The GRE — Graduate Record Examinations — is a standardized test administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS) that is widely required for admission to graduate programs in the United States and internationally. The GRE General Test measures Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing skills that are considered essential for success in graduate and professional academic programs. Unlike undergraduate admission tests like the SAT or ACT, the GRE is designed to assess skills developed over a lifetime of academic work rather than content tied to a specific curriculum.
The GRE is accepted by thousands of graduate and business programs worldwide, including MBA programs at many business schools (as an alternative to the GMAT). It is required for admission to master's programs, PhD programs, and professional programs in fields ranging from social sciences and humanities to engineering, natural sciences, and public policy. Some law schools (including Harvard, Georgetown, and Columbia) now accept GRE scores as an alternative to the LSAT.
The GRE General Test is computer-adaptive at the section level — your performance on the first Verbal section determines whether you receive an easier or harder second Verbal section, and similarly for Quantitative. This section-level adaptivity means that performing well on the first section of each type is particularly important, as it determines the difficulty level (and scoring ceiling) of the second section. Since 2023, the GRE has been shortened to approximately 1 hour 58 minutes — a significant reduction from the previous 3+ hour format, eliminating one Verbal and one Quant section plus the unscored research section.
The GRE General Test consists of three measured sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. Each plays a different role in evaluating your readiness for graduate study.
The GRE Verbal Reasoning section measures your ability to analyze written material, synthesize information from passages, identify relationships between words and concepts, and understand the nuances of complex written language. It contains two 27-minute sections of 27 questions each. Question types include Reading Comprehension (with single-paragraph and multi-paragraph passages), Text Completion (fill in one to three blanks in a short passage), and Sentence Equivalence (choose two words that complete a sentence with equivalent meaning). Vocabulary is important but not in the rote memorization sense of older GRE formats — success depends on understanding how words function in context rather than knowing obscure definitions in isolation.
The GRE Quantitative Reasoning section tests mathematical skills at the high school and early undergraduate level — arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. It does not test calculus or advanced mathematics. There are two 35-minute sections of 27 questions each. Question types include Quantitative Comparison (determine whether one quantity is greater than, less than, equal to, or incomparable with another), Multiple Choice (single and multiple answer), and Numeric Entry (type in the answer rather than select from choices). An on-screen calculator is provided for all Quantitative sections. The key challenge is time management and recognizing which mathematical approach solves each problem most efficiently.
The Analytical Writing section consists of one 30-minute task: Analyze an Issue. You are presented with a brief statement on a topic of general interest and must write a focused, organized, and well-reasoned essay articulating your position and supporting it with relevant examples. Essays are scored on a scale of 0 to 6 in half-point increments by a human rater and a computerized scoring program. AWA scores are reported separately from Verbal and Quantitative scores and are often less heavily weighted in graduate admissions than the other sections. However, programs that require substantial academic writing — humanities PhD programs, public policy, law — may scrutinize AWA scores more carefully.
GRE Verbal and Quantitative scores are reported on a scale of 130 to 170 in one-point increments. Analytical Writing is scored separately from 0 to 6 in half-point increments. There is no single combined GRE score — graduate programs evaluate each section score independently, and requirements vary by program.
GRE scores come with percentile ranks that compare your performance to all test-takers in the most recent three-year period. A 160 on Verbal is approximately the 86th percentile; a 160 on Quantitative is approximately the 76th percentile (Quant scores tend to cluster higher, making a given score less distinguishing). A 155 Verbal is around 69th percentile; 155 Quant is around 57th percentile. Analytical Writing of 4.0 is approximately the 57th percentile; 5.0 is around the 93rd percentile.
Required GRE scores vary dramatically by program and field. Engineering PhD programs at top schools typically look for 160+ Quantitative (90th percentile), with Verbal being less central. Humanities PhD programs often prioritize Verbal (160+ is competitive) and AWA. Business programs accepting GRE as a GMAT alternative assess Quant most heavily. Social science programs balance both sections. Research the median GRE scores for admitted students in your specific target programs — many programs publish this data. GRE scores of 315 to 320 combined (Verbal + Quantitative) are broadly competitive for selective programs, though this varies significantly by field.
ETS allows you to retake the GRE up to five times in any 12-month period, with a 21-day waiting period between attempts. Scores are valid for five years. ETS's ScoreSelect feature allows you to choose which test date scores to send to programs — you are not required to send all attempts. Most programs review all scores sent, so retaking and sending a significantly improved score is generally viewed positively.
The amount of preparation needed for the GRE depends on your starting point and target scores. Test-takers who took a diagnostic and are close to their target may need only four to six weeks of focused preparation. Those who need significant improvement in one or both sections typically benefit from two to three months of dedicated daily study.
Begin with an official ETS GRE practice test (available free from the ETS website). This diagnostic establishes your baseline scores and identifies which question types and content areas need the most attention. Spend the first week reviewing GRE fundamentals — learn the question type formats for all sections, study the scoring criteria for Analytical Writing, and review basic mathematical concepts if Quant is a weak area.
Work through your weakest content areas systematically. For Verbal, build vocabulary in context by reading challenging texts (editorial articles, academic abstracts) and studying the most common GRE vocabulary words. For Quantitative, review the mathematical concepts you are rusty on — properties of numbers, algebra, geometry, and statistics — using GRE-specific prep materials. For AWA, practice writing timed Issue essays and review scored sample responses from ETS to understand the scoring criteria.
Complete two to four full-length GRE practice tests under realistic timing conditions. ETS offers two free full-length practice tests; additional tests are available from ETS PowerPrep Plus (paid) and third-party providers including Manhattan Prep, Magoosh, and Kaplan. After each test, review every incorrect answer. Prioritize completing the ETS practice tests closer to your actual test date for the most accurate score prediction.
ETS publishes official GRE practice materials including two free full-length tests through PowerPrep, the Official GRE Guide (print and digital), and supplementary question packs. Official materials most accurately represent the actual exam's question style, difficulty, and interface. Use these as your benchmark tests rather than exclusively relying on third-party materials, which often differ in difficulty and phrasing.
GRE vocabulary prep is most effective when you learn words in context — how they appear in sentences — rather than studying decontextualized word lists. Read challenging texts and encounter words in their natural environment. For the words that keep appearing in practice questions, create flashcards with the word, its definition, and example sentences. Apps like Magoosh GRE Vocabulary and various Anki decks built specifically for GRE vocabulary are widely used and effective.
Quantitative Comparison (QC) questions — where you determine which quantity is greater or whether they are equal — are unique to the GRE and require a specific strategy. Always simplify before comparing; plug in numbers for variables; remember that 'cannot be determined' is only correct when you can prove the relationship changes for different values. Drilling QC questions until you are comfortable with their patterns dramatically improves Quant scores.
Many test-takers underestimate the 30-minute time constraint for the Analyze an Issue essay. Practice writing several essays under exact timing before your exam — not just outlining but actually completing the full essay from blank page to conclusion. You should be able to produce at least 400 to 450 words of coherent, structured argument in 30 minutes. Review high-scoring sample essays from ETS to calibrate what a 5.0 or 6.0 response looks like.