GRE-Quantitative questions - Graduate Record Examination (Quantitative)

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Aspiring graduate students juggling multiple responsibilities may be tempted to cram for the Graduate Record Exam, or GRE. But achieving an impressive score on this graduate school entrance exam is difficult without significant preparation, experts warn.

"A lot of our students, especially our students who are still in undergrad, will say, 'Oh, typically I'll study a weekend for a test, and ... be all set,'" says Dennis Yim, director of live online courses with Kaplan, the education and test prep company. "This test is not like that. ... The main thing students need to know is that it's not just about content, and it's not enough to have memorized hundreds of vocabulary words and have gone through the math syllabus that you haven't seen since high school. You need to be able to use that and become a problem-solver in the moment."

Yim says students who intend to take the GRE should take timed practice tests and analyze their performance on them so that they are confident enough to ace the exam when it counts. "You have to be comfortable," he says. "We like to call it, when we get dramatic, 'crisis prevention,' and so what it comes down to is a student's ability to perform to their level when the pressure is on, when the time constraints are real."

The test will undergo a makeover, with a newer, shorter version launching on September 22, 2023. Here's what you need to know about the test.

What is the GRE General Test?

How Is the GRE General Test Structured?

What are GRE subject tests?

How does the GRE General Test compare to a GRE subject test?

At-home version of the GRE general test.

Pros and cons of taking the GRE at home vs. in a test center.

What types of grad programs accept GRE scores?

GRE test scores.

How much does it cost to take the GRE?

How often are GRE tests offered?

When should you take the GRE?

What Is the computer-adaptive GRE General Test like?

How much do GRE scores matter?

How much time should you budget for GRE test prep?

What types of GRE test prep should you consider?

How does the GRE compare to the GMAT and LSAT?

How to raise a GRE score.

What Is the GRE General Test?

The GRE General Test is a standardized test created and administered by the Educational Testing Service, commonly known as ETS, that is designed to measure overall academic readiness for graduate school. Some grad programs require that applicants take not only the general test, but also a GRE Subject Test that assesses technical knowledge in a specific discipline like physics, psychology or mathematics.

Andrew Selepak, program coordinator of the master's program in mass communication with a specialization in social media at the University of Florida, says the GRE general test is similar to the SAT college entrance exam in that it assesses competence in math, memorizing and writing.

How Is the GRE General Test Structured?

In its current format, the general test includes three scored sections and one unscored section that collectively takes 3 hours and 45 minutes, with a 10-minute break built in. The three scored sections are analytical writing, quantitative reasoning and verbal reasoning. The two-question analytical writing section takes 60 minutes, while the quantitative and verbal reasoning sections include 40 questions each and last 70 and 60 minutes, respectively.

But one significant change coming in September is a shorter test that will be completed in 1 hour and 58 minutes. The analytical writing section will shrink to just one question – "Analyze an Issue" – to be completed in 30 minutes, while the quantitative and verbal reasoning sections will be reduced to 27 questions each and will need to be completed in 47 and 41 minutes, respectively.

The unscored section and the 10-minute break will be removed in the new version. Although the total test time will decrease, test-takers will have the same amount of time to answer each question, according to ETS.

What Are GRE Subject Tests?

GRE subject tests are content-based exams that assess a person's mastery of a particular field of study, such as physics or psychology. Each is designed for students who have majored in or extensively studied the particular exam subject. A grad school hopeful might take a math subject test in order to demonstrate quantitative skills to grad schools in fields where numerical competence is vital, such as computer science or economics.

“Very few schools require the subject test,” says Ryan Starr, an instructor with Manhattan Prep, a Kaplan test prep company. Students who fared well in undergrad and are pursuing that discipline in graduate school typically won’t need the subject test. But for those who struggled, the subject test can be a method to prove proficiency, he says.

Subject tests are offered in mathematics, physics and psychology, and ETS provides free digital practice books for each.

