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What is the GRE exam? At a very high level, the GRE is a standardized entrance exam for those looking to apply to a graduate-level program or university. Indeed, the acronym GRE stands for Graduate Records Examination. The test is administered by an organization called the Educational Testing Service (ETS).
With the GRE test definition out of the way, you might be wondering exactly which graduate programs require it. Well, the GRE is specifically for graduate programs that do not fall under medicine or law. Graduate programs in economics, biology, and English literature, to name a few, require the GRE. Granted, not all graduate programs require a standardized test score. To find out whether a school requires a GRE score, check the school’s admissions requirements.
Now that we’ve discussed what the GRE is and who it’s relevant to, let’s take a look at what else you need to know about the GRE.
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To determine whether the GRE is required for the school or program you are interested in, visit a school or program’s website.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- What Is the Purpose of the GRE Exam?
- Who Needs to Take the GRE Test?
- What Topics Are Covered on the GRE?
- How Long Is the GRE Exam?
- How Difficult Is the GRE Exam?
- Are You Penalized for Wrong Answers on the GRE?
- What Are the Eligibility Requirements for the GRE?
- How Much Does the GRE Exam Cost?
- When, Where, and How Can You Take the GRE?
- Should You Retake the GRE Exam?
- What Is a Good GRE Score?
- How Can You Prepare for the GRE Test?
- Key Takeaways
- Next Steps
What Is the Purpose of the GRE Exam?
The purpose of the GRE is to provide a standard by which to judge applicants from an array of backgrounds. A Grade Point Average (GPA) can provide an indication of an applicant’s suitability for a program and also correlates more strongly with some measures of graduate school success. Still, it’s difficult to compare the academic systems of the hundreds, if not thousands, of schools applicants come from.
The GRE, it should be noted, is not a random batch of questions. The questions are specifically designed to test an applicant’s ability to reason logically and analytically across different domains: reading, writing, and verbal.
These analytical skills will be put to full use in graduate-level programs. Indeed, there’s a moderate correlation between how someone does on the GRE and their GPA during their first year in a graduate program. (Interestingly, the correlation between GRE scores and graduate completion rates is much weaker.)
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The GRE provides a way to judge different applicants from a variety of schools, while also testing skills relevant to graduate school.
Who Needs to Take the GRE Test?
Some graduate programs in the United States require the GRE. In other words, not every program includes it as a requirement. In fact, there has been a growing trend in fields such as biomedical and life sciences to eliminate the GRE altogether! Make sure to check with the programs you are looking to apply to. It’s important to note that certain schools outside of the U.S. also look at GRE scores.
Finally, many business schools — both in the U.S. and abroad — accept GRE scores. Most of these schools also accept GMAT scores. Strictly speaking, someone applying to business school doesn’t need to take the GRE, but they can if they choose to. So, which test should you take, and is it true that some business schools still prefer the GMAT? Read more about GRE vs. GMAT for MBA Admissions.
Business schools aren’t the only ones moving toward the GRE. An increasing number of law schools (though not quite as many as business schools) are beginning to accept the GRE. Find out more about how the GRE is relevant to law schools.
Finally, the GRE isn’t only a test for those who want to go directly to grad school from undergraduate. Many Ph.D. programs also require the GRE.
KEY FACT:
An increasing number of law schools and a vast majority of business schools now accept GRE scores.
What Topics Are Covered on the GRE?
The GRE test format includes 3 sections:
- The Quantitative section
- The Verbal section
- The Analytical Writing (AWA) section
In the GRE Quantitative section, you can expect a mix of geometry, algebra, number properties, and word problems.
In addition to what’s included in the GRE math section, you should also know what’s not covered on the math portion of the exam. There’s no calculus, trigonometry, or even the quadratic formula. Essentially, the math covered is considered lower-level math. What makes the GRE math challenging is that you have to reason your way logically to the solution, avoiding common traps. Here’s an overview of concepts covered in the GRE quantitative section.
The GRE Verbal section includes vocabulary-based questions and reading passages. The reading passages are written in an academic style and draw from subjects that most students — even college students — have little familiarity with. The vocabulary-based questions consist of a complex sentence or sentences containing anywhere from 1 to 3 blanks. Here’s a deep dive into the kind of verbal reasoning found on the GRE, along with the most commonly tested GRE topics in both math and verbal.
Finally, in the GRE AWA (or essay) section, you’ll see 1 essay. The essay draws from a pool of questions on general societal issues, from the role of colleges and universities to whether the government should fund scientific research. Access the entire pool of ETS essay prompts, only one of which you’ll see on test day. You can also explore the complete GRE exam syllabus and topics, and the subjects tested on the GRE.
