About the Test

What is the GRE^® General Test?

The GRE^® General Test contains questions that are based on the kind of thinking you will do and the skills you will need to get ahead in today’s demanding graduate and business school programs. Depending on your intended area of study, you may also want to take a GRE^® Subject Test to strengthen your application.

The GRE^® Test Format

The GRE^® General Test measures the skills you will need in graduate, business or law school and features a test-taker friendly format.

3 Number of scores you will receive – one each for Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning

4 Number of FREE score reports you can send to schools

03:45 Time it takes to complete the test

GRE^® Test Sections

Analytical Writing

Timing:
30 minutes per task

Number of tasks:
2

Tests how well you:

Apply your critical thinking and analytical writing skills
Articulate complex ideas

More about Analytical Writing

Verbal Reasoning

Timing:
Two 30-minute sections

Number of questions:
20 per section

Tests how well you:

Understand what you’ve read
Apply your reasoning skills

More about Verbal Reasoning

Quantitative Reasoning

Timing:
Two 35-minute sections

Number of questions:
20 per section

Tests how well you:

Interpret and analyze quantitative information
Solve problems using mathematical models

Focuses on basic mathematical skills of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis.

More about Quantitative Reasoning

Unscored Sections

One of two types of unscored sections may be included on the test:

An unidentified Verbal Reasoning or Quantitative Reasoning section – can appear anywhere
An identified research section – always the last section of the test

More about the Unscored Sections

The GRE^®
General Test Facts

Explore the test by the numbers.

Test sections
and scores

Where GRE^®
scores are accepted

Benefits of taking the test again

Results of GRE^®
test takers survey

The GRE^®
General Test Facts

Test sections and scores

Where GRE^® scores are accepted

Benefits of taking the test again

Results of GRE^® test takers survey

3

The GRE^® General Test contains 3 scored sections:
Analytical Writing
Verbal Reasoning
Quantitative Reasoning

95%

of GRE^® test takers changed at least one answer, and most improved their scores.

10-15

days after your test date, you can view your scores online in your ETS Account.

130-170

Scoring scale for Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections

0-6

Scoring scale for Analytical Writing section

5

Your scores are valid for 5 years after the year in which you tested.

1,300

More than 1,300 business schools, including the world’s top-ranked business schools, accept GRE^® scores for admission to their MBA, specialized master’s and other graduate business programs.

98/100

98 of the top institutions on the U.S. News & World Report 2019 Best Business Schools Ranking accept GRE^® scores.

47/47

All of Bloomberg Businessweek's top 47 U.S. MBA programs accept GRE^® scores.

90/101

90 of the top institutions on The Financial Times 2018 Global MBA Ranking accept GRE^® scores.

7/10

7 out of 10 GRE^® test takers earned the same or better scores on the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections when they took the test a second time.

80%

Nearly 80% of those who took the test a second time scored the same or higher on the Analytical Writing Measure.

1/4

Nearly 1 out of 4 people take the GRE^® General Test more than once.

68%

of test takers rely on official GRE^® software and apps to prepare for the GRE^® General Test.

35%

of test takers prepare from 1-4 hours per week.

3

Top 3 study snacks among GRE^® test takers: fruits, nuts, chocolate

1/3

1 out of 3 GRE^® test takers starts preparing less than 1 month before test day.

At a Glance – GRE^® Registration and Requirements

Here are the three key steps and some helpful tips to register for the GRE^® General Test online. Register at ets.org

Create an Account*ID Requirements*Test Dates and Locations*Helpful Tips

Create a Test Taker Account

Before you register for the test, you will need to create an ETS account. You will be asked to provide your name and contact info and create a username and password. For assistance, watch this short video on how to create your ETS Account.

*Note: Individuals in Mainland China must register online through an NEEA Account. Please visit TakeTheGRE.cn for an explanation of how to create the account. Individuals in Hong Kong, China; Taiwan, China; and Korea or at additional testing locations outside of the Prometric test center network must register online through an ETS Account.

Get started >

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A screenshot of ETS GRE Create a Test Taker Account page - with the section ‘First/ Given Name’ highlighted

Understand the ID Requirements

It’s important that when you create your account, the spelling of your full name matches exactly with the ID you will present at the test center. Depending on where you plan to test and your country of citizenship, there may be other requirements. See all ID requirements

*Note: Individuals in Mainland China, please visit TakeTheGRE.cn to understand the specific ID requirements.

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A screenshot of the ETS GRE Find Test Centers and Dates page

Choose a Test Date and Location

Once you have an account, you will be prompted to register and choose where and when you would like to take the test. Be sure to allow enough time for your scores to be sent to your chosen schools.

*Note: Individuals in Mainland China, please visit TakeTheGRE.cn for how to choose a test date and location.

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Keep these things in mind:

If you need guidance, this step-by-step video shows how to register for the GRE^® General Test
Register early so you can get your preferred testing location and time
Consider where you might want to send your scores and check their admissions deadlines to plan your test dates
When you register, sign up for the GRE^® Search Service to help schools find you
After your test, you can use your ETS Account to view your official scores

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