In September 2023, ETS will launch new versions of the physics and psychology subject tests, which will also be shortened to under two hours, says ETS spokesperson Kristen Mitchell.

Below is an overview of the syllabus covered on each test.

Mathematics. About half of this exam focuses on calculus while roughly a quarter concentrates on elementary, linear and abstract algebra, as well as number theory. The remaining questions cover miscellaneous syllabus typically included in an undergraduate math curriculum.

Physics. This exam typically includes questions on optics and wave phenomena; thermodynamics and statistical mechanics; classical mechanics; electromagnetism; quantum mechanics; atomic physics; special relativity and laboratory methods. It also includes questions on specialized physics syllabus such as nuclear and particle physics and condensed matter, but the specific syllabus covered depend on the individual exam.

Psychology. This exam includes questions on six aspects of psychology, including biological, cognitive, social, developmental, clinical and measurement and methodology.

How Does the GRE General Test Compare to a GRE Subject Test?

Yim says the general test focuses on assessing critical thinking abilities applicable in multiple disciplines, while a subject test is designed to determine how much a person knows about a specific academic subject.

"On the general test, expect to use more strategy than content, whereas ... when it comes to subject tests, there is a lot more content-based knowledge that is required," he says.

The subject tests tend to be more straightforward in terms of the questions asked, whereas the general test may feel more like a reasoning test, says Starr. He also notes that one of the main differences is that each section of the general test is timed, while the subject test is "self-paced," meaning test-takers generally have the flexibility to determine how much time to reserve for each section.

“On the GRE general test, the time limitations are a huge factor in how you handle the test, and they’re meant to be,” he says. “You’re meant to have to deal with the fact that you’ve got limited time, and probably time that’s too limited for you to do your best on every single problem, whereas the subject tests are really more about doing your best."

While the subject tests were historically shorter than the general test, the changes starting in September 2023 will make them roughly the same length going forward, at just under two hours each.

Alberto Acereda, associate vice president for global higher education at ETS, says prepping for a subject test is not entirely different from studying for the general test. "Similar to the General Test, to prepare for a GRE Subject Test, students should become familiar with the test content and structure so they know what to expect on test day," Acereda wrote in an email.

At-Home Version of the GRE General Test

During the coronavirus pandemic, ETS introduced an at-home version of the GRE general test. The company has continued to offer this option and appointments are "available around the clock, seven days a week," according to the ETS website.

"The GRE General Test taken at home is identical in content, format, on-screen experience, scoring and pricing to the GRE General Test taken at a test center," Acereda explained in an email. "Key differences include the at-home test is taken on a test-taker’s personal computer and is monitored by a human proctor online. ... All of the test features such as the ability to preview, review, skip questions and change answers while testing in a Test Center are also available when testing at home."

If you're planning to take the GRE at home, it's important to have supplies ready, Yim says. "That means doing some prep work beforehand to secure a whiteboard or transparent sheets, as well as a couple of fresh markers."

Tyler Johnson, a GRE instructor with Manhattan Prep, suggests that at-home GRE test-takers use a wired internet connection rather than wireless to minimize the risk of connectivity problems. They should also take the test in the quietest and most private room in their house.

"Keeping it private is important, because ETS is very big on making sure that you're the only person in the room to minimize cheating, so if you have roommates or a kid or someone who might accidentally walk in the room, you just want to make sure that they are aware of that," he says.

At-home test-takers should avoid scheduling the exam during a time when there might be significant external noise, testing experts say, adding that it's prudent to ask people in your household and neighbors to avoid being noisy during the test administration.

Pierre Huguet, CEO and co-founder of H&C Education, an admissions consulting firm, advises at-home test-takers to go through the ETS equipment and environment checklist and equipment check tool to ensure that they are set up to take the GRE at home. "Students should read the fine print and make sure they have the right equipment before registering for the at-home exam," Huguet wrote in an email.

