GRE (Graduate Record Examination)

Structure & Format

• The GRE General Test is designed to measure verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. ETS+1
  
  
• As of the newer format (from September 22, 2023): the test has an Analytical Writing section (one task, 30 minutes) and two sections each of Verbal and Quantitative reasoning. ETS+2ETS+2
  
  
• Section-level adaptive: the difficulty of the second Verbal or Quant section depends on performance in the first section. ETS+1
  
  
• Total test duration: ~1 hour 58 minutes. ETS
  
  

Skills Assessed

• Verbal Reasoning: Analyzing written material, drawing inferences, understanding multiple levels of meaning (literal vs figurative), summarizing, and reasoning with incomplete information. ETS
  
  
• Quantitative Reasoning: Ability to interpret, analyze, and solve problems using elementary mathematical concepts (arithmetic, algebra, geometry, data analysis) with an on-screen calculator provided. ETS
  
  
• Analytical Writing: Critical thinking, articulating complex ideas, developing an argument, organizing ideas coherently, and writing in standard academic English. 

Scoring

• Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning: Scored on a scale of 130–170, in 1-point increments. admitexpert.com+1
  
  
• Analytical Writing: Scored from 0–6, in 0.5-point increments. admitexpert.com
  
  
• The total combined score (verbal + quant) is out of 340; the writing score is reported separately. upGrad
  
  
• There is no negative marking for wrong answers. upGrad
  
  

Why It Matters

• The GRE is accepted by a large range of graduate programs (masters, PhD) around the world, because it tests skills that are broadly relevant (not subject-specific).
  
  
• Because of its structure, it reflects not just subject knowledge, but reasoning ability — which is crucial for advanced study.
  
  
• Its adaptive nature ensures that the test adjusts to a student’s level, making it a more accurate and efficient assessment tool.