The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is a standardized test that is an admissions requirement for many graduate schools in the United States and Canada and few in other countries. The GRE is owned and administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS). The test was established in 1936 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
According to ETS, the GRE aims to measure verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, and critical thinking skills that have been acquired over a long period of learning. The content of the GRE consists of certain specific algebra, geometry, arithmetic, and vocabulary sections. The GRE General Test is offered as a computer-based exam administered at testing centers and institution owned or authorized by Prometric. In the graduate school admissions process, the level of emphasis that is placed upon GRE scores varies widely between schools and departments within schools. The importance of a GRE score can range from being a mere admission formality to an important selection factor.
GRE is the exam required for pursuing postgraduate studies in English-speaking nations. GRE exam pattern tests the verbal, quant, and analytical writing with each section calculated on a scale of 130 to 170. Top universities require a GRE score of 150 to 160 for both verbal and quant.
GRE Exam Pattern 2021
GRE General Test format has 3 different sections and the analytical skills are measured through this test. The main sections are GRE analytical writing assessment, GRE verbal reasoning, and GRE quantitative reasoning. All these sections have 2 subsections. The total time duration for GRE General Test is 3 hours 45 minutes. Three main sections of GRE general test are as follows
GRE Analytical Writing – GRE Analytical Writing comprises two types of questions. Analyze and Issue and Analyze an Argument are two types of tasks asked in this section. Candidates get 60 minutes to attempt two sections of GRE analytical writing.
GRE Verbal Reasoning – Candidates find GRE verbal reasoning section difficult for its tricky question types. Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence are three types of questions asked in this section. Candidates have to attempt 40 questions in 60 minutes.
GRE Quantitative Reasoning – With little practice, GRE quantitative reasoning can actually change the scorecard of the candidates. Quantitative comparison, Problem-solving and Date interpretation comprise GRE quant syllabus. Candidates have to attempt 40 questions in 70 minutes.
The GRE verbal section is comparatively easier than what the Power Prep series comprises, and candidates can actually score higher than what they generally obtain during the PowerPrep practice tests. Whereas, the GRE quant section’s first part is harder than what PowerPrep’s first part offers. Also, the last part of PowerPrep’s quant section is harder than what the actual test offers. From actual test-takers, it has been concluded that the GRE quant section, though might appear easy but is actually tricky. In fact, the experimental quant section is even harder.
Apart from GRE general test, GRE has another test - GRE subject test. This test is designed to check the knowledge of the candidates on their preferred subject. 6 subjects are included in the GRE subject test - Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, English Literature, Psychology, and Biology. Aspirants take GRE subject test to make their applications outstanding by showing deep knowledge about a specific subject. ETS provides GRE practice books for each subject as study material.