Pros and Cons of Taking the GRE at Home vs. in a Test Center

Where to take the test depends on an individual’s situation and preferences, Starr says, noting that the at-home and in-person options tend to yield similar scores. Testing experts urge test-takers to take the test in the environment where they believe they will perform best.

Test-takers who live in rural areas far away from test centers may find the at-home version of the test more convenient, but should ensure they have a reliable internet connection, experts say.

Those taking the at-home test must go through an "extensive" process to demonstrate their environment is free of anything that could aid them in their test and a proctor monitors everything through a webcam, Starr says. Test-takers also must log into a secure connection that prevents them from opening other browsers while taking the test.

Amanda Medders Paldao, founder and director of Tri-Ed Tutoring, notes that some GRE test-takers get a powerful adrenaline rush when they walk into a test center, which helps them perform better than they might otherwise. This phenomenon, Paldao wrote in an email, is "just like an athlete who performs better in the big game than in practice."

However, some people panic immediately upon entering a test center, which makes them perform worse on the test than they might in a more familiar environment, so taking the test at home may be the optimal approach for them, Paldao says.

"The GRE at Home exam differs in that you will be alone in your room taking the test, rather than surrounded by other test-takers," Arash Fayz, founder and executive director of LA Tutors 123, wrote in an email. "If you are easily distracted, this can be an advantage since you won't have to worry about other test-takers making noise or getting in your eyeline. However, you should be mindful of the potential for distractions or technical issues at home."

Schools tend to view both the at-home and in-person the same, Starr says, "especially American schools." He says he's heard anecdotally that some European business schools are less eager to accept the online test and prefer students take the in-person option.

Kaplan and Manhattan Prep routinely survey business school administrators on how they view the at-home test compared to the in-person test and “98% of them said there’s no difference between those kinds of applicants," says Kaplan spokesperson Russell Schaffer. "No test-taker should feel that they’re at a disadvantage because they took the at-home test. They’re viewed completely equally."

What Types of Grad Programs Accept GRE Scores?

Many types of grad programs allow applicants to submit GRE scores, including master's, Ph.D. and professional degree programs in an array of disciplines ranging from liberal arts subjects to technical fields.

In latest years, it has become common for business schools to accept GRE scores in lieu of the GMAT, the traditional business school entrance exam.

And more than 100 American Bar Association-accredited law schools now accept the GRE for admission in lieu of the the typical law school entrance exam, the LSAT, Mitchell says.

GRE Test Scores

Students who successfully complete the GRE general test will receive three scores, in verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing. Verbal and quantitative scores range from 130 to 170, and these scores are always a whole number. Writing scores range from zero to six, and these scores are assigned in half-point increments.

Scores on GRE subject tests range from 200 to 990. On the psychology subject test, test-takers not only receive an overall score but also several subscores, ranging from 20 to 99, reflecting their knowledge of particular syllabus within the academic discipline.

Experts say grad school applicants should set their target GRE score based on the competitiveness of the programs where they are applying and the maximum score they believe they can achieve.

In order for a GRE score to have a positive impact on a prospective grad student's admissions chances at his or her target schools, it needs to be higher than the norm at those schools, Yim says. "If you reach that score, you are an average student, so the score really just doesn't help you."

The scoring ranges won't change with the new updates in September, but because there are fewer questions and sections, each question will count more toward the final score, ETS announced.

The shorter test will ultimately be better for students, says Craig Harman, senior manager of content and curriculum for GRE Programs at Kaplan. "But it does mean that every question they're going to answer, they need to be really sure that they're spending their time on that question," he says. "The penalty for wrong answers is going to go up a little bit."

Among the changes coming in September, test takers can expect to get their results within eight to 10 calendar days compared to the current time frame of 10 to 15.

How Much Does It Cost to Take the GRE?

In most parts of the world where the GRE general test is administered, the cost is $220, but there are two nations where the price is higher: $228 in Australia and $231.30 in China.

