The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is a standardized test that is often required for admission to graduate programs in various fields of study, including business, law, social sciences, and engineering, among others. The exam is designed to measure a student’s readiness for graduate-level coursework.
The GRE consists of three main sections:
- Verbal Reasoning: This section measures a student’s ability to analyze and evaluate written material, understand and use vocabulary, and analyze relationships among component parts of sentences.
- Quantitative Reasoning: This section measures a student’s ability to understand, interpret, and analyze quantitative information, solve problems using mathematical concepts, and apply basic mathematical skills and elementary mathematical concepts.
- Analytical Writing: This section measures a student’s ability to articulate complex ideas and arguments clearly and effectively, support ideas with relevant reasons and examples, and examine claims and evidence in a thoughtful and analytical way.
The GRE is administered in a computer-based format and is offered throughout the year at various testing centers around the world. The exam takes approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete, including breaks.
In addition to the general GRE, there are also subject-specific GRE tests that focus on particular fields of study, including biology, chemistry, literature in English, mathematics, physics, and psychology.
GRE scores are valid for up to five years and are used by graduate programs as one of many factors in their admissions decisions. It is important to check with each program to determine their specific requirements for GRE scores and whether they require the general test, a subject-specific test, or both.