All you need to know about GRE exam

GRE Exam (Graduate Record Examination) is a standardized online exam, which is compulsory to apply for a Master’s Degree or Ph.D. in any field overseas. You can take the GRE exam any time during a year, by selecting a slot for the exam 45 days prior. ETS (Educational Testing Service) is responsible for conducting the exam.

The GRE is conducted in multiple stages. In this test, the difficulty of the next section depends upon your performance in the previous section. If you do well in the first verbal section, the difficulty level of the second verbal section will automatically increase.

The difficulty level of questions within a section does not change. The scores for Verbal and Quant sections are between 130 to 170, in one point increments. Analytical writing is scored on a scale of 0 to 6, in 0.5 increments.

GRE pattern and syllabus

The GRE syllabus basically consists of three subjects namely: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. The time duration of the GRE test is 3 hours and 45 minutes. There are six sections in total: two sections each on verbal and quantitative reasoning, one section on analytical writing. The sixth section is redundant as it has no role to play in calculation of the final score. The GRE exam syllabus covering all three sections is as follows:-

Analytical Writing

In this section, the writing skills of a candidate are tested. Candidates are given topics on which they have to write. They may also be given passages, on the basis of which they have to write the answers. The passages could be related to any topic, so the syllabus of this section is quite vast. In the first task, a candidate has to analyze the issue and provide his point of view on the matter. In the second task, the candidate has to analyze the logical strength of the given argument. The candidate has to present that argument’s strengths and weaknesses. It aims to test the analytical capability and power of expression.

Verbal Reasoning

This section measures a candidate’s ability to analyze and draw conclusions from the given data. It also tests a candidate’s ability to comprehend the written material, read and find out the logical relationship between the points mentioned in the passage.

The verbal reasoning section assesses a candidate’s capacity to read and understand written material of a kind, which is commonly used in academics. Three types of questions make up this section: (i) Reading Comprehension; (ii) Text Completion; (iii) Sentence Equivalence. In order to comprehend texts, a candidate has to identify the relationships between parts of a sentence. He must be able to analyze associations between words and concepts. The verbal reasoning segment tests whether a candidate has required talent and ability or not.

The topics covered in this section are as follows:-

• Basic sentence: Nouns, Pronouns, Adjectives
• Verb Tense
• Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
• Pronoun Agreement
• Subject-Verb Agreement
• Modifiers
• Parallelism

Quantitative Reasoning

The quantitative reasoning aims to find out the understanding, interpreting and analyzing ability of a candidate, through the presented quantitative information. The questions are of the high-school level. The time given to solve this section is 80 minutes. This section can be further divided into 4 major topics: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Data analysis

The detailed syllabus is as follows:

• Arithmetic:
1. Integers
2. Fractions
3. Exponents and Roots
4. Decimals
5. Real Numbers
6. Ratio
7. Percentages

• Algebra:
1. Operations with Algebraic Expressions
2. Rules of Exponents
3. Solving Linear Equations
4. Solving Quadratic Equations
5. Solving Linear Inequalities
6. Functions
7. Applications
8. Coordinate Geometry
9. Graphs of Functions

• Geometry:
1. Lines and Angles
2. Polygons
3. Triangles
4. Quadrilaterals
5. Circles
6. 3-D Figures

• Data Analysis:
1. Graphical Methods for Describing Data
2. Numerical Methods for Describing Data
3. Counting Methods
4. Probability
5. Distributions of Data, Random Variables, and Probability Distributions
6. Data Interpretation Examples

GRE subject tests

These subject-specific tests can be taken to show your expertise in a particular subject. They can help a candidate to demarcate himself from other applicants, through the portrayal of subject-specific knowledge. Each subject test is intended for students who have an undergraduate major or extensive background in one of these six disciplines:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Literature in English
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Psychology

GRE Registration 2018

To appear for GRE General Test 2018, a candidate has to first create a ‘My GRE Account’. The Candidate can apply for the GRE 2018 as well as check his scores in My GRE Account. There are three ways to register for the GRE general test, namely online, phone and mail registration. Candidates can opt either online or mail registration in the case of GRE 2018 subject test.

Here are five major steps that candidates should follow to register for GRE 2018:

• Create an ETS account for GRE registration 2018
• Select GRE test type- GRE General or GRE subject test
• Set location and date for the GRE 2018
• Fill academic background information required for GRE registration 2018
• Make payment

GRE 2018 Registration fee

Fee for GRE General Test is $205 worldwide. Fee for GRE Subject test is $150 globally.

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