All You Need To Know About The GRE Exam

Every GRE test taker should know about the GRE Exam completely. Following are some of the important things that you need to know

• GRE - At home testing in India

• GRE test structure and scoring pattern

• Benefits of the GRE test

• GRE test preparation, materials and strategies.

GRE - At home testing in India

GRE general test is available in the computer-delivered format. Currently, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, GRE  at-home testing is available in India. The test-takers can take the GRE test online from their home with video and online monitoring.

GRE test structure

This test measures your Quantitative reasoning, Verbal reasoning, Critical thinking, and analytical writing skills. These are measured by using 6 sections (5 scoring section + 1 experimental, very rarely test taker may get Research section). The test starts with the Analytical writing assessment (AWA), then followed by 5 sections of Quant and verbal in random order. 

Section	Number of questions	Time duration	Scoring
Analytical Writing (One section with two separately timed tasks)	1. Analyze an Issue 2. Analyze an Argument	30 minutes per task	0 - 6
Verbal Reasoning (Two sections)	20 questions per section	30 minutes per section	130 - 170
Quantitative Reasoning (Two sections)	20 questions per section	35 minutes per section	130 - 170
Experimental	20 questions per section	Varies
Research	Varies	Varies

Most important thing to note is not to make any judgement on the experimental section. It can be anywhere in the test after AWA and it could either be a quantitative or verbal section. So do the best in all the sections.

Every test taker should know the GRE score is calculated on the adaptability. Based on the first section performance of each measure, the second section will be generated as easy, medium, or hard. The image below explains the section adaptive in GRE.

GRE Score

Let us assume that Student A did well in section 1 and did badly in section 2 and student B did badly in section 1 but did well in section 2. Who gets the higher score?

Student A receives the higher score as he encountered harder questions with more weightage.

Benefits of the GRE test

Students, after completing undergraduate, often plan to pursue MS in the eminent foreign universities. Especially in US universities, GRE is mandatory for many courses. Universities have their own GRE cut-off for admissions. GRE score is accepted for management courses also by some B-schools. Impressive GRE scores may give chances to get a good scholarship and get into top universities, also it will help to balance your UG grades.

Not only in the US, but this test has also been accepted by other countries’ universities for admission as a standardized test. Remember it is not mandatory for outside the US.

GRE test preparation, materials, and strategies

Wise people know how to convert stumbling blocks into stepping stones. The whole world is affected due to COVID-19, lockdown and this may test our capacity to withstand. We can use this opportunity to prepare for the GRE through the right material, perfect strategies, and day to day practice is the actual key to crack the GRE.