The price of GRE Subject Tests is $150 everywhere and won't change despite the impending changes to make the test shorter, according to ETS.

How Often Are GRE Tests Offered?

GRE general test appointments are offered year-round at physical test centers in most parts of the world, but slots are granted on a first-come, first-served basis. At-home testing is available worldwide, according to ETS, and time slots can be scheduled at any available day or time.

Registration for the GRE general test can be done online, by mail or by phone while registration for a GRE subject test is available online or by mail. You can take the general test once every 21 days and up to five times within a continuous 12-month period.

Starting in September 2023, the GRE subject tests will be offered in a computer-based format, Mitchell says, which will allow ETS to offer them in more locations, including in test centers worldwide and at home in most countries, she says. Subject tests can be taken every 14 days during testing windows in April, September and October.

"These changes are intended to bring greater accessibility, convenience and options to students around the world who want to stand out and show admissions committees they’re serious about and ready to attend competitive graduate programs," she wrote in an email.

When Should You Take the GRE?

GRE test-prep experts say grad school hopefuls should schedule the exam a few months before their grad school application deadlines to allow time to retake the test if the score is lower than they had hoped.

What Is the Computer-Adaptive GRE General Test Like?

The GRE general test "is section-level adaptive," Acereda explains, "which simply means that the second section of the test is selected by the computer based on a test taker’s performance in the first section. Every question from each section of the test contributes equally to the test taker’s final score which is based on the total number of correct answers as well as the difficulty of these questions.”

Acereda says a common mistake among GRE test-takers is spending disproportionate time on questions they find hard.

"Do not waste time on questions you find extremely difficult, since no question carries greater weight than any other," Acereda advises. "When you see a question that you think may require a lot of time, mark it, and come back to it after you have reviewed and answered the questions in the section that take less of your time."

How Much Do GRE Scores Matter?

GRE scores are a key factor that grad school admissions officers consider but are not necessarily the deciding factor, says Priyam Shah, a master tutor at IvyWise. "The GRE is part of the application package and doing well on it will certainly help your odds but other aspects of the application (college grades, extracurricular activities, recommendations, etc.) carry weight as well," Shah wrote in an email.

Selepak at the University of Florida says GRE scores supply him a metric he can use to make apples-to-apples comparisons between students who would otherwise be difficult to judge fairly because they have vastly different undergraduate backgrounds.

How Much Time Should You Budget for GRE Test Prep?

Shah suggests students set aside two to three months for intensive GRE study, or that they spread out their test prep over three to four months.

For a GRE subject test, Starr says the amount of time required depends on the student and their reasons for taking the test. Someone who majored in a specific field and wants to go to graduate school for that discipline or a related discipline likely won’t require as much study time as someone attempting to go to graduate school in a discipline they didn't study in undergrad, he says.

What Types of GRE Test Prep Should You Consider?

ETS provides numerous free and for-purchase general GRE test prep resources, including online practice exams and a content outline, plus digital practice book for each subject test. Prep resources for the new exam will become available in September, but because the question types will remain the same aside from removal of the Analytical Writing “Analyze an Argument” essay, ETS encourages test-takers to continue to using existing official GRE prep materials.

Selepak says many grad school hopefuls could benefit from a formal GRE test-prep course, which forces them to spend a significant chunk of time on test prep and provides them with a teacher or tutor who can hold them accountable. Companies like TargetTestPrep, Varsity Tutors and Kaplan offer courses with in-person or online tutors.

How Does the GRE Compare to the GMAT and LSAT?

The GRE, GMAT and LSAT are primarily general knowledge tests, Starr says, though each serves a different purpose.

The LSAT is extremely different from the GRE, Starr says, and is used only for law school admissions, while the GMAT is used primarily for admission to business schools. The GRE is more general in nature. Many law schools have started accepting the GRE in the last 10 years, Starr says. And many B-schools consider the GRE and GMAT to be roughly equivalent. The ETS website includes a list of business schools that accept the GRE in lieu of the GMAT.

