The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is a standardized test that is an admissions requirement for many graduate schools in the United States and Canada and few in other countries. The GRE is owned and administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS). The test was established in 1936 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
According to ETS, the GRE aims to measure verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, and critical thinking skills that have been acquired over a long period of learning. The content of the GRE consists of certain specific algebra, geometry, arithmetic, and vocabulary sections. The GRE General Test is offered as a computer-based exam administered at testing centers and institution owned or authorized by Prometric. In the graduate school admissions process, the level of emphasis that is placed upon GRE scores varies widely between schools and departments within schools. The importance of a GRE score can range from being a mere admission formality to an important selection factor.
The GRE was significantly overhauled in August 2011, resulting in an exam that is not adaptive on a question-by-question basis, but rather by section, so that the performance on the first verbal and math sections determines the difficulty of the second sections presented. Overall, the test retained the sections and many of the question types from its predecessor, but the scoring scale was changed to a 130 to 170 scale (from a 200 to 800 scale).
The cost to take the test is US$205, although ETS will reduce the fee under certain circumstances. It also provides financial aid to those GRE applicants who prove economic hardship. ETS does not release scores that are older than five years, although graduate program policies on the acceptance of scores older than five years will vary.
Apart from being one of the most commonly accepted exams by universities for admission to graduate programs, students looking to pursue a master's, MBA, or PhD are also required to appear for the GRE General Test. Also, students appear for the GRE exam to secure a merit-based scholarship for grad school. The GRE Test is accepted by thousands of graduate schools across the world. Apart from this, various Business and Law schools and different departments within these schools accept GRE test scores.
There is a lot of confusion over the right time to appear for the GRE Exam. Candidates should note that the GRE at Home and the GRE test conducted at test centres are available throughout the year. Candidates wondering when they should take the GRE test are advised to appear for the GRE exam when they have prepared well for the GRE test. Industry experts suggest that the right time to appear for the GRE exam is 60 days prior to their university application deadline. This way, the candidates would get enough time to re-appear for the GRE test if the need arises.
GRE Validity: A lot of times candidates are confused about GRE score validity. Candidates who have appeared for their GRE test should know that their GRE scores are valid for a period of five years from the day of the exam. Hence any candidate who has taken the GRE exam on April 3, 2021, can report their scores until April 2, 2026.
There are two types of GRE tests, GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test.
Students seeking admission to MS courses in different fields in the US and various other countries appear for GRE General Test. Through this test, a candidate is evaluated on his analytical writing, quantitative ability, and verbal reasoning skills. The GRE Exam is conducted around the year, and candidates can appear for the GRE General Test at their convenience. A large number of students opt for this test as the majority of universities across the world accept GRE scores. The Paper-delivered GRE General Test is offered up to two times a year in areas of the world where computer-delivered testing is not available
The GRE Subject Test evaluates the candidates’ ability on a particular subject. The subject tests are conducted in the following topics: Mathematics, Literature (English), Physics and Psychology, Biology, Chemistry, and Biochemistry (Cell and Molecular Biology). Generally, this test is required for getting admission to specialized courses. The GRE General Test is offered year-round as a computer-delivered test in most locations around the world.
A lot of times, candidates are left wondering about the differences between the GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test. Candidates can check the table below to understand how the GRE General Test differs from the GRE Subject Test.
