What to Expect on the GRE Exam

What to Expect on the GRE [Infographic]

The GRE exam is a standardized test that is an admissions requirement for most graduate schools in the United States. The GRE exam measures your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills.

Each section on the exam is timed for 30 minutes; making the total time for the exam to be 3 hours and 45 minutes.

There are 3 sections on the GRE exam:

GRE Secrets Study Guide
GRE Secrets Study Guide

1. Verbal Reasoning
The Verbal Reasoning section of the GRE exam measures your ability to analyze and evaluate written material. This section also measures your ability to synthesize information that you have obtained from the written material as well as analyze relationships among component parts of sentences. In the Verbal Reasoning section, there will be three types of questions presented.

  • Reading Comprehension The Reading Comprehension section tests your ability to read and understand the kinds of prose that can be encountered in graduate school.
  • Text Completion – The Text Completion section tests your ability to absorb information from the given written material.
  • Sentence Equivalence – The Sentence Equivalence section tests your ability to reach a conclusion about how a passage should be completed based on partial information given.

GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Test
GRE Verbal Reasoning Review Course
GRE Online Course

2. Quantitative Reasoning
The Quantitative Reasoning section of the GRE exam tests your knowledge of basic mathematical skills, your understanding of elementary mathematical concepts, and your ability to reason quantitatively and to model and solve problems with quantitative methods. In the Quantitative Reasoning section, you will be given questions based on:

  • Arithmetic
  • Algebra
  • Geometry
  • Data Analysis

GRE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Test
GRE Quantitative Reasoning Review Course

3. Analytical Writing
The Analytical Writing section requires you to provide focused responses to the tasks that are presented. You will be given a 30 minute “Analyze an Issue” task and a 30 minute “Analyze an Argument” tasks.

GRE Analytical Writing Review Course

What’s on the GRE?
The GRE exam is a standardized test that is an admissions requirement for most graduate schools in the United States.

Offical GRE website

GRE Scores

Both the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections of the GRE are scored on a scale of 130-170. The Analytical Writing section is scored on a scale of 0-6.

Here’s how to pass the GRE.

GRE scores differ in how they use your GRE score. Some consider the score very important, while others view it as a formality. If you plan to take the GRE exam, you will need to contact your school to find out what would be considered as a passing score for the GRE.

Who Accepts the GRE Exam?

The GRE exam is accepted at thousands of graduate and business schools as well as departments and divisions within those schools.

How Much Does the GRE Exam Cost?

For those who are considering to take the GRE exam, there is a $205 fee to sit for the exam.

If you’re ready to prepare for the GRE exam, be sure to take advantage of our free GRE practice test.

If you need more help preparing for the GRE exam for graduate school, be sure to check out Mometrix’s GRE Study Guide with practice questions and Mometrix’s GRE Flashcard Study System.

1.How long do you need to prepare for the GRE?

The earlier that you begin to prepare, the better chance you will have for success. It is recommended to spend time studying every day for three to six months rather than waiting until the last minute to cram. Some of the variables to help determine how early you should begin to study may include: the score you are aiming for, how long you have been out of school, how well you normally do on standardized tests, or how proficient you are at math and reading.

2. What is GRE test prep?

The GRE, or Graduate Record Exam, is a graduate school entrance exam. The exam will be divided into three sections: analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning. It is important to spend enough time studying to prepare for this exam. Make sure that you are familiar with basic algebra and geometry. Another good practice is to read challenging literature to help with vocabulary and reading comprehension. It is recommended to use a GRE test prep book to review the material and take practice tests to make sure that you are prepared.

3. What does the GRE consist of?

The GRE is divided into three sections: analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning. The test will begin with the analytical writing section, followed by two sections of verbal reasoning and two sections of quantitative reasoning. The analytical writing section consists of two essays. The verbal reasoning section consists of vocabulary and reading comprehension. The quantitative reasoning section consists of basic algebra and geometry.

4. How do I study for the GRE?

The most important thing is to make sure you give yourself adequate time to study and prepare for this exam, don’t wait until the last minute to try to cram. It is recommended to spend time reading challenging literature and analytical writing to help with expanding your vocabulary and reading comprehension. It is also important to make sure that you have a good understanding of basic algebra and geometry. GRE test prep study guides will help to cover a lot of the information to review, while also providing you with practice tests and questions to help prepare yourself.

5. Is the GRE difficult?

While the GRE is more difficult than the SAT or ACT, it is less difficult than most graduate school entrance exams. The vocabulary on the GRE is very challenging, so you will need to study vocabulary and work on reading comprehension. The math is at a high school level but the wording in the problems is tricky and requires high-level reasoning. There are also two essay questions in the analytical writing section that will provide a challenge. The test is timed and can add extra stress or pressure to the test taker.

6. How long is the GRE test?

The GRE test is timed for 3 hours and 45 minutes. The Verbal Reasoning section contains two 30-minute sections, both containing 20 questions. The Quantitative Reasoning section contains two 35-minute sections, both containing 20 questions.

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Jay Willis

Jay Willis joined Mometrix as Vice President of Sales in 2009, and has developed several key strategic relationships that have enhanced the distribution of Mometrix products. With nearly 20 years of sales experience in the publishing industry, his dedication to providing the highest quality experience for customers, coupled with his sales and marketing expertise, has resulted in significant growth of the Institutional Sales division. Learn more