The GRE and GMAT both have math sections, which cover concepts typically taught in ninth or 10th grade, Starr says. Many people find the GMAT math section more challenging because calculators aren’t allowed and test-takers can’t revisit questions, he says.

All three tests include memorizing comprehension, though the LSAT tends to be the most challenging, Starr says. All three also include a critical reasoning component where test-takers are given short arguments and they have to add something that would strengthen them or weaken them.

Where they differ is in the verbal and language sections, Starr says. The GRE includes vocabulary that the other two don’t, while the GMAT includes a grammar section that the others don’t. The LSAT also includes an analytical reasoning section, colloquially known as “logic games.”

How to Raise a GRE Score

Jennifer Winward, founder and CEO at Winward Academy tutoring company, says the most effective approach to raising a GRE score is to figure out why you made the mistakes you did on a prior exam and devise strategies to prevent making them again.

For instance, Winward recommends students keep an up-to-date list of mathematical equations they forgot during the math section of the GRE general test to practice for next time. Likewise, students who have difficulty with vocabulary should keep a running tally of words they missed on prior general GRE exams so they can memorize the definitions of those words, she says.

Anyone struggling to speed read on the general test's verbal reasoning section should try memorizing for fun more often during their free time, she suggests.

"If you read actively, then you become a faster reader; you remember what you read and where you read it."

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Why it matters: Admissions tests are ebbing in popularity.

The changes reflect a general decline in the use of standardized tests, partly because of concerns among university administrators that the tests fail to predict success and that they may deter applicants from underrepresented groups.

Some studies have found that the tests handicap low-income and minority students, partly because wealthy students can Improve their scores by taking expensive test prep courses. What’s more, the GRE test itself is expensive — $220 in most locations.

Boston University’s School of Public Health said that after it removed its GRE requirement in 2019, the number of Black and Hispanic applicants had increased, with no decline in student performance.

Background: They call it a GRExit.

A growing number of graduate programs have moved to make the GRE optional or to eliminate it altogether as part of their admission requirements.

Duke University, a prestigious private institution in North Carolina, announced last year that it would not require the GRE for most of its graduate programs, extending a test-optional policy that began during the pandemic.

Calling the phenomenon the GRExit, the academic journal Science conducted a survey of 50 top-ranked graduate programs in 2019 and found that 44 percent of molecular biology Ph.D. programs had stopped requiring the scores.

At the same time, some law schools now accept GRE scores in place of the standard Law School Admission Test, or LSAT.

Even so, the number of GRE tests taken declined to 341,574 in 2021 from 541,750 in 2017.

The decline mirrors similar declines in the use of the SAT and the ACT after hundreds of colleges moved to test-optional admissions for undergraduates.

The College Board, which controls the SAT, will also move to a shorter, online test, beginning in 2024 in the United States, following its introduction in other countries in 2023. The new SAT will take two hours rather than three and will feature shorter memorizing passages with one or two questions, requiring fewer responses.

What’s Next?

In a decision to be announced by the end of its term, the Supreme Court is widely expected to eliminate or limit the consideration of race in college admissions, meaning that undergraduate and graduate programs will no longer be permitted to supply preferential treatment to underserved minority students in an effort to increase the diversity of their classes.

The decision is likely to place additional pressure on universities to limit or eliminate the use of standardized admissions exams as they move to more holistic admissions policies.

Now in half the time, GRE remains the most widely used measure of graduate readiness

PRINCETON, N.J., May 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, ETS announced that beginning this September, the GRE General Test will take less than two hours to complete – roughly half the time of the current test. This makes the GRE General Test the shortest and most efficient test among top professional, business and law school admissions test options. The shorter GRE test will continue to provide test takers and institutions with the same valid and reliable scores they have always counted on from ETS. Registration for the shorter test is now open for test dates beginning September 22, 2023.

