What is the GRE®?
Discover what you need to know about the GRE, GRE scores, GRE test availability, and the GRE sections.
About the GRE
The Graduate Record Examination, or GRE, is an important step in the graduate school or business school application process. The GRE is a multiple-choice, computer-based, standardized exam that is often required for admission to graduate programs and graduate business programs (MBA) globally. Additionally, many law schools in the United States will accept a GRE score for admission.
The GRE is developed and administered by testmaker, ETS to provide graduate, business, and law schools with common measures for comparing applicants’ qualifications and preparedness for graduate-level academic work. Admissions committees look at your GRE score, along with your academic record and supporting materials, to assess your readiness for the rigors of graduate academic study.
What’s the takeaway? A high score on the GRE will have a direct, positive impact on your graduate, business, or law school application.
What is on the GRE?
The GRE exam measures your command of basic arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis as well as college-level vocabulary. More importantly, it measures your ability to analyze and evaluate written material, think critically, and solve problems. Learn more about what's tested on the GRE.
What are the GRE Sections?
You will receive three scores on the GRE:
These scores are generated by the following sections:
- 1 Analytical Writing Assessment section
- 2 Verbal Reasoning sections
- 2 Quantitative Reasoning sections
In addition, you will see one of the following sections:
- Unscored (may be either Verbal Reasoning or Quantitative Reasoning)
- Research (used for ETS research purposes)
The Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning sections are each scored on a scale of 130 to 170. The mean score for Verbal Reasoning is 152, and the mean score for Quantitative Reasoning is 156. The Analytical Writing Assessment is scored from 0 to 6 in half-point increments, and the mean score is 4.0.
[ RELATED: How difficult is the GRE? ]
Analytical Writing
Number of questions | Minutes to complete Analytical Writing | Score range |
|---|---|---|
One “Analyze an Issue” task | 30 minutes | 0 to 6 |
The Analytical Writing Assessment, or “essay” section, measures whether you can articulate your thoughts and responses to complex ideas in a clear and reasoned way. Formulating a well-supported thesis in response to new and unfamiliar topics and key to doing well in Analytical Writing.
During the “Analyze an Issue” task you will read an opinion on a topic of general interest and be given instructions on how to respond to the issue at hand.
Verbal Reasoning (Verbal)
Number of questions | Minutes to complete Verbal Reasoning | Score range |
|---|---|---|
(roughly) |
| 130 to 170 |
The Verbal section of the GRE tests your ability to analyze written material, as well as relationships among component parts of sentences, including words and concepts. Verbal Reasoning questions appear in several formats:
Text Completion
Text Completion (TC) questions ask you to fill in the blank to complete sentences. Variations include 1-, 2-, and 3-blank questions. You’ll encounter approximately three to four of these in each Verbal section, and you should aim to complete each in about 1–1.5 minutes. To master these, you’ll need to build your vocabulary as well as develop your skill at using context clues from the sentence to make predictions for the blanks. There is no partial credit: you must answer correctly for all blanks to receive points for these questions.
Sentence Equivalence
Sentence Equivalence (SE) questions require you to fill in a single blank with two choices that create two coherent sentences that are logically similar in meaning. You will encounter approximately three SE questions in each Verbal section. Aim to complete each in about 1 minute. As with TC questions, you’ll need to work on building your vocabulary and identifying context clues in order to master SE questions.
Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension (RC) questions are based on passages of one or more paragraphs that develop an explanation or argument on a topic. RC questions require you to understand central ideas presented in the text and the structure of a text, as well as to research details in the passage and draw valid inferences from it. RC questions require strategic reading and paraphrasing skills.
Each Verbal section will contain approximately six to eight RC questions, and you should aim to spend an average of 1–3 minutes on reading a passage and 1 minute per question.
Quantitative Reasoning (Quant)
Number of questions | Minutes to complete Quantitative Reasoning | Score range |
|---|---|---|
(roughly) |
| 130 to 170 |
The Quant section of the GRE tests your basic quantitative skills, as well as your ability to reason and solve problems with quantitative methods. You’ll see questions covering basic arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. These topics are typically covered in high school. You will not see trigonometry, calculus, or any other high-level math.
[ GOOD TO KNOW: Rates and Work Questions & High-Yield Topics ]
Quantitative Reasoning questions appear in several formats:
Quantitative Comparison
Quantitative Comparison (QC) questions ask you to compare two quantities—Quantity A and Quantity B—and to identify the relationship between the two. You’ll likely see about 4-to-6 of these in each Quant section. To master these, be familiar with the QC answer choices and with shortcut methods that allow you to compare rather than calculate.
