GRE

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is ETS’s standardized test for graduate and professional program admissions. Historically 3.75 hours, GRE transitioned to a shorter format (GRE General Test, ~2.5 hours) in September 2023, with further revision in 2024. The GRE measures Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing across a 260–340 scale (Verbal and Quantitative combined; Writing scored separately 0–6). The test is accepted by over 1,000 graduate programs globally, particularly for master’s and PhD programs in sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities. It is not required for most MBA programs (which typically use GMAT/GMAT Focus) or JD programs (which use LSAT). Results are valid for 5 years, the longest validity period of major standardized tests.

Key facts

• Full name: Graduate Record Examination (GRE General Test)
• Administering body: Educational Testing Service (ETS)
• Format: Computer-delivered at test centres or at-home (supervised remotely)
• Total duration: 2h 20m (without AWA); 3h (with Analytical Writing, as of 2024 updates)
• Score scale: 260–340 for Verbal + Quantitative (130–170 per section); Analytical Writing 0–6
• Pass/fail: No pass/fail; scores reported as numeric scale, percentile, and CEFR level (Verbal only)
• Validity period: 5 years from test date (longest among major grad tests)
• Cost (USD): USD $205 (standard, as of January 2026)
• Number of attempts: Unlimited; at least 21 calendar days between attempts
• Result turnaround: Typically 10–15 calendar days; expedited reporting available in some regions

Score structure

The GRE General Test consists of three sections (as of September 2023 onwards):

Verbal Reasoning (36–40 minutes, ~27 questions)

• Measures reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and vocabulary.
• Question types: Reading Comprehension (single passage, multiple questions; passages 300–800 words), Text Completion (fill in blanks in short passages with vocabulary), and Sentence Equivalence (select two words with similar meanings that fit a sentence).
• Adaptive algorithm: First section difficulty standard; second section difficulty depends on first-section performance.
• Assesses ability to understand dense academic prose, identify main ideas, and reason from text.

Scoring: 130–170 in 1-point increments. Percentile rank reported alongside score.

Quantitative Reasoning (40–44 minutes, ~27 questions)

• Measures mathematical reasoning, problem-solving, data interpretation, and analytical skills.
• Content: Algebra, geometry, arithmetic, data analysis, statistics, and quantitative comparison.
• Question types: Quantitative Comparison (compare two quantities and decide relationship), Multiple-choice (one or multiple correct answers), and Numeric Entry (grid-in numerical answer).
• Calculator permitted for all questions; on-screen calculator provided.
• Adaptive algorithm: Difficulty escalates based on performance.

Scoring: 130–170 in 1-point increments. Percentile rank reported.

Analytical Writing (30 minutes, one task; sometimes combined with Verbal timing)

• Candidates write one essay (Analyze an Issue or Analyze an Argument prompt).
• Analyze an Issue: Candidate presents own perspective on a general issue (e.g., “The only way to reduce poverty is through formal education”).
• Analyze an Argument: Candidate critiques logical reasoning in a given argument, identifying assumptions and flaws.
• Essay length: typically 300–500 words; no strict minimum/maximum enforced, but short essays (< 250 words) unlikely to score well.
• Scored by automated software and human rater (if scores differ, third rater adjudicates).

Scoring: 0–6 in 0.5-point increments. Separate from Verbal/Quantitative composite.

Overall GRE Score: Sum of Verbal (130–170) + Quantitative (130–170) = 260–340. Analytical Writing reported separately (0–6).

Accepted by

• Master’s programs: Accepted by 1,000+ graduate programs in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Europe. Common fields: Engineering, Computer Science, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Environmental Science, Psychology, Sociology, Economics, Statistics, Public Policy, etc. Most selective programs (top 50 globally) require or strongly recommend GRE.

• PhD programs: Nearly all PhD programs in sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities require GRE (especially in US). Some humanities PhD programs waive GRE as of 2024–2026.

• Specialized master’s: Some specialized programs (MBA, law, medicine) do not use GRE; instead they use GMAT/GMAT Focus (MBA, specialized business), LSAT (law), or MCAT (medicine). However, some JD and LLM programs increasingly accept GRE as LSAT alternative (as of 2022–2026).

• International universities: Increasingly accepted by UK, Australian, and Canadian universities for master’s and PhD programs (not mandatory, but supports applications).

Typical score requirements

• Top-tier PhD (MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, Cambridge, Oxford): 320–340 · 90th–99th · 90th–99th · Physics, CS, Engineering, Statistics
• Top-tier master’s (selective programs): 310–330 · 85th–98th · 85th–98th · Computer Science, Business Analytics
• Mid-tier PhD: 300–320 · 70th–90th · 70th–90th · Social Sciences, Economics, Psychology
• Mid-tier master’s: 290–310 · 60th–85th · 60th–85th · Engineering, Economics, Engineering
• Tier 3 master’s / Regional: 280–300 · 50th–70th · 50th–70th · Education, Social Work, Library Science
• PhD waiver / admission via research record: N/A · N/A · N/A · Applied/interdisciplinary programs

Note: Quantitative-heavy programs (Engineering, Physics, Statistics) require higher Q scores (160+); Verbal-heavy programs (Literature, History, Psychology) require higher V scores (160+). Programs typically specify minimums; above ranges are competitive thresholds.

Registration & logistics

Registration:

• Online via ets.org/gre.
• Create account with name, email, verify identity.
• Select test date, location (test centre or at-home), and register.
• Registration open 8 weeks before test date; late registration may incur fee increases.
• Payment required; non-refundable if cancellation within 3 days of test date.

