The GRE General Test is a computerized graduate school exam, required for a variety of graduate programs, that covers verbal and quantitative reasoning, as well as analytical writing.
These specialized standardized tests can be taken in addition to the General Test. They measure knowledge and skill in mathematics, physics, or psychology. Scoring and format varies by subject.
The GRE is a computer-based exam with three sections. The test includes:
Verbal Reasoning, scored from 130–170, in 1-point increments. This section includes reading comprehension, text completion, and sentence equivalence questions answered via multiple choice or using select-in-passage format.
Quantitative Reasoning, scored from 130–170, in 1-point increments. This section includes quantitative comparison questions, multiple-choice questions (some ask for a single answer, others ask for one or more), and a series of numeric entry questions.
Analytical Writing, scored from 0–6, in half-point increments. This section features analytical writing tasks which require you to analyze an issue and an argument.
|
Measure
|
Number of Questions
|
Allotted Time
|
|---|---|---|
|
Analytical Writing (One section)
|
One "Analyze an Issue" task
|
30 minutes
|
|
Verbal Reasoning (Two sections)
|
Section 1: 12 questions
Section 2: 15 questions |
Section 1: 18 minutes
Section 2: 23 minutes |
|
Quantitative Reasoning (Two sections)
|
Section 1: 12 questions
Section 2: 15 questions |
Section 1: 21 minutes
Section 2: 26 minutes |
An average score is between 152-153 in each Verbal and Quantitative section, and around 4.0 for Analytical Writing. Depending on your intended course of study, a competitive GRE score is 163+ in Verbal, 165+ in Quantitative, and 5.0+ in Writing — which is the top 10% GRE percentile.
How Many Times Can the GRE Be Taken?
The General Test can be taken once every 21 days, up to five times in one year. Scores are valid for five years.