The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test is a standardized assessment widely used by graduate programs, business schools, and select law schools worldwide to evaluate applicants’ academic readiness. A competitive GRE score is often essential not only for admission but also for securing merit-based scholarships.

The GRE General Test is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), headquartered in the United States, with regional offices and authorized test centers across more than 160 countries.

  GRE General Test Format

The GRE General Test has undergone significant revisions to streamline the exam. The current test is shorter and more focused, with no experimental or unscored sections.

GRE General Test Format

Section	Number of Questions	Time Allotted
Analytical Writing	1 essay task (“Analyze an Issue”)	30 minutes
Verbal Reasoning	Section 1: 12 questions Section 2: 15 questions	18 min / 23 min
Quantitative Reasoning	Section 1: 12 questions Section 2: 15 questions	21 min / 26 min

• Total Duration: Approximately 1 hour 58 minutes.
• Section Order: Analytical Writing always appears first; Verbal and Quantitative sections may follow in any order

   Section Details

1. Analytical Writing

• Task: Analyze an Issue essay.
• Duration: 30 minutes.
• Scoring: 0–6, in half-point increments. Essays are evaluated by both trained human raters and the ETS computer scoring system.

2. Verbal Reasoning

• Question Types: Text completion, sentence equivalence, and reading comprehension.
• Duration: Two sections (18 min and 23 min).
• Scoring: 130–170, in one-point increments.

3. Quantitative Reasoning

• Question Types: Multiple-choice, numeric entry, and quantitative comparison questions.
• Duration: Two sections (21 min and 26 min).
• Scoring: 130–170, in one-point increments.

  Scoring Methodology

• Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning: Raw scores are converted to scaled scores to account for test difficulty variations across different editions.
• Analytical Writing: Scores are averaged between human raters and computer scoring (e-rater), then reported on a 0–6 scale.
• Score Reporting: Official scores for computer-delivered tests are available 8–10 days after the test date via the candidate’s ETS account.

 

  Test Fees

• Standard Registration Fee: USD $220 for year 2026 (varies by country).
• Rescheduling or Test Center Change: Approximately USD $50–$55.
• Additional Score Reports: Fee applies beyond the four free reports offered on test day.

  Additional Guidelines

• Test Frequency: Candidates may take the GRE once every 21 days, up to five times within 12 months.
• Score-Select Option: Candidates may choose which scores to send to institutions.
• Availability: The GRE is offered year-round at authorized centers and in select locations through at-home testing.
• Important Update: Unlike previous versions, there are no unscored or experimental sections in the current format.