About the GRE General Test

What is the GRE?

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is a standardized test that is required for admission to many graduate degree programs. When people talk about the GRE, they’re usually referring to the GRE General Test – a roughly four-hour exam that is the most widely accepted test for graduate admissions.

In addition to the GRE General Test, there are specific GRE Subject Tests that might be required for certain graduate programs. For example, a graduate program in chemistry might require the GRE Chemistry Test.

The GRE General Test includes:

A writing section,
Several verbal reasoning sections, and
Several quantitative reasoning sections.

To score well on the exam you need to master certain content areas, and you also need to hone your test-taking strategies as well.

For more on the skills measured by the GRE, check out this article.

What is the GRE used for?

Graduate programs use GRE scores in three ways: to assess an applicant’s odds of success in the program, to narrow down the applicant pool to a manageable number, and to boost the program’s rankings.

The GRE as predictor of success in graduate programs
Graduate programs want to admit candidates who are going to succeed in their programs, graduate with flying colors, and go on to lucrative and fulfilling careers. But how can schools know that a certain applicant has the academic chops to succeed?
Undergraduate academic records are certainly useful, but GPAs mean different things at different institutions, and it can be useful for graduate programs to see additional evidence of academic readiness. Schools rely on GRE scores as an equalizing force to ensure that students have the quantitative and verbal reasoning skills to succeed in graduate-level classes.
Using the GRE to narrow the applicant pool
Top graduate programs can attract up to 10,000 applications in a given year. The sheer volume of these applications means that admissions offices are unlikely to give thoughtful consideration to each application.
To decrease the number of applications that admissions officers need to carefully evaluate, some schools may use the GRE as a convenient sorting tool. In other words, if you don’t meet a minimum threshold score, they might not pay much attention to your graduate application at all -- which means that your unique background and fascinating work experience may not even be considered.
The GRE and graduate program rankings
Graduate programs are in constant competition with each other. It’s simple: a higher ranking means more prestige for the institution, which means more high-quality applicants and better job placement for graduates of the program.
GRE scores can play a role in this competition. Instead of looking at an individual candidate’s GRE score to prove that they have the basic skills they need, schools often vie for candidates with superhuman scores to drive up the average GRE scores for the admitted class, and therefore improve the ranking of the program. This practice is particularly common in MBA admissions, but happens in other fields of study as well.

What Content is on the GRE?

Quantitative Reasoning

The following are some of the most common math topics that appear on the GRE quant sections:

● Arithmetic ● Rates

● Algebra ● Probability

● Geometry ● Combinatorics

● Exponents ● Statistics

● Percents ● Number Properties

● Ratios

Verbal Reasoning

The verbal sections of the GRE include two broad question types:

Reading-based questions, and
Vocabulary-based questions

What test-taking strategies are important for the GRE?

Just knowing some math formulas and memorizing a stack of vocabulary words won’t be enough to do well on the GRE. You’ll also have to:

Develop a creative, flexible approach to solving unexpected problems in the moment.
Manage your time in a way that maximizes your points on the test.
Refine your process so that you get the easy questions right 100% of the time.

For more on what it takes to achieve your best GRE score, check out this article about the skills measured on the GRE, or this article about GRE tutoring.

Taking the GRE at-home or in a test center

You can currently take the GRE either at a test center or in your home. The exam is exactly the same in both settings, so it’s up to you to choose the option that is best for your situation.

You might want to take the test at home if:

It’s inconvenient to get to a test center in your area
It’s hard to get an appointment at a test center
You’ll be more nervous in the test center environment
You’re uncomfortable with the current health-related policies (masks, etc.) at your local test center

You might want to take the test in a test center if:

Your internet connection at home is unstable
Your environment and equipment at home do not meet ETS requirements