GRE Official Guide

Studying abroad is a viable idea for  you, seeing the sheer perks it offers. It expands your network, opens esteemed career prospects, and increases your hiring chances as well. That is why most graduate students opt for the GRE (Graduate Records Examination).

Conducted by the ETS (Educational Testing Service), thousands of students take the test across 160 countries every month. GRE scores are accepted by 1200+ premium business schools globally, including several prestigious MBA and law schools. 

So if you decide to sit for the GRE, it is advised to collect extensive information beforehand. That is why we are offering the GRE official guide to help you with the registration process, exam cost, GRE syllabus, scoring patterns, and more.

What is GRE?

The GRE assesses skills like critical thinking, analytical writing, essay evaluation, and time management. Moreover, it analyses your ability to work under stress, making it a good measure for your aptitude and  readiness to work in stressful environments. That is why the GRE is accepted worldwide, making it a must for any graduate student looking to study abroad. In addition, given its esteemed acceptability, you can even opt for it in your native countries. Besides, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the ETS is conducting a comprehensive online test, which is available at home.  

Prerequisites of Taking the GRE

The ETS has not set any official prerequisites to apply for GRE. You can opt for it as long as you graduate and want to study in an esteemed post-graduate university. Besides, you can take the test throughout the year, but you must maintain a gap of 21 days between the retakes. However, you can only take the exam five times a year.

Moreover, in the case of multiple scores, you can show the best one to any desired university. Your GRE scores are valid for five years since the day of the examination. 

How to Register for the GRE in 2021

The ETS offers four primary ways to book a slot for the GRE— via phone, mail, fax, and online. Most students choose the online or phone option due to its simplicity. To opt for the online option, you can start by creating an ETS account on the official website. The process holds even if you opt for a computer test, physical test, or the latest home test alternative. 

Before starting the registration process, you must account for the following:

• Ensure that your testing room and computer comply with ETS’ Environment and Equipment requirements.
• Keep an identity document ready, with a passport being the primary choice. If you do not own a passport, go through the ID Requirements list to see what IDs are accepted.
• If you possess any disability or require any health-related accommodation during the test, apply for it before the registration.

Here is the registration process for the GRE in 2021:

1. Go to the official ETS website for the GRE.
2. Browse the “login” option and enter your credentials.
3. Go to the My GRE page and choose “Register/Find Test Centers.” 
4. Now, select the mode of conduct for the examination.
5. Provide a valid email address and verify it.
6. Before selecting the final date, confirm the time zone.
7. Select a two-month period to choose the desired test date.
8. After finding the correct slot, tap on the “Register for this test” option.
9. Go through the guidelines and pay the test fees.
10. Upon finishing, you will get a confirmation email with the test link and additional information. 

Note: Keep the email securely stored until the test date.

GRE Exam Duration

Generally, the ETS undertakes the Graduate Record Examination in two ways — paper-delivered and computer-delivered. The former is conducted under 3 hours 30 minutes while the latter lasts 3 hours 45 minutes.

The ETS usually allows paper-delivered three times a year while computer-delivered tests are available throughout the year. Our GRE official guide 2021 also specifies that the computer-based test adapts as per your previous examination score. More so, we will also talk of fees, syllabus, pattern and more. 

GRE Cost: Registration Fees, Cancellation Charges, and Special Requests

The general GRE costs $205 in every country except for Nigeria, Australia, Turkey, China, and India. Depending on the region, you will be asked to pay different fees. Starting from 2021, the ETS is charging $213 for students in India. 

If you want to cancel or reschedule your test session, the ETS will charge you $50. Plus, you must submit the cancellation request at least four days before the test date. When it comes to special requests, here is an overview of the charges:

• Late registration – 2$5 
• Standby testing – $25 
• Switching the test centre – $50 
• Subject change – $50 

GRE Syllabus and Pattern

Since the GRE assesses your problem-solving and reasoning skills, the GRE Syllabus comprises three sections:

• Analytical Writing
• Verbal Section
• Quantitative Reasoning

Analytical Writing

The section is designed to test your abilities to express complex ideas and analyse arguments. You are required to start analysing an issue in which you need to devise an opinion on any general topic. After understanding the topic, you must support the argument.

The second task is to analyse an argument. Here you need to analyse whether the author’s claim is logically correct by examining the reasons critically. 

Verbal Section

The section has 10 reading comprehension questions, which assess your reading and understanding capabilities. You need to answer four Sentence Equivalent and six Text Completion questions.

Quantitative Reasoning

The section provides two aspects:

• The first includes seven or eight Quantitative Comparison questions, which analyses your fundamental mathematical concepts. 
• The second includes problem-solving capabilities, which you can answer after understanding the context and collecting the necessary data.

GRE Scoring

You will get the results within 10 to 15 days after the exam, which are as follows:

• Analytical Writing: 0 to 6
• Verbal Reasoning: 130 to 170
• Quantitative Reasoning: 130 to 170

The average score ranges from 280 to 340. If we dive into specific sections, here is what the mean score looks like:

• Analytical Wiring: 3.58
• Verbal Reasoning: 150.37
• Quantitative Reasoning: 153.39  

You should aim to score above 320 to make yourself eligible for the most esteemed colleges globally. 

The GRE is rightfully considered one of the pivotal steps to leverage your graduation. Acquiring a decent GRE score makes you instantly eligible for the most well-reputed business, law, and MBA universities globally. If you plan to attempt it, this article will provide you with all the information about the test. Go through the GRE official guide and understand its importance, charges, exam pattern, and average scores.