GRE Exam information
What it is, what's tested, and how it's scored.
GRE exam details
The GRE is a standardized test for all types of graduate schools, including business and law schools. It is created and administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS).
The GRE exam is hosted by ETS and costs $220 to register. Participants have 1 hour 58 minutes to answer 56 multiple-choice questions and 1 essay.
Structure of the computer-delivered test
The Analytical Writing section will always be first. The following sections will be randomly determined, although it is highly likely that they will alternate between verbal and quantiative.
The GRE is an adaptive test. This means that it changes in response to student performance. Unlike the GMAT (which is adaptive by question), the GRE is adaptive by section. As a result the number of questions you answer correctly on your first verbal or quant section will determine how difficult your second verbal or quant section will be. Provoking harder second sections is rewarded with "free" scaled points and access to the top-percentile scores.
Topic
Description
Analytical Writing
One essay prompt, 30 min
"Analyze an Issue" task
Verbal Reasoning
Two sections, 18 or 23 min each
12 or 15 questions per section
Quantitative Reasoning
Two sections, 21 or 26 min each
12 or 15 questions per section
Paper-delivered test and testing from home
While ETS does mention a paper-based test taking option for the GRE, unless you live in an extremely remote part of the world or you have an explicit accommodation from ETS, you should expect to sit for the computer-based exam. And while this has historically meant that students must take the GRE at a secure testing center, ETS recently relaxed its regulations, allowing students to sit for the exam at home. This process involves certain technical requirements and engaging a virtual proctor; however, this change gives students an unprecedented amount of control over where and when they take the test.
ETS's GRE exam summary
Quantitative Reasoning
Two sections
12 or 15 questions each
The Quantitative Reasoning section measures your ability to:
- understand, interpret and analyze quantitative information
- solve problems using mathematical models
- apply basic skills and elementary concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis
Verbal Reasoning
Two sections
12 or 15 questions each
The Verbal Reasoning section measures your ability to:
- analyze and draw conclusions from discourse; reason from incomplete data; identify author's assumptions and/or perspective; understand multiple levels of meaning, such as literal, figurative and author's intent
- select important points; distinguish major from minor or irrelevant points; summarize text; understand the structure of a text
- understand the meanings of words, sentences and entire texts; understand relationships among words and among concepts
Analytical Writing
One section
Essay prompt
The Analytical Writing section measures your ability to:
- articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively
- support ideas with relevant reasons and examples
- examine claims and accompanying evidence
- sustain a well-focused, coherent discussion
- control the elements of standard written English
Achievable GRE content outline
1
Welcome
A brief introduction to Achievable GRE.
2
Vocabulary approach
You'll need a robust vocabulary to get a high score on the GRE. Achievable's learning engine helps you learn and review GRE vocabulary words so you'll remember them on exam day.
3
Quantitative reasoning
We explain each principle tested in various contexts so that you can quickly internalize the many quant principles tested in the GRE. We also offer a practically endless bank of randomizable practice problems that have been crafted to accurately imitate the exam.
4
Verbal reasoning
We teach you the strategies you need to attack each question type while focusing on the nuances and motifs ETS likes to stress. Each of our meticulously crafted verbal questions includes a robust explanation.
5
Analytical writing
We give you a gameplan for both essay types, so you can be completely prepared before the exam even starts. Our highly accurate machine-learning automated scorer grades your practice essays very similarly to ETS's e-rater, so you can accurately evaluate your skills.
Hit your target score
Achievable is the best online GRE exam prep course: effective, personalized, and convenient. With Achievable, you'll spend less time studying and hit your target score with confidence.