The GRE is an essential step in different graduate school and business school admission processes. It is taken by students who wish to seek higher courses such as M.Sc., Ph.D., MBA, and many others at universities across the globe. It is a widely accepted exam for those planning for master’s from abroad as well. 

Many aspirants wonder which GRE test they should take; The GRE General or the GRE Subject Test? If you wish to go to a graduate school or just explore the options and career path, you will make a significant decision about the future. A GRE test can prove your capabilities and qualifications. 

Radviser, your trustworthy, intelligent adviser, provides you with an article to help you find the best choice according to your purpose. It answers all your questions about the GRE test. 

What Is the GRE Test?

The Graduate Record Examination or GRE is a standardized test administered and conducted by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which creates the TOEFL for ESL (English as a Second Language) students and the Praxis exam for future teachers. 

This test is designed to measure overall academic aptitude for graduate school. The GRE test is for admission to graduate and business school programs, mainly in the United States and Canada. Applicants with different educational and regional backgrounds can apply for the same programs. The GRE test provides the admission committee with a standard measure for comparing candidates' different qualifications. 

GRE is a multiple-choice and computerized test. It is taken for pursuing higher education and scholarship in the top-ranking colleges and schools across the world. There are two types of GRE tests: GRE General and GRE Subject. The type of test candidates must take depends on the specific educational institution. It will be mentioned in the schools' or colleges' eligibility section which type of GRE is required. The GRE scores will be valid for five years. 

Who Takes the GRE Exam?

Prospective graduates, B-School applicants, and those interested in pursuing a Master's degree, MBA, JD, doctoral, or a specialized degree can take the GRE test. The admission and fellowship committees evaluate the GRE scores, undergraduate records, recommendation letters, and other qualifications for graduate-level study. The GRE can be also taken by students who want to secure a merit-based scholarship for grad school. 

The GRE test is accepted by thousands of grad schools worldwide. Various Business, Science, and Law schools and many departments within these schools value the GRE test scores. The GRE test is accepted in many countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, China, India, France, and Germany. Business Schools like Harvard, INSEAD, MIT Sloan, IE, Stanford, and Singapore Management University accept GRE scores for the MBA programs.

GRE Eligibility 

The GRE test can be availed online and offline. The offline option is available thrice a year, and the online one can be taken anytime throughout the year. The GRE test can be taken any number of times and at any subject or age limit. Although there must be a minimum 21-day gap between 2 attempts, not more than five attempts can be taken in one year. The most important document needed by EST is a valid passport or a government-issued photo ID. It should be represented on the exam date. 

The GRE test can be taken by any candidate who wants to apply for a higher degree. Candidates must finish the undergraduate course. There are no specific criteria related to educational qualifications. 

The GRE test can be taken at any age, and there is no upper or lower age limit for that. However, it is necessary to check the specific universities or colleges' pre-defined eligibility criteria before taking the test. Keep in mind that not all colleges and schools need a GRE test score; check for the requirement before applying. 

GRE Registration

Candidates can register for the GRE test in different ways. Remember two things while doing so: one, having a valid passport, and two, the passport's name must exactly match the name mentioned in the GRE registration. Applicants can register for the GRE test online, over the phone, by mail, or by fax. The candidates require a debit or credit card to pay the registration fee. Candidates are required to follow these steps for online registration.

• Step 1: Go to the GRE official website and create an account, or log into an existing account. 
• Step 2: Choose between GRE General and GRE Subject.
• Step 3: Complete the profile.
• Step 4: Select the GRE test Center and Date. 
• Step 5: Pay the registration fee.
• Step 6: When the payment is made, the GRE test is booked. Candidates can print out the acknowledgment receipt. 

Other Registration Methods

Apart from the online registration, candidates can opt for the GRE test via the following methods:

1. Mail Registration

Complete the Application Form and send it to the Regional Registration Center related to your center with the appropriate fee. The registration form must be sent and received at least 3 weeks before the GRE test date choice. The confirmation of time and center will be emailed, faxed, or mailed.

2. Phone Registration

Call the Regional Registration Center at least 2 business days before the preferred test date.

3. Fax Registration

The Application Form and the fee should be sent to the selected Regional Registration Center at least 7 days before the preferred test date.

GRE Fees

The GRE test registration fee for both General and Subject types is 205 USD, including score reporting to 4 universities. For an Additional Score Report (ASRs), an extra 27 USD per score report is required. If the applicants want to change the test center or reschedule the test date and time, an additional 50 USD is required. It must be done at least 4 days before the exact date. 

If a candidate cancels the test no later than 4 days before the exact date, half of the original fee will be refunded. Candidates are charged 50 USD if they want to change the subject in the GRE Subject Test. Also, there is an extra fee of 25 USD for late registration and standby testing. 

GRE Exams Types

As mentioned earlier, there are two types of GRE tests:

1. GRE General Test 

The GRE General Test is a multiple-choice computer-based or paper-based exam that measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills. Most universities accept the GRE General test score, and usually, most applicants opt for it. It is conducted around a year, and applicants can choose their preferred date.

2. GRE Subject Test

The GRE Subject Test is a written computer-based exam that measures the candidates' qualifications in only a particular subject area and is taken for the following subjects: Biochemistry (Cell and Molecular Biology), Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Literature (English), Physics, and Psychology. This test is conducted on fixed dates, i.e., September, October, and April. The GRE Subject test is required for specialized courses. 

