Noun
Pronouns
Idioms and expression
Tenses
Active and passive voice
Parallelism
Pronouns agreement

GRE Syllabus for Analytical Writing

Analytical writing section of GRE includes 1 section containing 1tasks. The time duration is 30 minutes minutes for analytical writing. GRE Analytical writing checks the analysis and creative writing and reasoning abilities of a candidate. Following are the task types and descriptions for each task:

Analyze an Issue : this task presents an opinion on an issue and instructions on how to respond. You are required to evaluate the issue, consider the complexities and develop an argument with reasons and examples to support your views.

GRE Syllabus for Quantitative Reasoning

GRE quantitative reasoning has two sections. Section 1 has 12 questions with 1: 21 minutes time to complete and section 2 has 15 questions with 2: 26 minutes to finish. The GRE Quantitative reasoning section questions are generally in the form of MCQ based on arithmetic, geometry and Data Analytics. The Quantitative reasoning section of GRE evaluates the numerical, analyzing, reasoning and problem solving skills of a candidate. Following table provides detailed syllabus for GRE quantitative reasoning section:

Topics	Concepts
Geometry Topics	parallel and perpendicular lines circles triangles, inclduing isosceles, equilateral perimeter volume parallelogram polygon congruent and similar figures sphere cuboid and cube lines and angles rectangle square angle measurement in degrees the Pythagorean theorem
Arithmetic Topics	Arithmetic progression geometric progression polynomials inequalities monomials coefficient degrees constants terms variables factoring and simplifying exponential operations
Data Analytics Topics	random variables probability of independence events and compound events line graph bar graph pie chart box plots scatter plots and frequency distribution counting methods venn diagram permutations and combinations statistics mean, median and mode range

GRE Scoring

GRE score ranges from 260 to 340. The scores are mainly calculated by adding the verbal reasoning and quantitative section of GRE. The scoring of quantitative reasoning and verbal reasoning ranges from 130 to 170 with 1 mark increment. The scoring of analytical reading is scored on a scale from 0 to 6 with point half increment. Following table provides the scoring system of GRE:

Category	Minimum marks	Maximum marks
Verbal reasoning	130	170
Quantitative Reasoning	130	170
Analytical writing	0	6
260	340

Validity of GRE

The validity period for GRE is 5 years. The expiration of 5 years is counted from the date of examination given and not from the date of result. GRE results usually appear within 15 days after giving the examination. GRE results appear on the ETS official website and students are notified through mail ID. After the expiration of the validity of GRE scores students have to reappear for the exam and expired courses are not accepted by any institution. The scorecard of the GRE contains contact information, date of birth, gender, test scores and test dates.

What is a Good GRE Score?

Students aspiring to take admission abroad in post-graduation and Master's programs are required to submit GRE scores. The GRE score requirement for each University and institution is different and depends upon the program selected by the candidate. The score of 300 is considered to be eligible, acceptable and good for admission into any post graduation program. Students above 280 marks are also considered eligible but might have difficulty based on the university acceptance rate. Students must try to achieve more than 290 or 300 GRE scores.

How to Register for GRE?

Students can register for GRE from the official website of ETS. Students can appear for GRE for 5 times in a year with a gap of 21 days between two GRE Exams. Following are the steps to register for GRE from the official website of GRE:

Create a profile at ETS website and register for GRE.
Submit GRE application form
Select the GRE Test date and Test center location
Pay the application fees
Submit the application form and wait for the message. The message contains date, time and center.

For GRE home based test, students are required to submit home based applications and all equipment is arranged at home. An online proctor is appointed to keep watch on the student.

How to Prepare for GRE?

To score high on GRE students must focus on preparation strategy. World tips and tricks as well as strategies which help students to score high in GRE. Students can also take help from online study materials including books, online courses, mock tests, GRE practice tests and more. Following are a few tips and strategies to help students score high on GRE:

Prepare a well structured study plan and preparation period before appearing for GRE exam.
Follow the official ETS GRE book for syllabus.
Students must keep a record of progress.
Focus on strengthening the weak points.
Be well aware of the pattern for GRE general exam and the score requirements of a particular University.
For Quantitative reasoning students must practice as much as possible.
Take help from online coaching courses and books.
Practice mock tests.

GRE Preparation Resources

There are several study resources which can be used to prepare for GRE exams. GRE Preparation Resources include GRE official guide, GRE general test sample, GRE general test book, online courses and more. Following are a few most famous websites which provide GRE preparation courses online:

Udemy
Magoosh
Jamboree
The Princeton Review
Kaplan Test Prep

There are several books and GRE guides which provide preparation for GRE. Following are a few best GRE general test prep book:

The official guide to the GRE general test
GRE Prep by Magoosh
Manhattan Book of GRE practice problem
Barron's GRE
GRE power vocab

Students can register for GRE from the official website of ETS. In case of non availability of GRE test centers students can select "find me a test center near me". There are two different types of GRE and the syllabus for each is different. The scoring and timing duration for GRE General and GRE Subject tests is different. The preparation resources online can be used to score high marks in GRE.

FAQs

Ques. What is the GRE General Test?

Ans. The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) General Test is a standardized test commonly used for admissions into graduate programs worldwide.

Ques. What sections are included in the GRE General Test?

Ans. The GRE General Test consists of three main sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing.

Ques. How long is the GRE General Test?

Ans. . The total testing time for the GRE General Test is approximately 1 hour and 28 minutes. Each section has a designated time limit.

Ques. What is the scoring scale for the GRE General Test?

Ans. The Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning sections are scored on a scale of 130 to 170 in one-point increments. The Analytical Writing section is scored on a scale of 0 to 6 in half-point increments.

Ques. How often can I take the GRE General Test?

Ans. You can take the GRE General Test once every 21 days, up to five times within a continuous rolling 12-month period.

Ques. When should I take the GRE General Test?

Ans. It's advisable to take the GRE General Test well in advance of your graduate school application deadlines, several months before.

Ques. How should I prepare for the GRE General Test?

Ans. Preparation strategies may include studying with official GRE materials, taking practice tests, enrolling in prep courses, and utilizing online resources.

Ques. Are there any differences between the computer-delivered and paper-delivered GRE General Tests?

Ans. The content and format are the same, but the mode of delivery differs. The computer-delivered test is the most common format, while the paper-delivered test is offered in areas where computer testing is not available.

Ques. Do I need to prepare for the GRE General Test if English is not my first language?

Ans. If English is not your first language, it's essential to prepare for the verbal and analytical writing sections, which assess English language proficiency.

Ques. Is there a fee to take the GRE General Test?

Ans. there is a fee to register for the GRE General Test. The fee may vary depending on your location and testing format.

Ques. Can I use a calculator during the GRE General Test?

Ans. A basic on-screen calculator is provided for use during the Quantitative Reasoning sections.

Ques. How soon will I receive my GRE General Test scores?

Ans. You'll receive unofficial Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning scores immediately after completing the test. Official scores are available approximately 8-10 days after the test date.

Ques. How long are GRE General Test scores valid?

Ans. General Test scores are valid for five years from the test date.

Ques. Can I send my GRE General Test scores to multiple institutions?

Ans. You can send your scores to up to four graduate programs or business schools for free. Additional score reports may incur a fee.

Ques. What if I need to cancel or reschedule my GRE General Test?

Ans. You can cancel or reschedule your test appointment, but fees may apply depending on the timing. Make sure to check the ETS website for their policies

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.