Problem Solving
The most common Problem Solving (PS) questions are standard multiple-choice questions, with five choices and one correct answer. Variants include questions that ask you to select one or more answers from a list of choices (multiple-choice all-that-apply) and questions that ask you to enter your answer in a box (numeric entry.) To master PS questions, be familiar with the math concepts that are tested as well as strategies that allow you to approach solving efficiently.
There are also a handful (typically two per section) of Problem Solving questions associated with one or more charts. These Data Interpretation (DI) questions work like other PS Qs, but it’s important to note that gleaning the information correctly from the graphs is the key to answering them.
What is a Good GRE Score?
When considering your GRE score goal, look at the requirements—or minimums, if applicable—at the graduate or business programs to which you’re applying. This will let you know your score baseline. If you can find the mean or average GRE score of admitted applicants, you’ll be able to determine what GRE score will make you a competitive applicant. The Verbal and Quant sections of the GRE are each scored from 130 to 170. The mean score for Verbal Reasoning is 152, and the mean score for Quantitative Reasoning is 157. The Analytical Writing Assessment is scored from 0 to 6 in half-point increments, and the mean score is 4.0. You can use the tables below to see the relationship between scaled scores and the test takers achieving them:
Percentile | Scaled GRE Verbal Score* |
|---|---|
Top 10% of all test takers | 162 |
Top 25% of all test takers | 157 |
Top 50% of all test takers | 152 |
Below 50th percentile of all test takers | 151 |
Percentile | Scaled GRE Quant Score* |
|---|---|
Top 10% of all test takers | 169 |
Top 25% of all test takers | 165 |
Top 50% of all test takers | 157 |
Below 50th percentile of all test takers | 156 |
[ Read more about good GRE scores ]
* Based on the performance of GRE test takers from 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022
What is ScoreSelect®?
The ScoreSelect feature of the GRE gives you the option to send only the GRE test scores from whichever test date you want schools to see. Note that even with the ScoreSelect option, you’ll want to perform your best on the GRE the first time so you don’t have to retake the exam and pay an additional testing fee.
How Long is the GRE?
On GRE Test Day, you can expect to sit for the exam for approximately one hour and 58 minutes. There are no breaks. Note that this time does not include your check-in time at the testing center. It is important to be on time and fully prepared. ETS recommends that you arrive at the testing center at least 30 minutes before your test time. You also have the option to take the test at home with a virtual proctor.
GRE Section | Time |
|---|---|
Analytical Writing | 30 minutes |
Verbal Reasoning |
|
Quantitative Reasoning |
|
Total GRE Test Time | Approximately 1 hour, 58 minutes |
When is the GRE Offered?
The computer-delivered GRE is administered year-round in Prometric™ testing centers. You can also take the test at home with a virtual proctor.. The paper-delivered GRE is administered at certain testing centers on a limited number of dates. Seating for GRE is on a first-come, first-serve basis, and some testing center locations can fill up well in advance of the popular fall testing time. For more information about how to register for the test, check the ETS site.
It is highly recommended that you register for your preferred GRE test date early so you can select a date that will allow enough time for ETS to process your scores and send them to the institutions you’ll be applying to. This can take from 8-to-10 days. During popular testing times, seats in Prometric™ testing centers can be limited. You can take the computer-delivered GRE once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period (365 days).
You can register for the GRE online via ETS. For GRE-related questions, you can find contact information for ETS here.
When to Take the GRE
Since graduate programs have a wide range of application deadlines, you’ll want to research your programs of interest ahead of time and ensure that your GRE score can be reported in time for your earliest deadline. Your GRE score is good for five years.
You’ll want to devote 1–3 months to studying for the GRE, and top scorers report studying for 100+ hours.
How Much is the GRE?
The cost to take the GRE General Test is $220 in most countries, and $231.30 in China. The GRE Subject Test costs $150 worldwide. Registering early is recommended to secure your preferred test date and location.
Additional GRE fees may apply depending on your needs:
- Rescheduling or changing test centers costs $50.
- Sending additional score reports is $35 per recipient.
- Reinstating canceled scores costs $50.
- Late registration, if available, adds a $20 fee.
Educational Testing Service (ETS) also offers a GRE Fee Reduction Program, which cuts the test cost by 50% for eligible test takers, lowering the price of the General Test to $110. This program is available to those who demonstrate financial need, are unemployed, or are part of select national programs.
If you cancel your GRE registration at least four days before your test date, you’ll receive a 50% refund. No refund is given if you cancel less than four days before your exam.
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