What is the GRE?
The GRE General Test is a standardized exam created and administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), designed to gauge overall academic readiness for graduate school. Some graduate programs require applicants to take not only the GRE General Test but also the GRE Subject Tests to assess technical knowledge in specific disciplines such as physics, psychology, or mathematics.
There are six GRE Subject Tests, each designed for students who have majored in or extensively studied the subject. Those aspiring to enter graduate school may take the Mathematics Subject Test to demonstrate their math skills for programs where quantitative ability is crucial, such as computer science or economics.
Andrew Selepak, director of the graduate program in social media at the University of Florida, says the GRE General Test is similar to the SAT college entrance exam, assessing students' math, reading, and writing abilities.
What Programs Accept the GRE?
Many types of graduate programs allow applicants to submit GRE scores, including master's, doctoral, and professional degree programs spanning a range of disciplines from liberal arts to technical fields.
In recent years, business schools have widely accepted GRE scores in lieu of the traditional business school entrance exam GMAT. A list of business schools that accept the GRE as a substitute for the GMAT is available on the ETS website.
If you're unsure whether to take the GRE or GMAT, this article can help you.
A small number of U.S. law schools also accept the GRE instead of the LSAT. The LSAT lacks a quantitative section, focusing primarily on logical and reasoning skills with little reliance on memorization or vocabulary, tailored specifically for law school applicants.
How Much Does the GRE Cost?
In most parts of the world, the GRE General Test costs $205, but four countries have slightly higher prices: Nigeria, $220; Australia, $230; Turkey, $255; and China, where the registration fee is 1665 CNY (approximately $248.35 USD), with a rescheduling fee of 388 CNY.
The GRE Subject Test fee is the same worldwide: $150.
How Often is the GRE Offered?
In most parts of the world, GRE General Test appointments are available year-round via computer on a first-come, first-served basis. In regions where the computer-based GRE General Test is not offered, up to three paper-based administrations are held annually in October, November, and February.
Those wishing to take the test, whether online or paper-based, should register on the www.ets.org website.
The GRE Subject Tests are paper-based and are administered in September, October, and April.
What is the Computer-Adaptive GRE?
Alberto Acereda, executive director of the GRE and University Programs at ETS, says, "A common mistake among GRE test takers is spending too much time on questions they find difficult."
Acereda advises, "Don't waste time on questions you consider extremely difficult, because no question carries more weight than another. When you see a question you think might take a lot of time, mark it and then come back to review it after you've answered those that take you less time."
David Payne, vice president and chief operating officer of Global Education at ETS, explains, "The computer-delivered GRE General Test is section-level adaptive, meaning the computer selects the second section of the test based on the test taker's performance in the first section.
Within each section, all questions contribute equally to the final score. Both sections are important because the final score for each measure is based on the total number of correct answers and the difficulty level of the questions."
Payne says three features of the computerized GRE General Test that test takers appreciate are the option to save questions, the ability to edit answers, and the availability of an on-screen calculator.
He adds that the GRE also has a popular ScoreSelect option, allowing test takers to decide which GRE scores they want to report to schools. Knowing about these score reporting options can help test takers focus on doing their best on test day.
How Are GRE Scores Calculated?
After successfully completing the GRE General Test, test takers receive three scores: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. The first two sections, commonly referred to as Reading and Math, are scored on a scale of 130 to 170 in one-point increments. The writing score ranges from 0 to 6 in half-point increments.
The scoring system for GRE Subject Tests varies significantly, so the highest possible score on one subject test may differ from another.
Experts say graduate school applicants should set GRE score goals based on the competitiveness of their target programs and the highest score they believe they can achieve.
Yim says that for GRE scores to positively impact one's chance of admission to a desired graduate school, the scores need to exceed the school's benchmark. "If you just meet the score, you're an average student, so the score doesn't help you."
How Important Are GRE Scores?
Although GRE scores are a key factor considered by graduate admissions officials, they are not necessarily the deciding factor. The GRE is one part of the application package, and while a strong performance can bolster your chances, other aspects (college grades, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, etc.) are also important.
Some schools have minimum score requirements, in which case scores carry significant weight. However, if the rest of your application materials are exceptionally strong, scores may be less critical.
Graduate schools often use GRE scores to differentiate applicants. Scores provide a common yardstick for comparison, as applicants come from vastly different undergraduate backgrounds and would otherwise be difficult to evaluate fairly. Admissions officials often pay more attention to section scores than the overall GRE score.
Also, doctoral programs are often interested in applicants with strong specialization, so a low math score may not necessarily hurt your chances of admission to excellent humanities and social science programs.
In-depth knowledge of an exam is essential to grasp its key points and prepare thoroughly. We hope this introduction to GRE basics has been helpful and provides a smooth start to your GRE preparation journey.