| GRE General Test | Area of Difference | GRE Subject Test |
|---|---|---|
| The GRE General Test is not related to any specific field of study but measures your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills that are important and have been developed over a long period of time. | About the test | The GRE Subject Test measures your knowledge in a particular field of study. Subjects covered in the GRE Subject Test include Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. |
| The duration of the GRE General Test is 3 hours and 45 minutes. | Duration of the GRE Exam | The duration of the GRE Subject Test is 2 hours and 50 minutes. |
| The cost of the GRE General Test for students registering from India is US$213. While the worldwide cost of GRE General Test registration is US$205 | Cost of the GRE Exam | The worldwide cost of GRE Subject Registration is US$150. |
| The GRE General Test is held online from a GRE test centre or from the comfort of your home in the newly launched, GRE at Home facility. The GRE test is held multiple times a day and on most days of the month. | When is the GRE test held? | The GRE Subject Tests are offered at paper-delivered test centres worldwide, three times a year. In the months of September, October, and April. |
| Exam Name | GRE |
|---|---|
| GRE full form | Graduate Record Examinations |
| Official Website | https://www.ets.org/gre |
| Most popular for | MS courses in the USA |
| Also accepted for | MBA courses outside India |
| Conducted by | ETS (Educational Testing Service) |
| Mode of Exam | Computer and Paper – delivered test |
| GRE Fee | US $213 |
| Score Range | Verbal Reasoning score range: 130–170 Quantitative Reasoning score range: 130–170 Analytical Writing score range: 0–6 |
| GRE Contact | +91-1244517127 or 000-800-100-4072 Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. IST Email: GRESupport4India@ets.org |
GRE is also amongst the prominent MBA entrance exams that many business schools and universities accept for their prospective MBA programmes. Thus, by qualifying the GRE test, you can choose between MS as well as MBA courses. Below mentioned is a list of leading business schools and top universities accepting GRE scores for MBA.
| Institution | GRE Score Range |
|---|---|
| Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania | 162-167 |
| Harvard Business School, Harvard University | 163-168 |
| Columbia Business School, University of Columbia | 161-166 |
| Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford University | 163-168 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 161-166 |
| University of California, Berkeley | 162-167 |
| University of Chicago, Booth | 162-166 |
| Yale School of Management, Yale University | 162-166 |
| New York University | 161-166 |
| Northwestern University | 162-166 |
| Queen’s University | 158-162 |
| University of Toronto | 160-165 |
| University of British Columbia | 160-165 |
| University of Alberta | 153-160 |
| IESE Business School | 170-164 |
| INSEAD | 163-164 |
| HEC- Paris | 160-165 |
| University of Cambridge | 160-164 |
GRE scores are commonly taken under consideration for admissions into Master of Science (MS) programmes at a global academic institution. The individuals who are looking forward to seeking a master’s degree abroad to gain a detailed understanding of their chosen field are required to take this exam. A variety of top universities accepting GRE scores offer quality MS programmes in a wide range of specializations. Thus, you must wisely select an academic institution considering the course structure, faculty, research facilities, career opportunities, amongst other factors. Following are the leading universities you must consider:
| Name of the Universities | Verbal | Quantitative | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford University | 155-160 | 155-160 | 4.0-4.8 |
| University of Virginia | 159-164 | 160-166 | 4.0-5.0 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 155-162 | 158-162 | 4.5-5.3 |
| University of Michigan | 158-164 | 163-170 | 4.0-5.0 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | 150-155 | 165-168 | 4.5-5.0 |
| University of California, Berkeley | 153-156 | 164-167 | 4.0-4.5 |
| University of Wisconsin | 160-164 | 160-165 | 4.0-4.5 |
| University of North Carolina | 155-160 | 158-162 | 4.0-4.5 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | 155-160 | 160-167 | 4.0-4.3 |
| Duke University | 155-162 | 158-162 | 4.0-4.5 |
| California Institute of Technology | 158-164 | 155-160 | 4.5-5.0 |
| University of Washington | 158-162 | 158-162 | 4.0-5.0 |
| Rice University | 155-160 | 160-168 | 4.5-5.0 |
| University of Chicago | 155-163 | 160-167 | 4.0-4.5 |
| Ohio State University | 155-160 | 160-165 | 4.0-4.5 |
| Johns Hopkins University | 154-161 | 160-164 | 4.2-4.5 |
| Northwestern University | 159-162 | 158-162 | 5.0-5.5 |
| University of Notre Dame | 160-165 | 160-165 | 5.5- 6.0 |
| University of Florida | 150-155 | 160-165 | 3.0-4.0 |
| University of Illinois | 150-155 | 160-165 | 4.0-5.0 |
There is no age limit set for candidates wanting to appear for their GRE test.
