GRE
Registration
Mode of Test
Exam Syllabus
Scores
Step 1 Register On ETS Website
Registering for the GRE is a fairly uncomplicated process. Initially, you must create an account on the ETS website. Once done, proceed to the “My GRE Home” page, select “Register,” and then “Find Test Centers” to complete the online registration. It’s important to note that ETS administers the GRE exclusively at Prometric test centers. The registration fee for the exam is $205, and upon payment, you’ll receive a confirmation email from ETS containing details about your test date and time.
In case you wish to change your test center or reschedule your exam at a later stage, you may have to pay an additional $50. ETS does offer fee reductions to students who demonstrate financial hardship.
If you need to cancel your test, ETS requires you to do so at least four days before the test date to qualify for a partial refund.
Step 2 How Is The GRE Test Conducted?
The GRE exam is offered in two formats by ETS. The Paper-delivered test, which lasts for 3 hours and 30 minutes, and the Computer-delivered test, which takes 3 hours and 45 minutes. Paper-delivered tests are infrequent, taking place only three times a year, whereas computer-delivered tests can be scheduled throughout the year. The computer-delivered test is section-adaptive, meaning that the next section of the exam is determined by your performance in the previous section.
The GRE, also known as the General Test, has an average duration of 3 hours and 40 minutes and consists of three primary sections: Analytical Writing, Verbal Section, and Quantitative Reasoning. There is also an Unscored and Research section, which is variable in nature, that ETS does not count toward the actual GRE score. This section can be either quantitative or verbal.
Many students are often confused about the GRE exam. It is a comprehensive assessment of a student’s abilities, including essay evaluation, critical thinking, analytical writing, and problem-solving skills. Furthermore, the test evaluates how well you handle time pressure and work under stress. It is widely recognized as a reliable indicator of a student’s aptitude and readiness for graduate-level studies, with over half a million students taking the test annually before applying.
The exam is made up of three primary sections: Analytical Writing, Verbal Section, and Quantitative Reasoning. The Quantitative and Verbal sections are each scored on a scale of 130-170, while analytical writing scores range from 0-6. Some colleges may require additional test sections in addition to the GRE, but they are not included in the final score. Therefore, your GRE test score will be out of 340 marks, and it remains valid for five years.
Step 3 GRE Exam Syllabus
Let’s examine the different sections of the GRE exam and the skills they test.
Analytical Writing
Analytical Writing assesses your ability to analyze and articulate your thoughts on complex topics. The first task, “Analyze an Issue,” requires you to express your viewpoint on a general topic after considering its pros and cons. The second task, “Analyze an Argument,” involves evaluating two sides of an argument and strengthening your argument.
Verbal Section
In the Verbal Section, you will need to comprehend written content and answer questions based on it. This section includes 10 Reading Comprehension questions that test your understanding of a passage, as well as 6 Text Completion and 4 Sentence Equivalent questions that assess your vocabulary and ability to comprehend sentence context.
Quantitative Reasoning
Quantitative Reasoning evaluates your problem-solving skills and fundamental mathematical concepts such as Algebra, Geometry, and Data Analysis. This section contains 7-8 Quantitative Comparison questions, which assess your problem-solving speed, and Problem Solving questions, which test your ability to think laterally and understand the context and relevant data.
The significance of your GRE score can vary depending on the institution and program you are applying to. While some institutions may consider your test scores a crucial factor in their admissions decisions, others may view it as a formality. Nevertheless, most institutions have their own criteria for factoring your GRE test scores into their selection process.
Step 4 Average Scores
On average, the scores for the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the GRE range from 130 to 170, with an average score of 150-155. The average score for the Analytical Writing section is 3.5, with scores ranging from 0 to 6.