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The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) measures your ability to succeed at graduate-school level studies, exactly like the SAT and ACT measure your ability to succeed at undergraduate schooling. Your score on the GRE is one of the primary factors used by university admissions officers for determining whether or not to accept you into their programs. As such, it is important to prepare for the GRE and score as highly as you can.
You can register to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) in a variety of ways. The easiest method for most is to register online by creating a GRE account. However, you may also register for the GRE by mail or by phone.
The cost to take the general GRE is currently $185; each subject test costs $150. There are also a variety of additional services (such as test preparation services) that are available to you for additional fees.
Developed by Educational Testing Services (ETS), the GRE has many similarities to the SAT. Both are now computer-adaptive tests (CAT); no need to bring a pencil, pen, or paper to the test site. In a CAT, you answer one question at a time; your answer to each question determines the difficulty level of the next question. As you answer questions correctly, the computer program increases the difficulty of your questions; when you answer a question incorrectly, the computer program provides another of the same difficulty or a slightly reduced difficulty. Eventually, the computer program determines your score based on the correct level of your skill in that area.
The GRE measures three skill areas:
The analytical writing section uses a free-response (or essay) format to measure your ability to write complex thoughts in clear, precise English prose. The skills you need to demonstrate in this section include:
- Evaluate claims and evidence
- Develop a complex, coherent argument/discussion
- Support ideas with reasons and example
- Write using standard punctuation and grammar
For this section of the test, you will need to write an essay or argument for each of the two tasks. You should be able to type and use a basic word processing program (no, the word processor does not have grammar or spell check – you have to supply those skills on your own).
For most international students, this section is moderately difficult. Although the GRE requires you to demonstrate a sophisticated command of written English, the free-response format allows you to craft your answer in whatever ways highlight your strengths.
The verbal reasoning section uses a multiple-choice format to measure your command of English vocabulary and reading comprehension. It is very similar to the SAT and ACT reading comprehension tests, although the questions are generally more evaluative and require a finer command of the subtleties of the English language.
The skills measured in the verbal reasoning sections of the GRE include:
- Analyze multiple layers of meaning (both literal and figurative)
- Distinguish between significant and irrelevant information
- Identify and accommodate for authorial bias/perspective
- Identify and analyze the structure of a text (chronological, spatial, process)
- Understand the meanings of words and phrases
For most international students, the verbal reasoning section will be the most challenging, especially for those students for whom English is not their
primary language. This section demands a very sophisticated level of English comprehension; however, don’t despair. As with any test, preparation is the key to success. If you have concerns about the GRE and your English, that just means you invest more time in preparing before you sit for the exam.
The quantitative reasoning sections also use a multiple-choice format to measure your ability to perform basic and complex mathematical calculations. This section is the most similar to the SAT and ACTs, in both style and question difficulty.
The skills measured in the quantitative reasoning sections of the GRE include:
- Understanding quantitative data (both as tables and graphs
- Analyzing data (statistics, probability)
- Applying basic mathematical skills (arithmetic, algebra, geometry)
For most international students, the quantitative reasoning section will be the easiest to master and require the least preparation. However, that does not mean you should take it lightly. You should invest some time in reviewing basic mathematical formulas, with special emphasis on statistical and probability analysis.
You do not have to wait until you are in the USA to take the GRE. There are about 700 ETS-authorized testing centers in more than 160 countries. In most countries, you can take a computer-based GRE at any time throughout the year. And in those regions where computer access is more limited, you may still be able to take the GRE in a pencil-paper format. Regardless of location or format, your GRE scores will be transmitted to the universities you designate, so they may evaluate your scores with the rest of your application.
Your performance on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) will earn a numeric evaluation for each of the three testing subsets:
It is nearly impossible to advise you what score you should aim for (beyond stating “as high a score as you can”). Each university has its expectations for GRE scores. The best way to set a GRE goal is to research the programs to which you are applying.
GRE scores are valid for five years after the test administration. Within that timeframe, you can request (for a fee) ETS to transmit your scores to any universities you’d like.
Preparation is the key to success in the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), as it is in nearly every area of life. There are a host of resources available for you to help improve your scores (arranged in ascending order of cost):
- Free test questions on the internet (including ETS.org, the company that designed the GRE)
- GRE preparation books
- GRE preparation software
- GRE preparation courses (often very expensive, but often these courses include a score improvement guarantee)
Before you invest in a course (or even a book), keep in mind that the first step to GRE success is self-awareness. You need to accurately judge your own academic and intellectual strengths and weaknesses, so you may make wise decisions about how to improve your GRE scores.
