GRE Overview
GRE stands for Graduate Record Examinations. It is a standardized test with a fixed syllabus and is widely accepted for admissions to graduate and business school programs. It is used for applying to MBA programs, specialized master’s degrees in business, and doctoral programs.
The GRE has two main types:
GRE General Test: This assesses your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills. These skills are important for success in graduate and business school.
GRE Subject Test: This measures your knowledge in a specific field of study. It helps you stand out by showing your expertise in a particular area.
Overview of Each Section
The GRE is a multiple-choice test designed to measure your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills. The test adapts to your performance by choosing questions based on your previous answers. You can skip questions within a section, go back to change your answers, and choose which questions to answer first.
Test Sections:
Verbal Reasoning: This section tests your ability to analyze and evaluate written material. You’ll need to understand relationships between sentence parts and concepts, and recognize how words and ideas are connected.
Quantitative Reasoning: This section assesses your problem-solving skills, focusing on basic algebra, arithmetic, data analysis, and geometry.
Analytical Writing: This section evaluates your ability to write clearly and effectively. You’ll need to articulate and support complex ideas.
Section Adaptive Format:
The GRE is section-adaptive, meaning that within each section, the difficulty of the questions adjusts based on your answers. If you do well in a section, you’ll get harder questions; if not, you’ll get easier ones.
Scoring:
Course Content:
Prolific uses relevant and frequently tested material to help students become familiar with the GRE and manage their time effectively to achieve the best scores.
GRE Overview
The GRE test includes the following sections:
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Writing | 2 Tasks | 60 minutes |
| Analyze an Issue | 1 Task, 30 mins | |
| Analyze an Argument | 1 Task, 30 mins | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | About 20 questions per section | 35 minutes per section |
| Verbal Reasoning | About 20 questions per section | 30 minutes per section |
| Unscored (Experimental) | Varies | Varies |
| Research | Varies | Varies |
Additional Information
Q. How is the GRE scored?
A. The GRE has two main sections: Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning. Each section is scored on a scale from 130 to 170. The test adapts to your performance, with each section ranging from ‘Easy’ to ‘Difficult.’ Your total score, combining both sections, ranges from 260 to 340.
Q. Does the GRE General Test measure knowledge in any specific disciplines?
A. No, the GRE General Test measures your verbal and quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills. These skills are important for all fields of study and graduate or business schools.
Q. What kind of writing software does the AWA section use?
A. The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) uses a basic word processor developed by ETS. It allows for basic functions like inserting and deleting text, and cut-and-paste, but does not include advanced tools like grammar or spell checkers. This ensures fairness compared to handwritten essays in paper-based tests.
Q. Is it advisable to re-take the GRE if the score received in the first attempt is low?
A. Yes, if you believe your scores do not reflect your true abilities, it’s a good idea to prepare thoroughly and retake the GRE.
Q. For how long is a GRE score valid?
A. A GRE score is valid for five years. Even if you retake the exam, all scores from the past five years will be available to institutions, so it’s important to prepare well before taking the test.
Q. When should I consider myself ready to take the GRE?
A. Our 48-hour module is designed to help you become ‘exam ready.’ If you’re still underprepared, we offer extra tutoring, additional mock tests, and strategic sessions to help you get ready.
Q. Where can I get more information about the GRE?
A. You can fill out the enquiry form on our webpage, visit our office, or call us. Contact details are available on the ‘Contact Us’ page of our website. Our counselors and faculty are happy to assist with any GRE-related questions.
