About the GRE

The GRE comprises six sections and lasts for 3 hours 45 minutes.A candidate has to attempt six sections and there will be a 10-minute break after the third section.

There are two tasks in this section – Analyze an Issue & Analyze an Argument.

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.

Analyze an Argument

It requires the candidate to evaluate an argument based on the instructions. This section tests the logical soundness of a candidate. It measures their ability to interpret complex ideas, support the ideas with relevant examples and reasons, examine claims as well as accompanying evidence, and sustain a coherent discussion. A candidate must focus on support, proof or evidence offered in the passage; information that is explicitly claimed, stated, or concluded; information that is supposed or assumed, without a proof or justification; or not clearly stated, but follows the argument that is stated. The evaluation must be presented neatly in writing.

Tip: You are not required to state the truthfulness and accuracy of the statements, present your agreement or disagreement or express your views on the subject rather you have to logically analyze the argument written by someone.

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

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.

Each section comprises 6 Text Completion Questions, 4 Sentence Equivalence questions, and 10 Reading Comprehension questions, which are presented in the form of multiple-choice questions and 1 or 2 select-in-the-passage questions. The multiple-choice questions are of two types where the student may be asked to select multiple answers or select one answer for the given question.

Reading Comprehension features approximately ten passages, which are one paragraph long, and may feature two or more 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.

These tests are designed for students who may possess extensive knowledge of the following subjects.

The students planning to appear for GRE must be aware of GRE fees. The fees are stated in US dollars and decided by ETS.

Special handling requests :

The students have to pay additional fees for rescheduling their exam dates or changing their test center. The table below will give you an idea of these fees.

Scoring services :

You may have to pay a small fee for availing different scoring services. The below table will give you an idea of fees for different scoring services.

GRE Fee Waiver

GRE issues a fee reduction voucher to individuals in financial need or those who are unemployed. This voucher can be used for one GRE subject test and General test. Individuals who have received this voucher after November 1, 2022 can register for GRE General Test at $100 and save up to 50% on GRE Subject Tests. These candidates will get free access to the following preparation materials worth $100.

• ScoreItNow!™ Online Writing Practice ($20 value)
• POWERPREP PLUS® Online Practice Test 1 & Online Practice Test 2 ($40 -each)

Note: A candidate can apply for fee reduction voucher for retest. They will receive these vouchers in their email within 15 days of approval of the request by the ETS.

Take the following steps to be on the right track to your GRE preparations

Step 1

Begin with a Diagnosis!

Gain insights on your strong and weak areas by taking a diagnostic test.

Step 2

GRE Study Plan

Access expertly curated GRE Design Plans, that will help you iron out weak areas and turn them into your strengths!

Step 3

Enroll for GRE Coaching

Gain access to the GRE portal, expert lectures, topic wise tests, with personalized support to get your target score!

This section gives you tips on answering questions on the test day.

Quantitative Reasoning 

• Read the question carefully before answering.
• Try to answer every question in the sheet. Remember all questions carry equal marks.
• Answer all questions in the correct format.
• Do not spend more than 1.75 minutes on a question. You can come back and solve it later.
• Make use of scratch paper to solve questions and drawing geometric figures. This drawing of geometric figures will help you visualize the questions and interpret answers properly.
• You may get more information for data interpretation questions. Read the information carefully and check what information best suits it.

Verbal Reasoning

• Follow the strategy you developed during the practice phase to answer the questions.
• Reading comprehension may be time-consuming. Try to solve at least two questions in 3 minutes. For long passages, you can take up to 5 minutes to solve three questions.
• Do not pre-think answers.

Analytical Writing

• Read the task properly before you attempt the essay for both tasks.
• Try to include only a single focus point in each paragraph.
• Do not write phrases and words, which are complex.
• Create a powerful conclusion by introducing an opposite viewpoint.

You can take mock tests to ace time management on the big day.

Taking GRE mock tests is one of the best ways to prepare for the exam and improve your scores. The following are some benefits of taking GRE mock tests.