ID requirements:

• Valid passport (preferred) or government-issued photo ID.
• Name on ID must match registration exactly.
• For at-home testing, photo ID scanned and displayed on webcam during check-in.

Retake rules:

• May retake after 21 calendar days have passed since previous GRE attempt.
• No official limit on number of attempts; ETS allows up to 5 GRE attempts within a rolling 12-month period.
• All scores from past 5 years reported to institutions (no “score choice” to suppress lower scores). Most universities consider highest score.

Test-day procedures (test centre):

• Arrive 30 minutes early; no bags, phones, notes, external materials allowed.
• Proctor administers security checks and identity verification.
• Testing completed on computer at assigned workstation.
• Breaks provided between sections (typically 1-minute optional break after Verbal, 3-minute break before Quantitative, 1-minute before Analytical Writing).
• Total time in centre ~3.5 hours including administrative overhead.

At-home testing:

• Candidate must have private room, quiet space, computer with webcam and microphone, stable internet.
• Proctor monitors via webcam and audio throughout test.
• Test experience identical to test-centre format.

Rescheduling:

• Free rescheduling if requested at least 10 days before test date.
• USD $50 rescheduling fee if 3–9 days before test date.
• No rescheduling within 3 days; must register for new test and pay full fee.

Preparation

Official materials:

• Official GRE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions (ETS; 2+ volumes with explanations).
• Official GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions (ETS; 2+ volumes).
• ETS Official GRE Super Power Pack (includes multiple practice tests and question banks; most comprehensive).
• Free GRE Practice (ets.org); limited free practice questions and tutorial.
• Khan Academy + ETS GRE Prep (free partnership; 100+ lessons aligned to GRE 2023+ format).

Recommended materials:

• Barron’s GRE Prep (latest ed., 2024–2025); 4 practice tests and content review.
• The Princeton Review Cracking the GRE (2024 ed.).
• Kaplan GRE Prep (2024 ed.).
• Magoosh GRE course (subscription; video lessons and 1,000+ practice questions).
• GRE Ninja / GRE Demon YouTube channels (free strategy walkthroughs).
• Manhattan Prep GRE courses (premium; highly-rated strategy-focused).

Realistic prep time:

• Starting from weak quantitative skills (~150Q): 3–4 months, 10–15 hours weekly.
• Starting from average (~155V, 155Q): 2–3 months, 5–10 hours weekly.
• Starting from strong (~160+V, 160+Q): 4–6 weeks, 3–5 hours weekly.
• Most graduate applicants prepare 2–4 months before application deadlines.

Common pitfalls:

• Vocabulary memorisation overemphasis; new GRE (2023+) deemphasises obscure vocabulary. Focus on context and reading comprehension instead.
• Quantitative underpreparation; many non-STEM applicants underestimate Quant difficulty. Algebra and data interpretation critical.
• Time management in Verbal; 36–40 minutes for 27 questions is tight (~1.5 min per question). Skim Reading Comp passages; focus on questions.
• Perfectionism in Analytical Writing; essays are scored by algorithm first, then human review. 400–500 clear words typically score 5–6; perfection not expected.
• Neglecting official practice tests; ETS tests closest to actual exam. Use ETS materials for final practice.

Comparison with similar tests

• GRE: Computer-delivered (centre/home) · 2h 20m–3h · 260–340 + AWA 0–6 · 1,000+ grad programs globally · Longest validity (5 years); Verbal/Quant balanced
• GMAT Focus: Computer-delivered (centre/home) · 2h 5m · 205–805 · Business schools, some MBA programs · MBA-focused; shorter; Quant-heavy
• LSAT: Computer-delivered (centre only) · 2h 57m · 120–180 · Law schools (US, Canada) · Logic-focused; no math
• MCAT: Computer-delivered (centre only) · 7h 30m · 472–528 · Medical schools (US, Canada) · Science-heavy; longest exam
• TOEFL iBT: Computer-delivered (centre/home) · 2h 30m · 0–120 · International grad programs, universities · English proficiency; separate from GRE

Recent changes

• GRE short form launch (September 2023): ETS introduced GRE General Test Short Form, reducing exam duration from 3 hours 45 minutes to ~2 hours 20 minutes. Changes include fewer questions per section (27 instead of ~40) and removal of extended unscored research section. Scoring, difficulty, and content remain aligned. All tests since September 2023 use short format.

• Analytical Writing simplification (2024): GRE Analytical Writing section optional in some test administrations (depending on institution). ETS moving toward single-task format (2024 updates); historically two tasks. Verify current format on ets.org/gre.

• CEFR alignment for Verbal (2024): ETS officially mapped GRE Verbal scores to CEFR levels (160–170 V = C2; 150–160 V = C1; 140–150 V = B2, etc.), clarifying international comparison.

• Fee stability (2023–2026): GRE fees increased slightly to USD $205 (January 2026, from USD $190 in 2023), primarily reflecting inflation and digital infrastructure costs. Minimal change relative to GMAT and LSAT increases.

Primary sources

• Official GRE site: ets.org/gre; accessed 16 April 2026.
• GRE test information and registration: ets.org/gre/about-test-day; accessed 16 April 2026.
• Official GRE practice tests and resources: ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/prepare; accessed 16 April 2026.
• Khan Academy + ETS GRE Prep: khanacademy.org/test-prep/gre; accessed 16 April 2026.
• GRE score percentiles and interpretation: ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/scores; accessed 16 April 2026.
• ETS official GRE Super Power Pack (2024–2025 ed.).

Last updated: 2026-04-16.