The GRE measures a variety of skills that are thought to predict success in graduate school across a wide variety of disciplines. Actually, there are several GRE tests. Most often when an applicant, professor, or admissions director mentions the GRE, he or she is referring to the GRE General Test. Depending upon your discipline, you may be required to take a GRE Subject Test or the GRE Written Test in addition to the GRE General Test.
What Does the GRE Measure?
The GRE General Test measures the skills that you've acquired over the high school and college years. It is an aptitude test because it is meant to measure your potential to succeed in graduate school. While the GRE is only one of several criteria that graduate schools use to evaluate your application, it is one of the most important. This is particularly true if your college GPA is not as high as you'd like. Exceptional GRE scores can open up new opportunities for grad school.
The GRE General Test contains sections that measure verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing skills.
- The verbal section tests your ability to understand and analyze written material through the use of analogies, antonyms, sentence completions, and reading comprehension questions.
- The quantitative section tests basic math skills and your ability to understand and apply quantitative skills to solve problems. Types of questions include quantitative comparisons, problem solving, and data interpretation.
- The analytical writing section tests your ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively, examine claims and accompanying evidence, support ideas with relevant reasons and examples, sustain a well-focused, coherent discussion, and control the elements of standard written English. It consists of two written essays: 45-minute "Present Your Perspective on an Issue" task and a 30-minute "Analyze an Argument" task.
The verbal and quantitative subtests yield scores ranging from 200 to 800. Most graduate schools consider the verbal and quantitative sections to be particularly important in making decisions about applicants. The analytical writing subtest yields a score ranging from 0-6.
GRE Facts:
- The GRE General is administered by computer year-round.
- Schedule an appointment with a center near you.
- Arrive at the test center 30 minutes early to complete any paperwork. If you arrive late, you may not be admitted and will not be refunded.
- Bring identification to the test center.
- The fee for the GRE is $99 in the US and US Territories, $125 in all other locations
- The GRE General Test will take two and a quarter hours to complete, but allow an extra hour and a half for reading instructions and taking tutorials.
- Structure of the test:
- Verbal Section, 30 minutes, 30 questions
- Quantitative Section, 45 minutes, 28 questions
- Analytical Section, 60 minutes, 35 questions.
- Unofficial scores appear on the computer screen following your test. Official scores are mailed to you and the institutions you choose 10 days to two weeks afterward.
Preparation Tips
Prepare extensive to ensure that you get the highest score possible. This is not the time to cram.
- Buy a GRE review book.
- Download sample tests.
- Try a practice test under conditions similar to the actual GRE. Based on your practice score, devise a study plan to help you brush up on vocabulary, reading comprehension, analogies, algebra, and geometry.
