Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

GRE Sections and Test Structure

ETS announced modifications to the format of the GRE General Test, which took effect on September 22, 2023. The aim of these updates was to improve student concentration during preparation, reduce fatigue resulting from the extensive syllabus, and ensure timely submission of GRE scores for admission applications.

The GRE comprises six sections and lasts for 1 hour 58 minutes. A candidate has to attempt five sections.

Section	Number of Sections	Number of Questions	Time	Score Range
Analytical Writing	One Section – One Timed Task	One Analyze an Issue Task	30 minutes per task	0 to 6 points; 0.5-point increment
Analytical Writing	One Section – One Timed Task	One Analyze an Issue Task	30 minutes per task	0 to 6 points; 0.5-point increment
Verbal Reasoning	Two Sections	One Section with 12 Questions; One Section with 15 Questions	41 Minutes Total	130 to 170 points; 1-point increment
Quantitative Reasoning	Two Sections	One Section with 12 Questions; One Section with 15 Questions	47 Minutes Total	130 to 170 points; 1 point increment
			Total Exam Duration = 1 hour 58 minutes

Analytical Writing

There is one task in this section – Analyze an Issue

Analyze an Issue

It tests the analytical thinking capability of a candidate around a general topic. Each issue is followed by a claim that can be interpreted from different perspectives to different conditions and situations.

Score Range: 0-6 scale, half-point increment.

Verbal Reasoning

This section tests your ability to evaluate written material and interpret its information. It comprises three types of questions – Text Completion, Reading Comprehension, and Sentence Equivalence.

Reading Comprehension features passages, which are usually one paragraph long, and one or two passages may feature multiple paragraphs. These passages are usually taken from academic and nonacademic books and periodicals in arts and humanities, business, social sciences, and physical and biological sciences. These passages are often accompanied with one to six questions with a single answer, multiple correct answers, and a sentence from a passage.

Text Completion features passages with 1-5 sentences and 1-3 blanks. The sentences with two or three blanks would have up to three answer choices. The sentences that have one blank would have up to five answer choices. Students are required to answer all blanks correctly. There are no partially correct answers.

Sentence Equivalence features a sentence with a blank and six answer choices. Students need to focus on the partial information and complete the passage as required using any two answer choices. They will be awarded a point only for the correct answers. There are no partially correct answers.

Score Range: 130-170 scale, 1-point increment.

Quantitative Reasoning

This section analyzes a student’s mathematical skills and their ability to solve the problems quantitatively. Their skills are assessed in the four content areas – arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. The students are given calculators for both paper and computer-based testing formats.

One 21-minute section with 12 questions and one 26-minute section with 15, which are presented through quantitative comparisons, multiple-choice questions, and numeric entry questions. Again, the multiple-choice questions are of two types where the student may be asked to select multiple answers and select one answer for the given question.

Score Range: 130-170 scale, 1-point increment.