The Graduate Record Examination, or GRE, is a significant advance in the master’s level college or business college application measure. The GRE is a different decision, PC based, normalized test that is frequently needed for admission to graduate projects and graduate business programs (MBA) all around the world.
The GRE is created and controlled by test maker ETS to furnish graduate and business colleges with normal measures for contrasting candidates’ capabilities and readiness for graduate-level scholarly work. Graduate school and business college entrance advisory boards take a gander at your GRE score, alongside your scholarly record and supporting materials, to evaluate your availability for the afflictions of graduate scholastic examination.
The GRE exam measures your command of basic arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis as well as college-level vocabulary. More importantly, it measures your ability to analyze and evaluate written material, think critically, and solve problems.
WHAT ARE THE GRE SECTIONS?
You will receive three scores on the GRE:
- Analytical Writing
- Verbal Reasoning
- Quantitative Reasoning
These scores are generated by the following sections:
- 1 Analytical Writing Assessment section
- 2 Verbal Reasoning sections
- 2 Quantitative Reasoning sections
In addition, you will see one of the following sections:
- Unscored (may be either Verbal Reasoning or Quantitative Reasoning)
- Research (used for ETS research purposes)
The Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning sections are each scored on a scale of 130 to 170. The mean score for Verbal Reasoning is 151, and the mean score for Quantitative Reasoning is 153. The Analytical Writing Assessment is scored from 0 to 6 in half-point increments, and the mean score is 4.0.
The GRE Syllabus is broadly divided into three sections – Analytical Writing, Quantitative reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning. You can take computer-based or paper-based GRE testing, and the Test pattern for each is different. Generally, the computer-based exam is taken by students who want to pursue their graduate degrees abroad.
GRE General Test Pattern for computer-delivered test:
The test pattern for the computer-delivered GRE exam has two sections of Verbal and Quant Reasoning with 20 questions per section and one section with two separately timed tasks in Analytical writing. The total time you will spend on the GRE Computer-delivered test is 3 hours 45 minutes.
GRE General Test pattern for paper-delivered test:
On the other hand, the Paper-delivered exam has two sections of Analytical Writing, Quantitative, and Verbal Reasoning. The analytical writing section has one task each, whereas Quantitative and Verbal reasoning has 25 questions per section. The total time you will spend on the GRE Paper-delivered test is 3 hours 30 minutes. The time taken for the unscored/research section varies.
GRE Syllabus for Verbal Reasoning
The GRE Verbal Reasoning section tests your ability to understand the meanings of words, entire texts, and sentences. It measures your understanding of relationships among terms and concepts.
You need to analyze and draw conclusions from the discourse, identify the author’s assumptions/perspective, and understand multiple levels of meaning, such as figurative, literal, and author’s intent.
List of the topics covered in GRE Verbal Reasoning:
- Modifiers and Parallelism
- Idioms and Idiomatic expressions
- Verb tense
- Pronoun Agreement
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Nouns, Adjectives, Pronouns
The GRE verbal Syllabus is divided into three parts:
- Reading Comprehension
- Sentence Equivalence
- Text Completion
GRE Syllabus for Analytical Writing
This section measures your analytical writing and critical thinking skills.
The GRE Analytical Writing section tests how well you can articulate complex ideas effectively and clearly. Are you able to support them with relevant examples and reasons? It requires you to provide focused responses based on the tasks presented.
The GRE syllabus for analytical writing is divided into two tasks:
Analyze and Argument: This requires you to evaluate a given argument according to specific instructions
Analyze and Issue: This requires you to present an option on the issue of general interest with specific instructions on how to respond to that issue.
The tasks in the GRE Analytical Writing section is related to a broad range of topics such as fine arts, physical science, humanities, and more. You do not require knowledge on a specific topic.
GRE Syllabus for Quantitative Reasoning section
The GRE Quant Reasoning section tests your ability to solve problems using mathematical models. You are required to understand, analyze, and interpret quantitative information. To ace this section, you need to apply basic elementary concepts and skills of arithmetic, geometry, data analysis, and algebra.
GRE Subject Test Syllabus 2021
The GRE syllabus for the subject test consists of six disciplines:
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Literature in English
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology
- Chemistry Test
- Biology Test
- Literature in English Test
- Mathematics Test
- Physics Test
- Psychology Test
The test consists of approx. 130 multiple-choice questions. The topics covered are:
- Analytical chemistry (15%)
- Inorganic chemistry (25%)
- Organic chemistry (30%)
- Physical Chemistry (30%)
When to register?
The paper-delivered GRE is administered at certain testing centres on a limited number of dates. Seating for GRE is on a first-come, first-serve basis, and some testing centre locations can fill up well in advance of the popular fall testing time. It is highly recommended that you register for your preferred GRE test date early so you can select a date that will allow enough time for ETS to process your scores and send them to the institutions you’ll be applying to. This can take from 10 to 15 days. During popular testing times, seats centers can be limited. You can take the computer-delivered GRE once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period (365 days).
WHEN TO TAKE THE GRE
Since graduate programs have a wide range of application deadlines, you’ll want to research your programs of interest ahead of time and ensure that you’re GRE score can be reported in time for your earliest deadline. Your GRE score is good for five years.
You’ll want to devote 1–3 months to studying for the GRE, and top scorers report studying for 100+ hours.