• Practice, practice, and practice will help you ace the timing, improve your confidence and prepare wisely for the big day.
• It helps improve your patience and cultivate the habit of studying every day.
• The mock tests help you identify your strengths and weaknesses. You can also monitor your performance and eliminate the methods, which are not bringing any results.

The following are the best books for GRE preparation in 2023.

In addition to the above, the following are a few other popular books to consider:

•  Manhattan Prep’s 5 Lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems
•  Kaplan’s GRE Prep Plus 2023
•  Manhattan Prep GRE Strategy Guides 2022
•  Barron’s Essential Words for the GRE 2022
•  The Princeton Review Cracking the GRE Premium

There are several GRE preparation books in the market, however, they may differ in style, presentation, practice questions, and more. The following tips will help you choose the right book for your GRE preparation.

• Focus on the layout of the book. It must have a neat organization of topics and sub-topics. Check if it gives you a comprehensive overview of sections like quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, and analytical writing.
• See if the book offers GRE practice tests. It must feature at least a couple of practice tests in the book. Sometimes, the publishers may offer more practice tests online than the book. So, you need to ensure there are enough practice questions in the book.
• Check if the book offers detailed answer explanations along with tips and tricks to solve them.
• The book must offer insights on attempting the test and building effective test taking strategies.
• Most good GRE books are priced between $50 and $70.

There are two steps for registration – Account Creation and Registration. Follow the below steps to create an account and the registration process.

Account Creation

• Visit the ETS Org to create an account.
• Click on Login/Register on the home page, and it will take you to the ETS Account Login page.
• Click on GRE test-taker login, and you will be directed to the test taker login page.
• Click on Create an Account.
• Fill in your personal information in sections – Personal Information, Address, and Phone.
• Indicate your Communication Preferences if you wish to receive communication from ETS on their products and services.
• Click on Next after completing the first step of the registration process and you will be taken to User Name and Password page.
• Enter a username and password.
• Set a security question.
• Check on Acknowledgement to accept the terms and conditions outlined in the agreement.
• Click on Next and you will be taken to Review and Submit.
• Review the information shared by you and click on Back if any correction is required. Else, click on Submit to proceed to the next step.

Now, as your account is created, you can proceed with GRE test registration. You will be redirected to the login page.

• Enter your username and password in the returning user’s login.
• You will be directed to the My GRE Home dashboard.
• Check your name and ETS ID displayed on the top right corner of the page.
• Next, you can proceed with the exam registration.

Registration Process

The ETS allows you to reschedule your GRE exam 4 days before the test date. You will be charged a small rescheduling fee. Here are the steps for rescheduling the exam.

• Go to the ETS official website and log in using your email and password.
• You can check Upcoming Tests to reschedule the date.
• Click on the upcoming tests and see the Appointment Information page.
• Click on Reschedule Appointment to complete the process.
• You can reschedule the location or date of your GRE General Test.
• Select the two-month period when you would like to appear for the test and hit the Continue button.
• Choose the date from the calendar, choose a nearby test location, and select “Show test times” for the location.
• Click on Register and you will see a pop-up asking if you wish to make the changes to the appointment. You will get to see the Original Appointment and New Appointment. If you are satisfied with the information on New Appointment, then hit on Yes.
• Check your registration date, location, and time and proceed to checkout.
• You will receive a confirmation mail in your registered email id when your payment is verified.

The ETS has set several testing procedures and guidelines, which every test taker has to follow.

• Dress appropriately and avoid writing any test related information on body or any part of dress or accessories.
• Do not carry food, tobacco, beverages, or any drugs or cigarettes into the testing room.
• Do not carry any weapons or firearms to the testing center.
• You may be subjected to visual inspection and scanning at the entrance of the test center during check-in and when returning from breaks.
• If you have to carry beverages, snack, medication or any equipment to the test center, you need to follow the procedures described in the GRE bulletin.
• Avoid using any type of electronic items in the test center. This may include phones, tablets, wearable devices, and other devices.
• Turn off any alarms and phones before entering the test center.
• Avoid wearing any jewelry to the test center.