Please note that some test centers may not have all the GRE Subject tests during the given month. Candidates must check the centers for the availability of the desired test. Candidates must choose a subject that is closely related to their major.

GRE Exam Patterns

Each type of GRE has different patterns. It is good to know about these patterns in detail before taking the test. The GRE patterns are as follows.

1. GRE General Test 

The GRE General Test has 3 sections, including Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. 

Verbal Reasoning 

Verbal reasoning means the ability to read and comprehend information. The computer-based GRE test has 30 questions answered in 30 minutes. The paper version has two sections, and each has 38 questions answered in 30 minutes. This section aims to test the candidate's ability to draw conclusions from interactions, reasoning from incomplete information, specify a perspective, understand the major and minor points, select essential points, comprehend the structure of a text, and know the words' meanings, and relationships to the given text. Some of the covered contexts are verb, tense, sentence structures, idioms, pronoun agreement, subject-verb agreement, modifiers, and parallelism.

Quantitative Reasoning 

The quantitative reasoning section evaluates the candidate's ability to analyze quantitative data, interpret them, and solve problems using mathematical models. The basic math skills of algebra, arithmetic, geometry, etc., are needed. Some of the covered subjects are ratio and proportion, profit and loss, linear equations, sets, permutations and combinations, distance, speed, time, work, quadratic equations, graphs, predicting probabilities, statistics and probability, powers and roots, polygons, coordinate geometry, volumes and surface areas, the order of operations, percentages, and other number properties. It tests high-school-level math. The computer version will have 28 questions answered in 45 minutes, and the paper version will have two 30-minute segments with 30 questions each.

Analytical Writing 

The analytical writing section measures the candidates' ability to articulate complex and abstract ideas precisely, support them with relevant examples and reasoning, evaluate a situation with reasoning, and maintain a coherent discussion with standard elements in written English. It has two parts, i.e., analyzing the task and analyzing the argument, which will be answered in 30 minutes per task. 

The first part wants the candidate to read a paragraph on a general issue and then address that topic by supporting the idea with reasoning and examples. On computer-based tests, this part will be done on word processing software. Otherwise, it will be handwritten. The second part asks the candidate to read and then analyze an argument. The reasoning presented in the argument must be considered. Then the candidate must discuss whether the argument is good or not. It should not be stating agreement or disagreement; it must be analyzed through reasoning and conveying the message through the written response. It is not computer-adaptive. 

2. GRE Subject Test 

The GRE Subject test contains 6 different subjects for now. It has a total time of 2 hours and 50 minutes. The sections are not separately timed, and candidates can work on the test at their own pace. ETS has a web page to help candidates prepare for any GRE Subject test. These 6 subjects are explained below.

Biology 

The biology test consists of about 188 five-choice questions. This test's content is categorized into 3 general areas: cellular and molecular biology, organismal biology, and ecology and evolution.

Chemistry 

The chemistry test consists of 130 questions in multiple-choice format. This test measures skills in analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry.

Literature (English)

The literature test contains 230 questions on the short story, novel, drama, essay, biography, poetry, criticism, literary theory, and language history. This test emphasizes works, genres, movements, and authors. The questions are classified into two parts: factual and analytical. It measures knowledge in British literature, American literature, Continental, Classical, and Comparative literature through 1925. It also tests skills in world literature after 1925.

Mathematics

The mathematics test has 66 multiple-choice questions based on undergraduates' common knowledge of this major. The questions cover calculus, geometry, statistics, algebra, discrete mathematics, and some additional topics.

Physics

The physics test has 100 five-choice questions on materials such as diagrams, graphs, experimental data, and descriptions of physical situations related to the fundamental principles. It covers areas like classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, atomic physics, and electromechanics. It also evaluates laboratory methods, nuclear physics, statistical mechanics, optics, wave phenomena, thermodynamics, special relativity, and particle physics.

Psychology

The psychology test consists of 205 questions in a five-choice format. One of the options is correct or the best answer to the question. The psychology test measures skills in subjects such as cognitive, developmental, clinical, cognitive, and social psychology and measurement and methodology.

GRE Scoring System

The GRE General test score contains three different numbers. The verbal reasoning part is scored on a 130 to 170 scale (in 1-point increments). Quantitative reasoning is scored on a 130 to 170 scale (in 1-point increments). These two will express a total score out of 340. Their scores will be combined. The analytical writing is marked separately out of 0 to 6 (in ½-point increments). The GRE General test report will be ready within 10-15 days. 

The GRE Subject test reports one total score on a 200 to 990 scale (in 10-point increments). The sub-scores on biology, physics, and psychology tests are reported on a 20-99 score scale (in 1-point increments). GRE subject test scores are available within 5 weeks after the test date.

Final Words 

The GRE or Graduate Record Examination is a standardized test that is one of the admission requirements for a Master's or Ph.D. degree in any field and most graduate schools abroad. 

The GRE test can be taken at any time during the whole year by selecting a slot for the exam 45 days in advance. 

The GRE is supervised and offered by ETS and is developed to measure the candidates' aptitude in verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. 

In this article, we explained everything you need to know about the test, how to prepare for it, and how to pass it successfully. If you are planning on studying abroad, you might enjoy looking at our Library and learning more about the newest changes out there.