Changes to the test include:

• Removal of the "Analyze an Argument" task in the Analytical Writing section

• Reduced number of questions in the Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning sections

• Removal of the unscored section

In addition to test changes, test takers can expect to receive their official scores much faster, in just 8-10 days. These changes mark the first of several planned future updates to the GRE General Test, all of which are intended to provide test takers with a better experience that values their time and reduces anxiety and fatigue.

"The changes we're announcing today underscore the emphasis we place on keeping our customers at the center of all that we do," said ETS CEO Amit Sevak. "As we continue to introduce product innovations, we're committed to balancing two things – maintaining rigor and validity, while improving the test-taker experience."

Beginning in September, test takers can access official GRE test prep resources and practice tests designed for the newer streamlined test. Since the shorter test has the same question types (except for the removal of the Analytical Writing "Analyze an Argument" essay), test takers can continue to use the existing Official GRE Prep materials.

The GRE will continue to be the most valid, reliable and secure assessment of graduate readiness in the world, just in less time. The score scales will also remain the same, allowing graduate programs to easily compare performance across cohorts before and after September 2023.

Story continues

To learn more about these changes, visit www.ets.org/gre/shorter. To create an account, register for a test, access test prep resources and more, visit www.ets.org/mygre.

About the GRE General Test

The GRE^® General Test is the world's most widely used test for admission to graduate and professional programs, including business and law. It securely assesses the verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills that are essential for success in most graduate-level programs. GRE scores are an essential part of holistic admissions because of their unique role in the application as the only research-based, fair and objective measure of cognitive skills. Since first introduced, GRE scores have opened doors for those with fewer socioeconomic resources and educational opportunities than their peers, and they still serve this purpose today.

SOURCE ETS

Graduate Record Examinations General Test will take less than two hours to complete from September, roughly half the time of the current test

New Delhi: The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test will take less than two hours to complete from September, roughly half the time of the current test, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) announced on Thursday. The test takers will also receive their official scores within 10 days.

Among the major changes being introduced in the test are — removal of the “analyse an argument” task in the Analytical Writing section, reduced number of questions in quantitative and verbal reasoning sections and removal of “unscored” sections, the ETS said. While the earlier test duration used to be 3 hours and 45 minutes, the duration from September onwards will be 1 hour and 58 minutes. At present, the test takers get official scores within 15 days.

“The changes we are announcing today underscore the emphasis we place on keeping our customers at the centre of all that we do. As we continue to introduce product innovations, we are committed to balancing two things – maintaining rigour and validity, while improving the test-taker experience,” said ETS CEO Amit Sevak. ETS conducts the English language test TOEFL and GRE. The GRE General Test is among the most widely used tests for admission to graduate and professional programmes, including business and law. It assesses the verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills that are essential for success in most graduate-level programmes. GRE scores are an essential part of holistic admissions because of their unique role in the application as the only research-based, fair, and objective measure of cognitive skills.

Registration for the shorter test is now open for test dates beginning September 22, 2023. India is the second largest market for GRE test takers after the United States. During 2021-22, 1.24 lakh candidates had taken the test in US while the number stood at 1.14 lakh in India. According to Kunal Dasgupta, Chairperson, Admissions and Financial Aid, IIM Bangalore, the reduced test duration was needed to adapt the test to the current times.

“At IIM Bangalore, GRE is one of the assessments for consideration. Look forward to the new version, which proposes a reduced test duration that reflect ETS’ commitment to prioritising the needs of test takers. We congratulate ETS for adapting the GRE General Test to the current times while ensuring that it remains as reliable as ever for institutions and test takers alike,” Dasgupta said. Beginning in September, test takers can access official GRE test prep resources and practice tests designed for the newer streamlined test. Since the shorter test has the same question types (except for the removal of the Analytical Writing “analyse an argument” essay), test takers can continue to use the existing Official GRE Prep materials.