ETS has not announced any official statement regarding the qualification required to appear for GRE Exam. However, candidates are expected to possess a graduate degree in any discipline from a recognized university.
Conducted by ETS, the GRE General Test is one of the world’s largest assessment programmes for graduate admissions to business or law schools and is accepted by thousands of schools worldwide. The full form of GRE is Graduate Record Examinations and over half a million individuals across 160 countries take the GRE General Test every year, in over 1,000 test centres set up by ETS.
In response to the ongoing pandemic, COVID-19, ETS (Educational Testing Service) has launched the GRE at Home facility where students can take the GRE test from the safety of their home. ETS has also allowed students to use their Aadhar Cards as part of their student ID starting July 1, 2021, only temporarily for those students who do not hold a valid Indian passport. All efforts are being made by ETS to make the GRE test as accessible as possible for students waning to appear for GRE during the COVID-19 pandemic.
GRE scores of candidates are accepted at thousands of graduate programmes around the world, for masters and doctorate degrees. More than 1,200 business schools around the world accept the GRE scores, including top-ranked MBA programmes according to The Financial Times, U.S. News & World Report, and Bloomberg Businessweek along with a handful of US law schools that accept GRE scores. In this article, we are going to talk about each and every aspect related to the GRE Exam. Candidates looking to appear for their GRE examination will learn about the following GRE Topics:
This section would cover any latest developments revolving around the GRE Exam for the benefit of students who are planning to appear for their GRE test.
ETS - the conducting body of the GRE exam has announced that they would be accepting Aadhar Cards of Indian students who are appearing for their GRE Exam in case they do not have their passports as part of their student ID starting July 1, 2021, onwards. Due to the pandemic, new passports have not been issued at a regular pace thus students who have not got their passports issued can use their Aadhar cards as proof of ID temporarily. The end date for this service has not been issued yet.
Starting October 2020, ETS has raised the GRE® General Test Fee from US $205 to US $213. Candidates registering from India, October 7, 2020, onwards would be required to pay the new GRE Registration Fee of US $213. All other fees including changing the GRE Test Centre and the Rescheduling of the GRE exam remain unchanged.
GRE at Home: In response to the ongoing pandemic COVID-19, ETS - the conducting body of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) has decided to launch the GRE General Test at home for locations where the computer-based format of the GRE Test was earlier available for the convenience of students wanting to study abroad. The same is yet to launch in mainland China and Iran. The GRE General Test home edition has been started in response to GRE Test Centres being shut due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. However, candidates need to make sure that they meet the system equipment requirements set by ETS for registration.
Apart from being one of the most commonly accepted exams by universities for admission to graduate programs, students looking to pursue a master's, MBA, or PhD are also required to appear for the GRE General Test. Also, students appear for the GRE exam to secure a merit-based scholarship for grad school. The GRE Test is accepted by thousands of graduate schools across the world. Apart from this, various Business and Law schools and different departments within these schools accept GRE test scores.
There is a lot of confusion over the right time to appear for the GRE Exam. Candidates should note that the GRE at Home and the GRE test conducted at test centres are available throughout the year. Candidates wondering when they should take the GRE test are advised to appear for the GRE exam when they have prepared well for the GRE test. Industry experts suggest that the right time to appear for the GRE exam is 60 days prior to their university application deadline. This way, the candidates would get enough time to re-appear for the GRE test if the need arises.
GRE Validity: A lot of times candidates are confused about GRE score validity. Candidates who have appeared for their GRE test should know that their GRE scores are valid for a period of five years from the day of the exam. Hence any candidate who has taken the GRE exam on April 3, 2021, can report their scores until April 2, 2026.
Students seeking admission to MS courses in different fields in the US and various other countries appear for GRE General Test. Through this test, a candidate is evaluated on his analytical writing, quantitative ability, and verbal reasoning skills. The GRE Exam is conducted around the year, and candidates can appear for the GRE General Test at their convenience. A large number of students opt for this test as the majority of universities across the world accept GRE scores. The Paper-delivered GRE General Test is offered up to two times a year in areas of the world where computer-delivered testing is not available
The GRE Subject Test evaluates the candidates’ ability on a particular subject. The subject tests are conducted in the following topics: Mathematics, Literature (English), Physics and Psychology, Biology, Chemistry, and Biochemistry (Cell and Molecular Biology). Generally, this test is required for getting admission to specialized courses. The GRE General Test is offered year-round as a computer-delivered test in most locations around the world.
