In November 2007, ETS introduced two new question types to the GRE exam: Numeric Entry & Text Completion. While test-takers will initially see only one (at most) new question type on their exams, most test takers will find these new question types to be more difficult. Below is an overview of what test takers will see beginning in November 2007.
What changes will I see to the GRE exam after November 2007?
- Starting in November 2007, a test taker who takes the GRE will see EITHER one question of the new Verbal question type OR one question of the new Quantitative question type, or there is a possibility that he or she will see no new questions.
- The new Verbal question type, Text Completion, is a complex form of Sentence Completion that requires test takers to fill in two or three blanks within a passage with the correct vocabulary from separate multiple-choice lists.
- The new Quantitative question type, Numeric Entry, requires test takers to manually enter an answer into an empty answer box. There are no answer choices given for guidance on this question type.
- When first introduced, these questions will not count toward a test taker's score. In time, once an "adequate sample of data" has been recovered, these question types will count toward test takers' scores.
Read the ETS press release about the new question types. If you have any questions about the GRE exam or preparation options, please call one of our Academic Advisors at 1-800-KAP-TEST.
When should I plan to take the GRE?
You should plan to take the GRE in plenty of time to meet your grad school deadlines, and, since exam scores are valid for 5 years, you should take the exam NOW even if you are not applying to grad school immediately. Begin by taking a free practice test and choose what GRE preparation option is best for you.
What are the new GRE question types like?
Below are samples of the new question types that were introduced in November 2007.
New Verbal Question Type: Text Completion
Directions: Using the corresponding lists of answer choices, fill the blanks below in the way that best completes the text.
- The latest novel by Anderson demonstrates an unfortunate departure from her complex and impressive style. She has been a critical favorite for quite some time, but past ___(i)___ do not apply to this new novel, which substitutes ___(ii)___ ramblings for her normally ___(iii)___ juxtapositions.
Blank (i) |
Blank (ii) |
Blank (iii) |
| criticisms |
prosaic |
transcendent |
| diatribes |
astute |
hackneyed |
| accolades |
exploratory |
retractable |
Answers: blank (i): accolades, blank (ii): prosaic, blank (iii): transcendent
Explanation: (i) Because she has been a critical favorite, we can predict that in the past she received "compliments." Accolades matches this perfectly. (ii) We know that the new novel is not good, and is not complex or impressive, so we can predict a negative word that means "ordinary." Prosaic is a perfect match for this. (iii) The author is highly regarded and her work has normally been "complex and impressive." We can predict that the word must be positive and mean something "impressive." Transcendent is the best match, and the only positive word in the group.
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- Rather than regard Catherine the Great as responsible for the cultural resurgence of Russia, scholars familiar in Russian economics categorize her as a __ (i) __, believing she squandered a surplus of wealth that led Russia to an era of __ (ii) ___.
Blank (i) |
Blank (ii) |
| intellectual |
enlightenment |
| wastrel |
stratification |
| dilettante |
prosperity |
Answers: blank (i): wastrel, blank (ii): prosperity
Explanation: For blank (i), the Russian economics scholars feel that she squandered a surplus of wealth, so we can predict that the correct answer choice would mean "a wasteful person." In the first list, then, wastrel is a perfect match. A wastrel is a person who uses resources in a foolish or wasteful way. For blank (ii), the surplus of wealth could have helped Russia's financial status, therefore we can predict that the answer choice would mean "financial success." In the list for blank (ii), prosperity matches our prediction nicely.
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- The speech, which has been quoted in nearly every office since its delivery, was given by a person whom many had previously considered to be a ____(i)____ orator. However the ____(ii)____ demonstrated in this speech ____(iii)____ any belief that the speaker was less than stellar.
Blank (i) |
Blank (ii) |
Blank (iii) |
| genial |
rancor |
nullified |
| mediocre |
verbosity |
highlighted |
| dilatory |
prowess |
indoctrinated |
Answers: blank (i): mediocre, blank (ii): prowess, blank (iii): nullified
Explanation: Looking for keywords, we see that the first part of the sentence says the speech was very good, but the word "previously" points to an earlier contrasting opinion. The first blank, then, must be something not very good. The word “mediocre” means low in quality or value, so this fits. The second blank refers to the speech, and since we know the speech was good, it will be something positive. In the list for blank (ii), prowess is the only positive choice.
The third blank is a past tense verb, referring to what happened to the negative ("less than stellar") thoughts about the speaker. You can predict that the answer choice will mean "got rid of", because of the contrast between the other two blanks. This matches the word “nullified” in blank (iii). Kaplan students learn to look up and jot down definitions to words they may not have known while working through Text Completion questions. If you didn’t know the definitions of some of these words, it’s a valuable study habit to take note of them.
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New Quantitative Question Type: Numeric Entry
This question does not have answer choices. Type the answer in the box provided. The answer can be positive, negative, or zero. A correct answer can have up to eight digits.
- Two pools in the shape of rectangular prisms are being filled with water by pumps. The first
pump fills its pool completely in 1 hour. The second pumps water twice as fast as the first
pump, and fills a pool that is twice the width, twice the length, and twice the depth of the first
pool. How many hours does it take the second pump to fill its pool?
Answer: 4
Explanation: The first pump fills a pool with length x feet, width y feet, and depth z feet, for a volume of xyz ft3 . The second pump fills a pool with length 2x, width 2y, and depth 2z, for a volume of 8xyz ft3 . The first pump pumps at a rate of xyz ft3 per hour, since it fills the entire pool in one hour. Therefore, the second pump pumps at a rate of 2xyz ft3 per hour.
It takes 
hours for the second pump to fill the second pool.
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- If (35x )(275x ) = (348 )(98x ), then what is the value of x? Type in a number.
Answer: 12
Explanation: In solving this question, we will use these two laws of exponents. (bx)y = bxy and (bx)(by)= bx + y.
Let's try to rewrite the equation (35x)(275x) = (348)(98x) so that each power has the same base of 3.
We have 27 = 3 × 9 = 3 × 3 × 3 = 33 and 9 = 3 × 3 = 32.
Then the equation (35x)(275x) = (348)(98x) can be written (35x)(33)5x = (348)(32)8x.
Now (33)5x = 33(5x) = 315x and (32)8x = 32 (8x) = 316x .
So the equation (35x )(33 )5x = (348 )(32 )8x can be written (35x )( 315x )= (348 )(316x ).
Then 35x +15x = 348 + 16x , and then 320x = 348 + 16x .
When two equal powers have the same base, where that same base is a number other than 1, 0, or −;1, then the exponents must be equal. Here the equal powers 320x and 348 + 16x have the same base 3. So the exponents 20x and 48 + 16x must be equal. So 20x = 48 + 16x. Solving the equation 20x = 48 + 16x for x, we have 4x = 48, and x = 12.
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- If x2 – 2xy + y2 = 5, then (x – y)6 =
Answer: 125
Explanation: This is the classic quadratic x2 – 2xy + y2 = (x – y)2. In place of the original equation, you can write (x – y)2 = 5. To get from this to (x – y)6, you can cube both sides. A good knowledge of the exponent rules is needed for this problem. Cubing both sides leads to the equation (x – y)6 = 125. On Test Day, you'll need to type 125 into the empty box provided for you.
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