What is the GRE Exam?

23 Jun What is the GRE Exam?

GRE Exam: Discussing about applying for higher education abroad and a word namely GRE pops up and you are all confused as to what it is. Now that you are reading this we will try our best to make you all informed about this buzzword that has become synonymous to higher studies abroad.

The Graduate Record Examination or the GRE test, conducted by Education Testing Services (ETS), is taken by individuals aspiring to apply for graduate studies in the field of business, engineering, natural sciences, humanities and arts, education, social sciences. GRE test scores are trusted and recognized at top business and engineering schools around the globe.

GRE exam evaluates the quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills of a candidate. The test aims at measuring skills that closely align with the ones required for success in a demanding graduate and business school program.

GRE Exam Format

Computer-based GRE exam is three hours and forty five minutes long excluding timed brakes and consists of following three sections:-

1. Analytical Writing
2. Quantitative Reasoning
3. Verbal Reasoning

Let’s talk about each section in detail:-

Analytical Writing

This section consists of two individually timed 30 minutes essays. The two essays are based on analysing an issue and analysing an argument.

Analyse an Issue – Here one is required to analyse the issue and development an argument which is to be supported with the help of reasoning and examples

Analyse an Argument –Over here one is required to evaluate the logical soundness of the argument. One has to point out the lack of evidence and underlying assumptions in reaching the conclusion of the argument.

The section is scored in 0-6 with half point increment.

Quantitative Reasoning

It consists of two 35 minutes sections consisting of 25 questions each. This section tests basic mathematical skills and elementary mathematical concepts like arithmetic, algebra, data analysis and geometry

Question types include:

• Quantitative Comparaison
• Multiple Choice, select one answer choice
• Multiple Choice, select one or more answer choices
• Numeric Entry

This sections contains an on-screen simple calculator as well, though it is advisable to practice manual calculations and avoid using calculator unless the calculation is too tough as completely relying on the calculator tends to be a time consuming process. Score is calculated on a scale of 130-170 in one point increment.

Verbal Reasoning

It consists of two 30 minutes sections consisting of 20 questions each. This section compromises questions on reading comprehension, text completion and sentence equivalence.

Reading comprehension consists of three questions types i.e. multiple choice-select one answer, multiple choice- select two answers and select in passage. Text completion consists of one or multiple blanks and you chose correct word for each blank. And in sentence equivalence, questions ask you to complete the sentences with two words among the option either of which will fit the bank. Score is calculated on a scale of 130-170 in one point increment.

ETS officially states that verbal reasoning evaluates one’s skills to:-

• Analyse and evaluate written material and synthesize information obtained from it.
• Analyse relationships among component parts of sentences.
• Recognize relationships among words and concepts.

The Extra Section

The GRE exam also consists of either an unscored section or a research section that doesn’t contribute toward your final scores.

• The unscored section will be an extra quantitative or verbal section with no way of identifying it. The paper will consist of total 5 sections and one has to give their best in all section.
• The research section will always be last and will be clearly marked. Consider yourself really lucky if you land up with this section.

There is no negative marking, hence making a random guess is wiser option than leaving the answer blank.

GRE Exam Adaptive Nature

The GRE exam is a section level adaptive exam. It means that:-

• The computer selects the difficulty level of second section based on one’s performance in the first section.
• Within the sections, every question contribute equally to your final score which is proportional to the number of questions answered correctly by you.
• Each section is important, since the final score is based on the total number of correct answers and the level of difficulty of the questions.

Navigating within a section

Within each timed section of GRE one can navigate freely, with support features like:-

• Preview and review options within a section.
• “Mark” and “Review” features to highlight questions, so one can skip them in the beginning and return later if there is time left for the section.
• One can edit or change answers within a section.

Breaks

There is a 10-minute break after the third section. One can either utilise entire 10 minutes for refreshments or cut short the break if needed be.  There are a one-minute breaks between every other section.

If one takes an impromptu break the timer will not stop, so it is best to continue with the test without disruption once it starts.

GRE Exam Registration & Requirements

The GRE test has no bar on the age limit, years of work experience or the degrees that one holds. To register for GRE one simply needs to create an ETS account at www.ets.org/mygre. The one requirement to take GRE is to prove your identity. In India, only a valid passport will suffice no other document like aadhar card, voter card, drivers licence etc. is considered valid by ETS. The name you use while registering for GRE must exactly match with the one in your ID proof.

One can register for GRE and select a date as per their preference all year long barring very limited off days. Though during certain periods in a year, due to high number of test takers getting a date and centre of preference might become difficult hence it is always advisable to register well in advance.

Rescheduling, Cancellation and Retaking

It is possible to reschedule GRE tests but it has to be done atleast 4 days before the actual test date by paying a nominal fee of 50 dollars or else the entire test fee will be forfeited.

Same as rescheduling it is possible to cancel the test with atleast 4 full days before the actual test to receive half of the fees as refund or else entire test fee will be forfeited. Refund policy might differ geographically hence it is better to check official ETS site before cancelling the test.

One can take GRE a maximum of 5 times in a 12 month period with a gap of minimum 21 days between two consecutive tests.

Reporting and Validity of Scores

Unofficial GRE test scores for verbal and quantitative reasoning sections are available instantly after finishing the exam. One can either cancel their scores or report the scores for free to maximum 4 schools immediately after the test. Official scores are available in your ETS account after about 10–15 days from the test day. The score report consist of all scores in your reportable history.

One can send official copies of the GRE test scores to the any number of schools after test day through their ETS account. All the test scores are valid for 5 years.

GRE vs GMAT

Almost all Business schools have started accepting GRE test scores for admission to their MBA, MiM and specialized master’s program. Most schools are following Harvard Business School’s stance in treating GRE scores equally with other business school admission tests. As mentioned on their website, “There is no minimum GMAT® or GRE score to apply and we do not have a bias toward one test or the other.”

For instance, all top European MiM programs except a few like RSM and TUM give equal weightage to GRE and GMAT for admission. Plus if you are unsure about the course you want to pursue but want to be done with an admission test, GRE gives you more flexibility with courses you can apply to in future.  

We hope this blog on the GRE Exam was useful in helping you understand the structure and pattern better. Wish you good luck for the GRE.