A lot of times, candidates are left wondering about the differences between the GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test. Candidates can check the table below to understand how the GRE General Test differs from the GRE Subject Test.
| GRE General Test | Area of Difference | GRE Subject Test |
|---|---|---|
| The GRE General Test is not related to any specific field of study but measures your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills that are important and have been developed over a long period of time. | About the test | The GRE Subject Test measures your knowledge in a particular field of study. Subjects covered in the GRE Subject Test include Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. |
| The duration of the GRE General Test is 3 hours and 45 minutes. | Duration of the GRE Exam | The duration of the GRE Subject Test is 2 hours and 50 minutes. |
| The cost of the GRE General Test for students registering from India is US$213. While the worldwide cost of GRE General Test registration is US$205 | Cost of the GRE Exam | The worldwide cost of GRE Subject Registration is US$150. |
| The GRE General Test is held online from a GRE test centre or from the comfort of your home in the newly launched, GRE at Home facility. The GRE test is held multiple times a day and on most days of the month. | When is the GRE test held? | The GRE Subject Tests are offered at paper-delivered test centres worldwide, three times a year. In the months of September, October, and April. |
| Exam Name | GRE |
|---|---|
| GRE full form | Graduate Record Examinations |
| Official Website | https://www.ets.org/gre |
| Most popular for | MS courses in the USA |
| Also accepted for | MBA courses outside India |
| Conducted by | ETS (Educational Testing Service) |
| Mode of Exam | Computer and Paper – delivered test |
| GRE Fee | US $213 |
| Score Range | Verbal Reasoning score range: 130–170 Quantitative Reasoning score range: 130–170 Analytical Writing score range: 0–6 |
| GRE Contact | +91-1244517127 or 000-800-100-4072 Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. IST Email: GRESupport4India@ets.org |
GRE Exam Eligibility: There are no specific eligibility criteria for GRE Exam as prescribed by ETS. Anyone can register for this GRE exam, irrespective of age or qualifications. The only factor that a candidate is required to keep in mind is the fact that he/she would be required to produce their original passport as proof of identity at the exam centre, so candidates are required to have a valid passport before they register for the GRE exam.
Candidates should note that starting July 1, 2021, candidates can use their Aadhar Card as part of the identity of proof during the GRE registration process.
There is no age limit set for candidates wanting to appear for their GRE test.
ETS has not announced any official statement regarding the qualification required to appear for GRE Exam. However, candidates are expected to possess a graduate degree in any discipline from a recognized university.
The application fee for the GRE General Test is $213 for Indian students registering for the GRE test. The GRE fees in Indian rupees is roughly Rs. 15,912 where ($1= Rs 74.70) approximately. GRE Subject Test costs $150 worldwide, which would cost Indian students Rs. 11,205 ($1= Rs 74.70) approximately. Also, if the applicants want to change the centre or reschedule the test, they would be required to pay an extra fee for the same.
Here is how much GRE costs around the world:
| Location | Fee |
|---|---|
| GRE Fees in India | $213.00 |
| GRE Fees in China | $231.30 |
| GRE Fees in other areas of the world | $205.00 |
Candidates who must cancel or reschedule their GRE General Test registration are required to do so no later than four days before the test date or the GRE exam fee would be forfeited. Candidates would be required to pay $50 for rescheduling their GRE test. Apart from this, candidates are charged $50 if they want to change a subject in the GRE Subject Test.
GRE Registration: There are multiple ways to register for GRE. Popular ways through which aspirants can register for GRE are online and over the phone. Apart from this, aspirants can also register through mail or even by fax. For booking a slot for the GRE test candidates would require a debit or credit card to pay the registration fee of US$213 and a valid passport.
Candidates are required to follow the below-mentioned steps to register for GRE via the online method.
