GRE® tests are taken by individuals applying to graduate and business schools around the world. Look at our Graduate Programs

Who should take a GRE® test:

Each year, prospective graduate and business school applicants from around the world take a GRE® test. Applicants come from varying educational and cultural backgrounds, and the tests provide a common measure for comparing candidates’ qualifications. For more than 60 years, GRE scores have been used by admissions or fellowship panels to supplement undergraduate records, recommendation letters and other qualifications for graduate-level study.

How to register:

Visit the GRE website to register for a GRE test and for the most up-to-date information about GRE tests and services.

GRE® revised General Test

The GRE® revised General Test is the most widely accepted graduate-level admissions test worldwide. You can use your GRE test scores to apply to graduate and business schools around the world — giving you more opportunities for your future. The GRE revised General Test content reflects the kind of thinking you’ll do and the skills you need to succeed in today’s demanding graduate and business school programs. Specifically, the test measures your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills — skills that have been developed over a long period of time and are not related to a specific field of study. The GRE revised General Test features a test-taker friendly design that gives you the flexibility to use your own test-taking strategies and the ScoreSelect® option, which lets you decide which scores to send to schools.

When and Where the Test is Offered

The test is administered at more than 850 Educational Testing Service (ETS)-authorized test centers in more than 160 countries. In most regions of the world, the computer-based test is available on a continuous basis throughout the year. In Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea, the computer-based test is available one to three times per month. In areas of the world where computer-based testing is not available, the test is administered in a paper-based format up to three times a year in October, November and February.

Test Content

The GRE revised General Test is composed of three measures — Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning. The Analytical Writing section measures the ability to articulate and support complex ideas, examine claims and accompanying evidence, sustain a focused and coherent discussion, and control the elements of standard written English. The Analytical Writing section requires you to provide focused responses based on the tasks presented, so you can accurately demonstrate your ability to directly respond to a task. The Verbal Reasoning section measures your ability to analyze and evaluate written material and synthesize information obtained from it; understand the meanings of words, sentences and entire texts; and understand relationships among words and concepts. The Quantitative Reasoning section measures your ability to understand, interpret and analyze quantitative information; solve problems using mathematical models; and apply basic mathematical skills and elementary mathematical concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, probability and statistics.

The Computer-based GRE revised General Test

Test Structure

*An unidentified unscored section that does not count toward a score may be included and may appear in any order after the Analytical Writing section. Questions in the unscored section are being tried out either for possible use in future tests or to ensure that scores on new editions of the test are comparable to scores from earlier editions. ** An identified research section may be included in place of the unscored section. The research section will always appear at the end of the test. Questions in this section are included for ETS research purposes and will not count toward your score. The Analytical Writing section will always be first, while the other sections may appear in any order.

Test Design Features

The computer-based GRE revised General Test design features advanced technology that allows you to freely move forward and backward throughout an entire section. Specific features include:

• Preview and review capabilities within a section
• "Mark" and "Review" feature feature to tag questions, so you can skip and return later
• The ability to change/edit answers within a section
• An on-screen calculator for the Quantitative Reasoning section

The Paper-based GRE revised General Test

Test Structure

The Analytical Writing section will always be first, while the other four sections may appear in any order.

Test Design Features

• You will enter your answers into the test book, rather than a separate answer sheet.
• You will be provided with an ETS calculator to use during the Quantitative Reasoning section; you may not use your own calculator.
• The test includes new answer formats, including tasks such as numeric entry and text completions.

Test Preparation

Free official test preparation tools are available to make it easy for you to start practicing for the GRE revised General Test.

• If you are preparing for the computer-based test download the free  POWERPREP® II software, the only comprehensive test prep that’s as close to taking the computer-based test as you can get.
• If you are preparing for the paper-based test download  The Practice Book for the Paper-Based GRE®revised General Test, which offers a simulated test-taking experience of the paper-based GRE® revised General Test.

Check out all the FREE and low-cost official test preparation tools available on the GRE website.

Stay Informed and Connected

For additional information about the GRE revised General Test, visit www.TakeTheGRE.com and get the official news and important reminders you need, when you need them. To connect with other test takers worldwide, visit the official GRE ® revised General Test page on Facebook®. This page gives you an opportunity to share advice, cheer on other prospective test takers and get clear information about the GRE revised General Test.