KEY FACT:
The GRE includes 3 sections: the verbal section, the quantitative (math) section, and the AWA section, which consists of 1 essay.
How Long Is the GRE Exam?
As of September 22, 2023, the GRE became a far less time-intensive test, dropping from a whopping almost 4 hours to a mere 2 hours. (You might bump into some sources that still quote a nearly 4-hour time, but you can ignore that.)
The new, shortened format includes only 1 essay (down from 2) and shorter sections for both math and verbal. The table below shows the sections, the number of questions per section, and the total time involved.
| Section | # of Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Writing | 1 essay | 30 minutes |
| Verbal | Section 1: 12 questions Section 2: 15 questions | Section 1: 18 minutes Section 2: 23 minutes |
| Quantitative (Math) | Section 1: 12 questions Section 2: 15 questions | Section 1: 21 minutes Section 2: 26 minutes |
It’s important to note that the Analytical Writing section will always come first, but that the verbal and quantitative sections may come in any order. For more details about the format, you can learn about the number of questions and length of the GRE.
How Difficult Is the GRE Exam?
This is a difficult question to answer because it depends on the person! But, broadly speaking, many consider the GRE a difficult test because you have to sustain analytical thinking for almost 2 hours as you navigate dense passages, misleading answer choices, and intricately crafted math questions. Even for experts, the experience of sitting for the GRE can be nothing short of grueling.
Some claim that the GRE is getting more difficult, though there isn’t any empirical support behind this.
Moreover, you need to know where you stand and exactly how difficult you — the one and only you — find the test. And to do that, there’s perhaps no better way to gauge the test’s difficulty than by taking an official practice test.
Like any skill, you will get better at taking the GRE (and scoring higher) the more you practice. However, not all practice is considered the same. Read on to learn how to make the most effective use of your time by exploiting the most useful strategies.
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Like any skill, with the right kind of practice, you’ll get better at taking the GRE.
Are You Penalized for Wrong Answers on the GRE?
On the GRE, there is no penalty for wrong answers. This simple fact informs so much of how you take the test and, by extension, how you score.
If that sounds a tad overstated, consider this: many students rush through a section thinking they have to “finish” the exam. This constant state of thinking, “I have to get to the end of the section,” can significantly impair performance.
Instead, you should focus on how many questions you can answer correctly, including guessing if you don’t have time (always guess — there’s no penalty!). We should probably also mention that each question is worth the same number of points. Yes, we know, that seems very counterintuitive. Nonetheless, this fact, together with the lack of a penalty for wrong answers, can greatly inform your test strategy. Here’s an in-depth strategy for taking advantage of the GRE’s no-penalty system.
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There is no penalty for wrong answers on the GRE, so don’t leave questions blank!
What Are the Eligibility Requirements for the GRE?
Generally speaking, there are no requirements for taking the GRE. You can be any age, and you don’t even need to hold a bachelor’s degree. While that might seem surprising, many undergraduates sit for the GRE during their final year of college. That said, some programs require a degree, so it is important to check.
There are some additional requirements for taking the GRE. First off, you need to have government-issued identification. For those in the U.S., a valid driver’s license works. For those who are citizens of non-U.S. countries, typically a valid passport should suffice.
While anyone can take the GRE, they can only do so once every 21 days and no more than 5 times in 1 year. There is no limit to how many times you can take the GRE. In other words, over the course of 10 years, somebody could conceivably take the GRE 50 times — although we certainly don’t recommend doing so!
Learn more details pertaining to GRE eligibility requirements.
TTP PRO TIP:
There are no requirements for taking the GRE, but you can’t take the GRE more than once in 21 days or more than 5 times per year.
How Much Does the GRE Exam Cost?
The short answer to this question is that the GRE costs $220. That’s the GRE exam fee, and it’s often the total amount test-takers end up paying.
There are, however, other potential costs involved that are important to know. These can play a role in determining how much you end up paying for the GRE.
You’ll incur an extra cost if you cancel your test fewer than 4 days before the exam. The penalty is half the exam fee of $220, or $110. Other notable fees include those for rescheduling your test or changing testing centers. In either instance, you’ll have to pay $50. Additionally, if you want to send additional score reports to schools (beyond the 4 free options you get when you’re in the testing center), you’ll have to pay $27 per report. Finally, it’s worth noting that test-takers in some countries, such as China and India, must pay a higher fee.
