The GRE (Graduate Record Exam) revised General Test, created by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), is a standardized test that is an admissions requirement for many graduate schools in the United States – particularly those applying to M.A., M.S. and Ph.D. programs.
What and how does it test?
The exam, a computer-based test, aims to measure verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills that have been acquired over a long time period and that are not related to any specific field of study. In recent years, the exam was overhauled and therefore is no longer adaptive on a question-by-question basis, but rather by section. Thus, meaning that the performance on the first verbal and math sections determine the difficulty of the second sections presented; the examinee is free to skip back and forth within sections.
How is it structured?
The Analytical Writing section will always be the first section tested. The Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and unidentified/unscored sections may appear in any order; therefore, you should treat each section as if it counts toward your score.
Test | # of Questions | Time (min) |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Writing | 2 tasks1 | 30 per task |
| Verbal Reasoning (2 sections) | 20 per section | 30 per section |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 sections) | 20 per section | 35 per section |
| Unscored2 | Varies | Varies |
| Research3 | Varies | Varies |
Total Time: 3 Hours and 45 minutes
1 Analyze an Issue” task and “Analyze an Argument” task.
2 Unscored section, is an unidentified section, that does not count toward your score but may be included as part of the exam and may appear in any order after the Analytical Writing section.
3 Research section, is an identified section that is not scored and may be included in place of the unscored section at the end of the exam.
How is it scored?
The Verbal and Quantitative Sections each receive a score between 130 and 170. The Analytical Writing Section yields a score between 0 and 6. Scores remain valid for five years.
Dolphin Academic Prep offers personalized GRE tutoring!
We believe that each individual is different and therefore will have different needs when it comes to preparing for the GRE. Therefore, if it’s been more than five years since you’ve stepped foot into a English or writing classroom, then you may need help reviewing the concepts and strategies of writing a good analytical essay or recognizing the relationships among words and concepts. On the other hand, if you’ve been taking nothing but English classes all along, then perhaps your math concepts in algebra, geometry or arithmetic may need help. Our Dolphin GRE Tutors take the time to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses so that we create a prep process that is tailored to your specific need – the end product being a great test-taking experience to help you reach your goal.
Diagnostic, Evaluation and Practice
Before the first GRE tutoring session, each student receives a diagnostic GRE test. The diagnostic test provides an introduction to the test and to the GRE test prep; it also allows for a baseline to be created. Moreover, based on the results, we formalize an evaluation that identifies the areas of strength, those areas that need the most help, specifies an optimal prep schedule, and sets specific goals. Throughout the GRE test prep our Dolphin GRE Tutors will continue to administer practice GRE test like questions so that you become familiar with the format, style and speed of the test, so on exam day it minimizes any surprises that you may face.
More information
Besides taking the GRE revised General Test, you may be required to also take a GRE Subject Test depending on the specific graduate program. We are here to answer your questions, so give us a call or send us an email to see how personalized GRE and/or GRE Subject Test tutoring with a private Dolphin Academic Prep tutor can help benefit you.
When is the GRE offered?
You can choose from two test-taking options: Paper-based or Computer-based. Unfortunately, you can only see test dates/locations for the Computer-based GRE tests when you login. Check to see when the GRE Paper-based test is being offered.