The new GRE: Understanding recent test changes
If you’re planning to advance your education by applying to graduate or business school programs, one of the first steps is to take the Graduate Record Examination, commonly known as the GRE exam. The GRE is a standardized test widely used by graduate and business schools to assess applicants’ qualifications for graduate-level study. While the GRE has existed for almost 90 years, its structure has changed significantly over time, with the most recent updates made in 2023.
If you’re a student who took the GRE in the past, you may be surprised to find out that the exam you took looks very different from the one currently distributed. The adjustments made by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which administers the GRE, drastically changed the length and structure of this core assessment. Today’s test-takers are offered an exam that is shorter and more concise than its predecessor, which is affecting how students now prepare for it.
Students who began studying for the GRE prior to 2024 and had to put their graduate school plans on hold, or who took a long break between retakes, should be aware of how the GRE has changed over the last few years. While the GRE still assesses competencies in mathematical and verbal reasoning, candidates should adjust their preparation strategy to account for the new exam format. We outline the key changes to the new GRE below, explain why they were made, and what you can expect on test day.
GRE changes: The new GRE is much shorter
As of September 2023, the GRE's duration is just under 2 hours, a notable reduction from the test’s previous length of almost 4 hours. This streamlined version of the GRE aims to assess the same core skills using an adaptive structure that improves efficiency. ETS’s decision is rooted in reducing test fatigue, helping test-takers maintain concentration and performance throughout the entire, shorter assessment.
The revised GRE now takes half the time to take, thanks to the following:
- The test duration has been significantly reduced: the GRE is now approximately 1 hour and 58 minutes, down from 3 hours and 45 minutes.
- In the Analytical Writing section, the “Analyze an Argument” essay task has been removed, so only one essay remains.
- The total number of questions has dropped from 100 to 54, reducing overall test time. Despite the shorter exam, test-takers will still have a similar time per question as before (between 90 seconds and 2 minutes).
- The previously included unscored section, used by ETS for research and development, no longer appears in the new GRE exam format.
- Scheduled breaks have been eliminated from the shorter GRE, requiring test-takers to maintain their focus for nearly 2 hours.
- A new benefit is faster results: official GRE scores are now available within 10-15 days of test completion, an improvement over the earlier 15-20 day wait.
Below is a table of the time allotted for each section on the new GRE:
| Section | Structure | Estimated timing |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Writing | 1 essay | 30 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 2 sections, 27 questions total | 47 minutes total |
| Verbal Reasoning | 2 sections, 27 questions total | 41 minutes total |
| Total | 5 sections | 1 hour, 58 minutes |
The structured reduction in question count and exam duration is designed to create a more efficient and modern test-taking experience. Although there are fewer questions on the GRE, the scoring system has not changed. The exam remains scored on a scale of 130-170 for the Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning sections, and scores on the essay section are still 0-6. What this means in practice is that each individual question carries more weight than before, which is something to keep in mind as you pace yourself through the exam.
Why was the GRE changed?
The ETS objective in updating the test was to make the exam less taxing while upholding high academic standards, especially in light of ongoing debates about the fairness and validity of standardized exams. According to ETS CEO Amit Sevak, “As we continue to introduce product innovations, we’re committed to balancing two things: maintaining rigor and validity, while improving the test-taker experience.” The updated, shorter GRE still evaluates essential skills through its core GRE sections and content areas while being more accessible. A shorter exam that maintains the same validity for these key sections supports students and maintains reliable assessment standards.
What stayed the same?
Despite the transition to a shorter GRE General Test, several important elements stayed in place. Here are the key aspects that did not change in the new GRE:
- Test Structure: The GRE maintains its fundamental structure, with sections focused on Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning.
- Scoring and Score Report: The scoring process for all three sections and the format of the Official Score Report are consistent with the older exam.
- Adaptive Nature: The shorter GRE is section-level adaptive, meaning the difficulty of the second operational section for each scored measure depends on performance in the first section of that measure.
- Difficulty Level: The exam still tests the same concepts as before, and the difficulty is equivalent to the previous GRE.
- Accommodations: The accommodations available for the shorter GRE test are the same as those provided in the previous version.
- Test Fees: The GRE still costs $220.
- Delivery Mode: The shorter GRE is available both at test centers and for at-home testing, similar to the former test.
- Use of Scores: Graduate and professional programs with testing requirements will continue to use GRE General Test scores as they have always, regardless of the test length.
- Retake Policy: The policy allowing test-takers to retake the GRE General Test once every 21 days and up to five times within a continuous rolling 12-month period remains unchanged.
Are my scores from the old GRE still valid?
As long as you sat for the exam within the last five years, your GRE scores can be submitted with your graduate school applications, regardless of the version of the test you took. Scores from previous GREs will no longer be valid after September 2028, five years after the changes officially went into effect.
Final thoughts: What these changes mean for test-takers
The new GRE brought a positive shift in graduate school admissions by aiming to reduce test exhaustion and maintain the exam’s relevancy in a rapidly changing world. With the updated GRE length, test takers now face a significantly shorter, more modern, and more focused exam. The reduced test duration, along with fewer total questions, means the new GRE is designed to reward those who come fully prepared and can minimize mistakes throughout the assessment.
The GRE’s more efficient format enables strong performers to demonstrate their skills more effectively, delivering the same high-quality evaluation in about half the time compared to the previous version. The main trade-off in the test’s reduced length is the fact that all questions are now worth more, making concerted preparation more important than ever. Thankfully, students today can focus on mastering exam content rather than building endurance for a much longer exam.
