ABOUT GRE EXAM
Developed by Educational Testing Service (ETS) based in the US, the
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) has been developed to evaluate the
verbal, analytical and mathematical skills of the candidates. The
scores of this standardized test helps the graduate schools (conducting
courses other than business related studies) to assess the advanced
study potential of their prospective students.
The GRE® Board oversees GRE tests, services and research in
consultation with its committees. It establishes all policies for the
GRE® Program, which ETS® administers.
ETS can send your GRE scores to a maximum of four universities chosen
by you. The costs of sending these scores are in-built in the fees that
you pay for appearing in the test. GRE test result comprises:
* Total score – Maximum marks allotted are 1600,
* Sectional scores (for verbal and quantitative sections) – Maximum
marks allotted are 800 for each section.
* Analytical writing assessment score: It is scored separately on a
scale of 6 based on the overall impact of the essays written by a
student.
* % below: This represents the percentage of examinees who appeared
in GRE exams in the most recent 3-year period and scored less than you.
On an average, the scores for the Verbal and Quantitative Sections
generally fall in the range of 470 to 570. There are no standard
measures for Analytical Writing Assessment.
Important:
The test scores of the test are valid only for five years.
GRE Test Versions
There are two versions of GRE test:
* GRE General Test, and
* GRE Subject Test.
GRE General test
This test is open to all candidates, irrespective of their age or
educational background. Generally taken by prospective graduate
students, this test measures verbal reasoning, analytical writing,
critical writing and quantitative reasoning skills of a candidate.
GRE Subject test
This version of GRE exam assesses candidates’ knowledge level and
accomplishments in a specific field of study. Unlike the GRE General
test, this test is available only thrice in a year and can be taken
only as the paper-based test.
The scores of this test are often required for doctoral programmes in
the US, though some universities require the GRE Subject test scores
for Masters-level programmes too.
The eight subjects in which the GRE subject test is presently conducted
are:
* Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology,
* Biology,
* Chemistry,
* Computer Science,
* English Literature,
* Mathematics,
* Physics, and
* Psychology.
GRE test format
Total time allotted for:
* Computer-adaptive test: 3 hours
* Paper-based test: 3 ¾ hours
Analytical writing section always appears first in the test, followed
by Verbal, Quantitative and Unidentified (if applicable) sections in
any order. If there is a Research section, it always appears at the end
of the test.
Tips and Strategies
* Know the sections of the test, the type of questions asked in
each section, how long a section is and the time limit for each
section.
* Attempt as many GRE practice tests and GRE sample tests as
possible, as they will familiarize with the general level of the
questions that are asked in GRE exam and the directions for questions.
* The instructions for attempting a question in the actual test may
slightly differ from those given in your study material, so do skim
through them quickly.
* In the Analytical Writing assessment section, the Issue task
allows you to choose one of the two given topics, analyze the issue and
write your views on it. But beware, don’t start writing pros and cons
of the issue. Since, it is your views that have been asked for, be
specific and write only about your viewpoints.
* The second essay in the Writing Assessment section is the
Argument task. It does not offer any choice. You will be given a topic,
which you have to critically analyze and evaluate and determine whether
it is well-reasoned or not.
* Generally, each argument in the pool has three to five major
logical fallacies or problems that you need to identify and point out.
These may include drawing an analogy without taking difference in two
cases into account, generalizing from a particular case or assuming one
event caused another just because of the order in which they occurred.
* GRE tries to adjust the test according to the level of the
candidate. The first question is of medium level. If you answer it
correctly, you will be asked harder questions. The incorrect answer
will lead you to easier questions.
* Hard questions have more points than the easier ones. So,
irrespective of the number of questions you attempt, you will fetch
more scores if you attempting harder questions. Since the answer to the
first question often determines the level of the test you will be
attempting, it is very important to give right answer to the very first
question of the test.
* In computer adaptive test, you cannot return to a question or
review it later, so check it thoroughly before you submit it.
* Optimizing time is very important in GRE. You should be aware how
much time you can devote on one question. You need to set your pace
right. Rushing or sticking to a question for too long will cost you
valuable scores.
* Sometimes, you will find a question similar to what has already
been asked in the test or in another section of the test. However,
often these questions have substantial or subtle modifications and
require different answer. So, pay close attention to the wording of
each question before you decide on an answer.
* Lastly, you may consider canceling the test scores immediately
after taking the GRE exam or quit the exam, so that the scores do not
get noted in your permanent record. Unfortunately, you have to do it
before you can see the test scores and the fees of the exam will not be
refunded. This will also mean that you will have to gain register for
the exam and pay the fee, to be able to re-take the exam and send the
GRE scores to your chosen universities.
* If you do cancel your GRE scores, this will be noted in your
official GRE score report.
It is not allowed to cancel the scores of only one section of the test.
GRE - Important dates
GRE General test is conducted all the year round from Monday to Friday,
twice a day.
However, September to December is the busiest time of the year for the
test centres. Hence, students who wish to take the test on a particular
date within this period should contact the chosen test centre
(preferably, two to three months in advance) for registration.
GRE Subject test is only conducted three times in a year in the months
of:
* October,
* November, and
* April.
You will need to contact your chosen test centre to finalize the exact
date on which you will take the test
For computer-based GRE test, scores are mailed to you and the
recipients you designated between 10 to 15 days.
For paper-based test GRE test, scores are mailed between 4 to 6 weeks.
ABOUT GRE EXAM
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