Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standard test that students need to take to pursue post graduation courses. It is widely accepted across popular study abroad destinations such as the US, the UK, Canada, and other countries across the world. If you are planning to study abroad, here’s a GRE Exam guide.

A quick glance at the GRE test

Name of the Exam	Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Level of Exam	International
Who should appear for the GRE exam	Students who aspire to pursue postgraduation study programs
Conducting Body	Educational Trust Service (ETS)
GRE Subject Test’s disciplines	Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology
GRE General Test format	Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning
GRE Subject Test duration	2 hours and 50 minutes
GRE General Test duration	3 hours and 45 minutes
GRE total score	260-340
Results	10-15 after the test

 

GRE Eligibility

You don’t have to worry about any specific eligibility criteria for GRE Exam. The test is designed for undergraduate students interested in pursuing higher studies. If you are proficient in English, you will earn some brownie points. Students cannot get admission to universities solely based on their GRE scores. So, you will also be required to fulfil other eligibility criteria that the universities have set for the program, such as English proficiency tests. 

GRE Subject Test

GRE Subject Test is conducted for universities to evaluate the students’ knowledge about their subject of interest. So, the four subjects available under this test are Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology. Students applying for the GRE exam are from different countries and have different educational backgrounds, so this test proves to be helpful. 

The GRE Subject Test scores supplement recommendation letters and undergraduate records and add to other qualifications required to secure a seat in the premier educational institution. These GRE exam scores give the admission panel an idea about the applicant’s knowledge of specific subjects, thereby showcasing the student’s strength in specific subject areas.

GRE General Test 

The GRE Subject Test is available online and at the test centres too. The students are required to complete this GRE exam within 3 hours and 45 minutes (including breaks).

The GRE General Test analyses skills learnt by the students over a period of time. It has three sections – Verbal Reasoning, Analytical Writing and Quantitative Reasoning. 

• The Verbal Reasoning of GRE exam will comprise Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence sections. 
• Quantitative Reasoning will evaluate arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis skills.
• The Analytical Writing section consists of two tasks. The student will get 30 minutes for each section. You will have to present your point of view with supporting arguments for these two tasks.  

Pro tip: You can use the ScoreSelect option introduced in GRE Exam to send selective scores to educational institutions. For instance, if you have appeared for the GRE test thrice but got three different scores each time, you can share the best score. This way, you get an opportunity to strengthen your chances of securing your university spot. Isn’t that fantastic?

GRE Exam marking system:

GRE Subject Tests are scored on a 200-990 score scale in 10-point increments. The GRE General Test marking system is slightly different. The Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning section scores are given on a 130–170 scale with a one-point increment, while the Analytical Writing section is marked on a 0–6 score scale with a half-point increment. GRE Test Scores are valid for 5 years from your GRE exam date.

How to register for the GRE exam?

You can register for a GRE examination online. If you want to register online, you need to create an account on the official GRE website. Once you have created the account, you can then register for the exam and later check your exam scores using the same ID.

GRE Exam Schedule

• GRE General Test

GRE General Test is available once every 21 days, which you can take only five times a year. The online test is available 24*7, which means you can appear from the comfort of your home. For tests available at the centre, you will have to check the dates on the official website.

• GRE Subject Tests

GRE Subject Tests are conducted three times a year in September, October, and April. 

GRE Results

The scores will be available 10-15 days after your test. So, check your email regularly as you will receive the notification via your email. The scores will also be shared with your university. So, when you register, ensure you enter the correct details of your university. 

So, now that you have all the information, you can start preparing for the GRE tests. If you have further queries, please connect with us. We will be glad to assist you. Wish you all the best.