The Complete GRE General Test Study Guide
Everything you need to know about the exam format, how it's scored, and how to use this portal to prepare for it.
What is the GRE?
The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) General Test is used for admission to graduate and business school programs worldwide, mostly outside Italy and Germany-specific pathways. It's developed and administered by ETS, and measures Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing — the current shortened format has run since September 2023, cutting total testing time to under two hours.
Test Format
All sections are taken in one sitting, totalling about 1 hour 58 minutes.
| Component | Duration | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Writing | 30 min | 1 "Analyze an Issue" task |
| Verbal Reasoning | 2 × 18 min | 2 scored sections |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 2 × 21 min | 2 scored sections |
Analytical Writing
30 minutes
One "Analyze an Issue" task — the older "Analyze an Argument" task was dropped from the current shortened GRE. Scored on critical thinking and written expression.
Verbal Reasoning
2 × 18 minutes
Two scored sections mixing Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence — vocabulary in context matters as much as comprehension.
Quantitative Reasoning
2 × 21 minutes
Two scored sections covering arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis, with an on-screen calculator available throughout.
GRE Test Types
GRE at a Test Center
The standard version, delivered at an official Prometric test center. This portal is built around this version.
GRE at Home
The identical test, taken at home with online proctoring — same format, questions, and scoring as the test-center version.
How the GRE Is Scored
Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning are each scored on a 130–170 scale, in 1-point increments. Analytical Writing is scored separately on a 0–6 scale, in half-point increments. There is no single combined GRE score the way GMAT or SAT report one number — graduate programs typically look at your Verbal and Quant scores individually, weighted differently depending on the field of study.
130–170
Verbal Reasoning scale
130–170
Quantitative Reasoning scale
0–6
Analytical Writing scale
Key Facts
- Tests Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing in under 2 hours total
- Verbal and Quant are each scored 130-170; Analytical Writing is scored 0-6 in half-point steps
- The current format (since September 2023) dropped the second Analytical Writing task, cutting total time significantly
- Vocabulary plays a much bigger role in GRE Verbal than in GMAT Verbal
- A calculator is available on-screen throughout the Quantitative sections
- Accepted for graduate, and increasingly some MBA, admissions worldwide
Everything About the GRE Exam
The administrative details most candidates want to know before booking a test.
Why take the GRE?
The GRE is the standard admission test for most graduate (Master's and PhD) programs worldwide, and is now also accepted by a large and growing number of MBA programs as an alternative to the GMAT.
Who needs the GRE?
Students applying to graduate school — especially in the US, Canada, and increasingly Europe — for programs in the sciences, engineering, humanities, social sciences, and some business schools that accept GRE scores instead of, or alongside, the GMAT.
Countries and institutions accepting the GRE
The GRE is accepted by thousands of graduate programs in the US, Canada, the UK, and elsewhere, and by many top MBA programs that now accept either GRE or GMAT scores.
Test and score validity
A GRE score is valid for 5 years from your test date — notably longer than most English proficiency tests.
Test frequency and registration
The GRE is offered year-round at test centers and via the at-home option, typically with test dates available on short notice. You register online through the official ETS GRE website.
Test fees
GRE fees vary by country but are generally higher than English proficiency tests, reflecting its role as a graduate-admission test. Always check the current fee for your country on the official ETS registration page.
Study materials
This portal's Study Material section covers Verbal vocabulary and reasoning strategy, Quantitative topic drills, and Analytical Writing structure. See "How mocktests. Helps You Prepare" below.
How mocktests. Helps You Prepare
A Clear Prep Roadmap
This guide breaks the GRE down into the same stages we recommend — diagnostic, foundations, question-type mastery, timed practice, and full mocks — so you always know what to study next.
Growing Practice Library
Sectional and full-length GRE practice content is being added to this portal. Check the course page for what's live right now, with more question drills arriving regularly.
Performance Tracking
Once you start completing practice sets on this portal, your Performance Overview will track your Verbal and Quant scores over time and flag exactly which topic is holding you back.
Test Day Tips
- Arrive at least 30 minutes early — late arrivals may not be admitted.
- Bring the same ID document you registered with; mismatches can mean you're turned away.
- You can skip and return to questions within a section, but not move between sections once you leave them.
- The on-screen calculator is available throughout Quant — practice using it, not a physical one, during prep.
- Vocabulary in context is tested more than vocabulary in isolation — practice reading, not just memorizing word lists.
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