Test Registration

You can register for the computer-based GRE revised General Test online (using a credit card) by phone or by mail. You can register for the paper-based GRE revised General Test online (using a credit card) or by mail. The fee to take the GRE revised General Test is US$195 worldwide. Note that test fees are subject to change. For the most up-to-date pricing, visit the GRE website.

Score Reporting

Scores Reported

The following scores are reported for the GRE revised General Test:

• A Verbal Reasoning score on a 130–170 score scale, in 1-point increments
• A Quantitative Reasoning score on a 130–170 score scale, in 1-point increments
• An Analytical Writing score on a 0–6 score scale, in half-point increments.

If you don’t answer any questions in a Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning or Analytical Writing section, you will receive a No Score (NS) on that measure. If you take the computer-based GRE revised General Test, official scores will be available 10–15 days after your test date. If you take the paper-based GRE revised General Test, official scores will be available within six weeks after your test date. You can view your scores online free-of-charge when they are available at www.ets.org/mygre.

Sending Your Scores

The ScoreSelect® option lets you decide which GRE test scores to send to the schools you designate. As part of your four free score reports, you can send scores from your most recent test administration or from all administrations of the General Test taken in the last five years. After test day, you can send scores from yourMost Recent, All or Any specific test administration(s) for a fee when ordering Additional Score Reports online. Just remember, scores for a test administration must be reported in their entirety. The ScoreSelect option helps you approach test day with more confidence, knowing you can send the scores you feel reflect your personal best. The ScoreSelect option is available for both the GRE revised General Test and GRE Subject Tests, and can be used by anyone with reportable scores from the last five years.

GRE® Subject Tests

The GRE® Subject Tests can help you stand out from other applicants by emphasizing your knowledge and skill level in a specific area. The Subject Tests measure undergraduate achievement in the following fields of study:

• Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Literature in English
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Psychology

Each Subject Test assumes an undergraduate major or extensive background in the discipline. The tests are given at ETS authorized paper-based testing centers worldwide up to three times per year, in October, November and April. Additional information about the content of the tests is available on the GRE website.

Test Preparation

Free official test preparation materials are available to anyone who registers for a Subject Test worldwide or who visits the GRE website. Each Subject Test practice book contains a full-length test and answer key, test-taking strategies and information to help you understand the score(s) you earned. The appropriate practice book is sent to individuals who register for a Subject Test, or you can download this material free of charge.

Test Registration

You can register for a GRE Subject Test online (using a credit card) or by mail. The fee to take a GRE Subject Test is US$150 worldwide. Note that test fees are subject to change. For the most up-to-date pricing, visit the GRE website.

Score Reporting:

Scores Reported

Every Subject Test yields a total score on a 200–990 score scale in 10-point increments. Some Subject Tests yield subscores on a 20–99 score scale in one-point increments. Subject Test scores are available within six weeks after your test administration. You can view your scores online free-of-charge when they are available at www.ets.org/mygre.

ScoreSelect Option

The ScoreSelect option described previously is also available if you take a GRE Subject Test.

Additional Services for GRE Test Takers

GRE®Search Service

The FREE GRE® Search Service can help match you with the right participating schools and fellowship sponsors, based on background information that you provide. If a graduate or business school sees your recruitment profile and considers it a match, they can reach out and contact you directly about their program. It’s an effective way to learn about schools and programs you may not have considered. You will be given the option of being included in the Search Service when you register for a GRE test. You can also sign up for the Search Service online at any time.

ETS® Personal Potential Index

Show graduate and business schools a more complete picture of your potential for success - with the ETS®Personal Potential Index (ETS® PPI) A convenient and easy-to-use web-based tool, the ETS PPI can help you distinguish yourself from the competition. In less than 15 minutes, evaluators you select are able to provide feedback about you on six personal attributes that graduate and business school deans and faculty have identified as essential for success, including teamwork, resilience, and planning and organization. When used with GRE scores and transcripts, the ETS PPI Evaluation Report ScoreSelectwill help graduate and business schools know you are up to the challenge. When you register for the GRE revised General Test, you can send up to four FREE ETS PPI Evaluation Reports to the graduate or business schools of your choice — that’s an $80 value! The ETS PPI is also available for a fee of US$20 per report to individuals who are not planning to take the GRE revised General Test. To get started or learn more, visit the ETS PPI website. For further information about the GRE tests and services, please visit www.ets.org/gre. GRE® tests are taken by individuals applying to graduate and business schools around the world.  Look at our Graduate Programs  

Courtesy of Educational Testing Service.

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