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GRE Test: A Gateway to Study Abroad

GRE Test: A Gateway to Study Abroad

Planning to go abroad? You must be curious to know about GRE Test then. Maybe because people are usually mentioning about taking admissions in graduate and business schools. Let us tell you all the details about this test. 

GRE stands for?

GRE stands for Graduate Records Examinations. When people are talking about GRE, they are probably referring to GRE General test. This is a standardized test used by many universities and graduate schools around the world as a part of the graduate admissions process.

GRE Exam

The exam has been developed to evaluate the verbal, analytical and mathematical skills of the aspirants seeking for admissions especially in engineering and sciences.  Even if it's not a set requirement, it may still help to support your application for a place on Masters or Ph.D. program. GRE, apart from the basic GRE exam, also has subject tests. Each subject test is intended for those students who have bachelor's degree in the particular disciplines. These subjects tests help to make your application stand out from the rest by highlighting the skill-level of your subject's knowledge. The subject tests being offered currently are Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Literature, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology.

GRE Eligibility

Anyone can register for this exam as there are no specific criteria to sit for this exam. The only thing you need to make sure that you have a valid passport before you register for the GRE exam. GRE Exam Fee The application fee for GRE General Test is $205 worldwide which would cost around 13,500 to 14,500 in Indian rupees approximately. However, GRE Subject Test costs $150 worldwide which would cost Indian students Rs.10,000 to Rs.11,000 approximately.

GRE Pattern

Let us have a look at GRE's exam pattern. It consists of three sections:

  1. Analytical Writing
  2. Verbal Reasoning
  3. Quantitative Reasoning

The writing section has two tasks and you have 30 minutes to complete each task. The verbal section also contains two sections that are to be completed in 30 minutes each. For quantitative section, you get 35 minutes for each section.   

SectionNo. of questionsDuration
Analytical Writing

One “Analyze an Issue” Task and one 

“Analyze an Argument” Task

30 minutes each task
Verbal Reasoning20 questions per section30 minutes each section

GRE Scores and Results

GRE score validity - The total scores are valid for five years after the year in which you took the exam. This is how the scoring pattern works to better understand how your GRE score will be calculated. 

SectionScore RangeMean
Analytical writing0-63.6
Verbal Reasoning130-170150
Quantitative Reasoning130-170152
Total260-340-

GRE Result - If you took the computer-delivered GRE test, your official scores will be available online in your account and are sent to your designated institutions approximately 10-15 days after your test date. If you took the paper-delivered test, your scores will be available online and will be sent to your institutions within five weeks after your test date.

When can you take GRE Exam?

There are no fixed official GRE dates and you can choose any date according to your convenience and availability. The exam date should be at least two months before your first application deadline. You need to make a wise decision about how you need to prepare for GRE exam.

Can you retake the GRE exam?

The answer is yes. If you took the paper-delivered test, you can retake it as many times as it is offered. If you took the test via computer, you can retake it once every 21 days, and up to five times in a year.

GRE Preparation Tips

Preparation for an examination such as GRE requires a lot of effort and hard work. According to experts, you must put at least 4 to 12 weeks of your time for preparation for this exam. Taking practice tests have been known to significantly contribute to higher scores on the GRE Verbal Reasoning Test. You can also make use of various study resources provided by ETS. These resources are either free or are available at very low prices. You can also choose from a wide range of GRE study resources that are provided by third parties. They are available at bookstores and prices may vary. While giving the test, time yourself for each question or each section and ensure you stick to the timeline. Doing so will ensure that you finish the test on time and do not miss out on any question. Take timed tests for preparation so that you know which sections are faster to finish and which questions take more time. Keep these tips in mind and you will find it easier to manage your time during the test and give it your best shot.

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