Candidates can call the Regional Registration Center (RRC), which is ‘Prometric’ located in Gurgaon, Haryana. The phone number is 91-124-4147700. The call must be made at least two business days before your preferred test date. A confirmation number, reporting time, and the test centre address will be provided to you when you make the call for registration. You can make the payments online through JCB, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or Visa credit or debit card. As mentioned, other methods of registering for your GRE Exam include via mail and through Fax.
GRE Test Pattern: The GRE exam pattern is made up of three sections, namely, Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. The Analytical Writing section will always be the first, whereas, the Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and unscored sections may appear in any order. Along with the time duration difference, the pattern also differs for paper-based and online exams. Candidates looking to appear for the paper-based format of the GRE Exam can visit the official website for the same.
Candidates looking to appear for the GRE General Test can find the detailed GRE Exam Pattern mentioned below for the GRE Computer Based Test as well as the GRE Paper-Based Test.
The GRE syllabus is different for both GRE tests, GRE General Test, and GRE Subject Test. The GRE General Test syllabus is the standard exam that tests students’ verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills. Students who wish to pursue specialized subjects, need to take the Subject Test that might be required by the college/university they are seeking admission to, as Subject Test focuses on judging the candidate’s expertise in specific fields.
Candidates are often confused about the duration of the GRE exam. The duration of the GRE General Test is 3 hours and 45 minutes. while the duration of the GRE Subject Test is 2hours and 50 minutes.
Candidates who have appeared for their GRE exam can access their GRE scores by logging into their GRE account using their credentials.
Your official GRE test scores will be available in your account on the GRE website 10-15 days after your test date. They will be sent to the universities of your choice within three weeks of your test date. Once the results are out, you will receive an email from ETS that your official GRE result is available in your account.
One important thing to know about your GRE fee is that it enables you to send your scores to up to four colleges or scholarship programmes. If you are taking the computer-delivered GRE exam, then you will be asked to select the score receivers at the test centre. In case you chose the paper-delivered GRE format, you will be asked to select your score receiving colleges on your admission ticket or during registration.
On the day of the test, once you complete the GRE test and view the unofficial Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning scores, you will be asked to choose the score recipients you wish to share your GRE exam scores with. If a college of your choice is not listed, ask the administrator at the test centre for a list of unlisted institutions. After the test, you can order Additional Score Reports for $27 per college.
You need to have some idea about how the scoring pattern works to better understand how your GRE score will be calculated. The GMAT Score Report comprises the following components along with their score range according to the official website. Read: GRE Score Calculator
| Section | Score Range | Mean* |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 130–170 | 150 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 130–170 | 152 |
| Analytical Writing | 0–6 | 3.6 |
| Total | 260–340 | - |
*Source – ETS
GRE Subject Test is calculated on a scale of 200 to 990 with an increment scale variation of 10 points.
The GRE score range can be understood with a section-wise distribution system:
Candidates who have appeared for their GRE exam should be aware that their GRE score is valid for a period of five years from the day of the exam.
GRE test is mainly made up of three sections, Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning, and students are given a total of 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete the test. While there is no blanket GRE cut-off, every college and course accepting GRE scores would have its own cut-off listed on the official website. Candidates wanting to get admission into top Graduate Colleges are required to lean towards the higher margin.
Recently launched by ETS, the GRE ScoreSelect option allows students to select the best scores of all the GRE tests he has appeared for to be sent to his designated institutions. This way it is only his best scores that make it to the university thus furthering his chances of getting admission into the university. More details of the same can be found on the official website.
If you are applying for MS courses in the US in particular, remember that colleges don’t have minimum ‘cutoff’ marks required for admission. However, you still need to have an idea about average GRE scores across Top US universities.
A lot of times candidates are unable to achieve the desired scores. They are required to re-appear for the GRE test to better their performance. Candidates can know all about the GRE preparation tips mentioned below to understand smart ways to raise their GRE scores.
Candidates wondering how their GRE Scores would look like when published can check out the sample GRE Score report below. (courtesy:https://www.ets.org/)