Who should take it:

GRE® tests are taken by individuals applying to graduate programs in natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities and arts, education, business or other fields. The tests are designed to help graduate admission committees and fellowship sponsors assess the qualifications of applicants to their programs.

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Where to apply:

Visit www.ets.org/gre to register for a GRE test and for the most up-to-date information about GRE tests and services.

Test Descriptions

GRE General Test

The GRE General Test measures skills that have been developed over a long period of time and are not necessarily related to any particular field of study. The test is composed of Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing sections.

• The Verbal section measures the ability to analyze and evaluate written material and synthesize information obtained from it, analyze relationships among component parts of sentences, and recognize relationships between words and concepts.
• The Quantitative section measures basic mathematical skills and understanding of elementary mathematical concepts, as well as the ability to reason quantitatively and solve problems in a quantitative setting. There is a balance among the questions requiring arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis.
• The Analytical Writing section measures the ability to articulate and support complex ideas, analyze an argument, and sustain a focused and coherent discussion. It does not assess specific knowledge, and there is no single best way to respond.
  The computer-based GRE General Test is offered year-round at authorized testing centers in the United States, Canada and many other countries. In areas of the world where computer-based testing is not available, the paper-based GRE General Test is administered in October and March.

GRE Subject Tests

The Subject Tests measure undergraduate achievement in the following eight specific fields of study:

• Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Literature in English
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Psychology

Each Subject Test assumes an undergraduate major or extensive background in the discipline. The tests are given at authorized paper-based testing centers worldwide up to three times per year, in October, December and April.

Because the General Test and Subject Tests have different emphases, the two types of tests are often used to complement each other in admissions decisions. Additional information about the content of the tests is available on the GRE Web site at www.ets.org/gre.

Structure of the Computer-Based General Test
Verbal 30-minute section: 30 questions
Quantitative 45-minute section: 28 questions
Analytical Writing (two sections: one writing task per section)
Present Your Perspective on an Issue: 45 minutes
Analyze an Argument: 30 minutes

Structure of the Paper-Based General Test
Verbal two 30-minute sections: 38 questions per section
Quantitative two 30-minute sections: 30 questions per section
Analytical Writing (two sections: one writing task per section)
Present Your Perspective on an Issue: 45 minutes
Analyze an Argument: 30 minutes

In addition, an unidentified Verbal or Quantitative section that does not count toward a score may be included. You should complete all Verbal or Quantitative sections since you will not know which one(s) will be counted as part of your score. An identified research section that is not scored also may be included in the computer-based General Test.

Test Registration

You can register for the GRE General Test and Subject Tests online at www.ets.org/gre/grereg.html using a credit card. You also can register for the computer-based General Test by phone, mail or fax, and you can register for the paper-based General Test and Subject Tests by mail. Visit www.ets.org/gre for more information on how to register for the GRE tests.

The fee to take the GRE General Test is US$150 in the United States, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico; US$205 in China (including Hong Kong), Korea and Taiwan; and US$180 in all other locations. The fee to take a GRE Subject Test is US$130 in the United States, U.S. Territories and Puerto Rico, and US$150 in all other locations.

Test Preparation

Free test preparation material is available to individuals who register to take the GRE General Test or a Subject Test. The material describes the test in detail and provides information to help you understand the scores you earn. You can download this material free of charge, as well as access additional free and low-cost GRE test preparation materials and services, at www.ets.org/gre/greprep.html.

Score Reporting

GRE® General Test

 

Three scores will be reported on the General Test:

• A Verbal score reported on a 200–800 Verbal Score scale, in 10-point increments
• A Quantitative score reported on a 200–800 Quantitative Score scale, in 10-point increments
• An Analytical Writing score reported on a 0–6 Writing Assessment score scale, in half-point increments. Descriptions of the analytical writing abilities characteristic of particular score levels are available in the interpretive leaflet enclosed with your score report, in the Guide to the Use of GRE Scores, and on the GRE website at www.ets.org/gre/stupubs.html.

If you don’t answer any questions in a Verbal, Quantitative or Analytical Writing section, that section will be reported as a No Score (NS).

If you take the computer-based General Test, you can view your unofficial Verbal and Quantitative scores at the test center. Official Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Writing scores will be sent to you and your designated institutions within 10 to 15 days of your test administration.

If you take the paper-based General Test, you will not receive any scores at the test center. Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Writing scores will be sent to you and the institutions you designate within four to six weeks of your test administration.

GRE Subject Tests

Every Subject Test yields a total score on a 200–990 score scale. Some Subject Tests yield subscores on a 20–99 score scale. Subject Test scores will be sent to you and the institutions you designate within six weeks of your test administration.

ETS® Personal Potential Index

Beginning in July 2009, ETS is making the ETS® Personal Potential Index (ETS® PPI) available to prospective graduate school applicants. ETS PPI is a web-based system for evaluating six key personal attributes that graduate deans and faculty have identified as essential for graduate study. The six dimensions are Knowledge and Creativity, Communication Skills, Teamwork, Resilience, Planning and Organization, and Ethics and Integrity. ETS PPI allows you to provide prospective graduate programs with a more complete picture of your potential to succeed in graduate school because it provides information about a broader range of your capabilities than are captured in grades, test scores and recommendation letters.

Those who register for the GRE General Test beginning in May 2009 will be able to send up to four ETS PPI evaluation reports at no additional charge. ETS PPI also is available for a fee of $20 per report to individuals who are not planning to take the GRE General Test.

• The ETS PPI process is very simple and straightforward:
• The applicant logs in to the ETS PPI system and identifies evaluators to complete an evaluation.
• ETS sends an e-mail to the evaluators with a link to the ETS PPI system.
• The evaluators log in to the ETS PPI system, rate the applicant on the six personal attributes specified above, and provide an overall evaluation. Evaluators also can provide additional comments for each attribute and for the overall rating.
• ETS sends an e-mail to the applicant when each evaluation is completed.
• When all evaluations are completed, the applicant logs in to the ETS PPI system and designates which institutions should receive a PPI evaluation report, and which evaluations should be included in each report.
• Up to five evaluations can be included in each evaluation report.
• ETS creates the ETS PPI Evaluation Report(s) specified by the applicant and sends the reports to the institution(s) designated by the applicant.
• To access the new ETS PPI service or for additional information, visit www.ets.org/ppi.

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By Educational Testing Service

Courtesy of Educational Testing Service. Copyright © 2009 by Educational Testing Service. All rights reserved. ETS, the ETS logo, GRADUATE RECORD EXAMINATIONS and GRE are registered trademarks of Educational Testing Service (ETS) in the United States and other countries.