Here’s a full breakdown of each of the GRE costs mentioned above, as well as an article about whether you may be eligible for the GRE fee reduction program.
KEY FACT:
The GRE costs $220, though some end up paying more depending on their situation.
When, Where, and How Can You Take the GRE?
You can take the GRE any day of the year, at any time — truly 24/7. How is this possible? In response to the pandemic, as of 2020, ETS began allowing test-takers to take the GRE from home. What’s more, you can do so within 24 hours. This means that within 24 hours of reading this sentence, you could be taking an official GRE test at home.
For a GRE test administered in a testing center, the answer to finding GRE exam dates is a little more complicated. First off, you may not always find open appointment slots, so you’ll need to check ETS online to see whether a specific testing center has available slots. Relatedly, you’ll want to make sure there’s a testing center within driving distance.
You can, of course, sidestep all these unknowns by taking the test from home. Read this resource for details about how to register for the GRE.
Then, you must consider the best time for taking the GRE, one that aligns with your personal goals and program deadlines, including allowing time to retest if needed. Learn more about the best time for you to take the GRE.
TTP PRO TIP:
You can take the GRE from home, 24/7, 365 days a year.
Should You Retake the GRE Exam?
Answering the question of whether or not to retake the GRE isn’t easy because there are many moving parts. For one, you’ll want to consider how close your current score is to the average scores of programs you’re interested in. You’ll also want to weigh your score against the strength of the rest of your application. For instance, do you have many years of work experience? Have you authored or coauthored several papers?
Secondly, there’s always the question of how you were feeling on test day. Did you get a poor night’s sleep? Were you feeling ill? Did GRE test-day anxiety get the better of you?
A good way to determine whether any of the above impacted your performance is to compare your test-day score to your most recent performance. If the delta was more than 5 points, you might not have performed your best on test day. Retaking the test might be a good idea, provided you’re able to avoid what accounted for your suboptimal performance.
You might also be wondering how long you have to wait to retake the test. The short answer is 21 days. Learn more about how long you have to wait before you can retake the GRE.
TTP PRO TIP:
If your test day score is 5 or more points lower than your most recent practice exam, you might want to consider retaking the exam.
What Is a Good GRE Score?
The answer to this question is not some number, like 335 or 99%. The answer is whatever score or percentile is above the average of the program you are applying to. For instance, the average GRE math score for a Master of Education is 150. So if you are applying to this field, a math score of 155 is excellent. For many physics programs, the average quant score is somewhere around 165.
There is one more important consideration you’ll need to know for your GRE prep: the average GRE scores for the programs you’re interested in. Find average percentiles for different areas of study, as well as other helpful information to answer the question in this guide: What is a Good GRE Score?
How Can You Prepare for the GRE Test?
Because the GRE is likely different from any test you’ve taken before (unless you happen to remember the SAT), knowing how to approach GRE test prep is critical. You might think cracking open a prep book and doing a few practice tests can hack it. But until you know how you’ll do on the GRE, that’s not a safe assumption.
The single most important thing to do is to take a practice test. This will set the stage for how to prepare and when to start preparing. Your first practice test score will let you know how much you have to improve. This, in turn, gives you an idea of when you need to start studying.
Of course, improving requires much more than just taking practice tests. For a complete breakdown of how to study, what to study, and when to start studying, read How to Study for the GRE.
Preparing for the GRE isn’t all about learning about the subjects themselves. It’s also about learning about the mechanics of the test and strategies for navigating these mechanics. For example, knowing the GRE test is adaptive — and knowing how to navigate this feature — can affect the outcome.
TTP PRO TIP:
Taking a GRE practice test at the beginning of your prep journey gives you a sense of where you need to focus and how to study.
Key Takeaways
This article has given you an overview of what the GRE is and some basics for how to approach the test. In summary, we’ve covered:
- What the GRE is and why you may (or may not) need to take the exam
- When, where, and how you can sit for the test (and how many times you can retake it)
- The difficulty of the GRE and how this ultimately depends on your comfort level
- The importance of studying for the GRE in advance and not just winging it on test day
By now, you should understand whether the GRE is a test you’ll pursue as you head into the grad school applications process and what it will take to achieve your dreams.
Next Steps
- Not sure how to start prepping for the GRE? Read about how to study for the GRE.
- Need to evaluate your baseline GRE score? Get started with a practice test from ETS and our free GRE Diagnostic.
- Considering switching from GMAT to GRE for your MBA? Check out this video: Should You Switch from the GMAT to GRE?
- Need access to the best GRE exam prep? Check out the 5-day free trial of GRE’s prep course.
