GRE is among one of the most discussed topics when we are talking about international scholarships.we are now sharing GRE Test Guidelines and Tips with our students to help them to understand more clearly this test value and where we need this test to get admission.
What is GRE?
The Graduate Record Examination or GRE is a test that is designed and organized by Education Testing Services (ETS). It is a multiple-choice, computer-based, and standardized test that is internationally accepted to get admission to the postgraduate programs or business graduate programs (MBA). It is also applicable for doing specialization in a particular field.
Where is GRE applicable?
GRE test is applicable for doing masters or business graduate programs in institutes all over the world. If you go to the official website of ETS, you will find a list of universities that require GRE for admission. GRE is mandatory for doing Ph. D in America. European countries like France, Canada, Germany, UK also starting accepting GRE. This exam was conducted in almost 180 countries last year.
Types of GRE
There are two types of GRE tests. One is GRE General test and the other is the GRE Subjects test. Likewise, there are two versions of test-taking; one is computer-delivered and the other is a paper delivered. The computer-delivered test is registered and conducted online or by phone after making an ETS account and paying the fee on the official ETS website. The paper-delivered test can be registered online or through the mail and conducted at regional test centers.
One can find many opportunities for oneself by getting a master’s degree in law or business from promising institutes. You can take GRE General test to achieve a higher degree in law or Business. It evaluates you on your three skills: Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing in 3 hours and 45 minutes or roughly 4 hours with short breaks. The online computer-delivered test is continuously conducted throughout the year. You can take tests once every 21 days up to five times within a year at Prometric test centers. The paper delivered is conducted at local centers with limited dates within a year. Test fee varies country by country but it is 205 dollars in most of the countries.
GRE Subjects test measures your level of knowledge in specific subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, English Literature, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. This test has no separately timed sections and the test fee is 150 US dollars. The total test duration is 2 hours and 50 minutes with no breaks.
GRE Test Format
The computer-delivered GRE General Test consists of three main sections. The Analytical reasoning is the first section comprises two tasks and of 60 minutes in total with 30 minutes each. The first task is analyzing an issue and the second task is Analyzing an argument. The Verbal Reasoning has two further sub-sections each has 20 questions, therefore 40 questions in total and a total of 60 minutes are given to solve this section. The Quantitative Reasoning also has two sub-sections, each has 20 questions; therefore, a total of 70 minutes is given to solve 40 questions. After this section, there will be a break of 10 minutes. There are two other sections given as unscored and research section which time and number of questions vary.
The paper-delivered test also has the same pattern as mentioned above. But the Quantitative reasoning section has 25 questions in each subsection, and a total of 80 minutes is given for this section. There is no unscored and research section in addition. A 10-minute break is given after section 2.
The GRE Subjects test comprises 188 multiple-choice questions. There are no separately timed sections but each GRE subject test is divided into certain score areas.
Scoring of GRE
GRE is a multi-stage set. It means how well you solve the first section of the scored Verbal or Quantitative Section further determines the level of difficulty to the subsequent Verbal or Quantitative Sections. For example, if you have performed well in the first verbal section, you will receive the most difficult second verbal section. But if you perform not well in the first section. You will receive a less difficult second section. However, you lose the potential to get a good score if you do not perform well.
In the General GRE test, each of the three sections has different scoring and the different mean of scores. Both verbal and Quantitative sections have a score range from 130 to 170. Verbal reasoning has a mean score of 151. Quantitative reasoning has a mean score of about 153. The mean score of analytical writing is 4. You will receive an official test score within 10-15 days after the test date. For example, top candidates receive scaled 162 marks in GRE and it is one of the top 10% test takers.
In the GRE subject test, each subject score ranges from a 200-990 score scale with 10 points increment. Each individual subject occupies only a portion of this range.
There is a GRE score select option which helps you to send your best score according to your personal choice to the designated institutes. This feature is applicable to both types of tests.
GRE Eligibility Criteria
There is no specific age limit and educational qualification required for taking the test. However, educational qualification is required by the institute in which you are applying and the GRE test is mandatory for its education. There are no minimum qualifying marks required to appear in GRE.
Preparation of GRE
GRE Test Guidelines and Tips will help you to prepare more effectively. With zero practice and time investment, no one can achieve a good score in GRE tests. There are many free GRE General test preparation materials available on the official website. To feel more confident on test day, you can purchase the official preparation material from the website as well. For the GRE subject test, there are free official practice books available at the official website.
In addition, many free GRE courses are available free online on many websites.
GRE Update on COVID-19 Pandemic:
It has been announced on the official website that as countries are opening, the test conductors provide safe and convenient options for test-taking. The regional test centers are providing all safety procedures to protect the health of test-takers. A home testing facility is also available.
Important Tips:
- Take a full-length GRE practice test to determine your score.
- Make a plan to close the gap after determining the target score.
- Approach to each question of test by drills to practice the techniques and imagine the real GRE conditions.
- Improve your results of practicing after reviewing the previous results from practicing
- Build up you GRE vocabulary by reading academic articles from prominent Journal.
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Article Written By:
Miss Mahpara Tabassum (Pharm-D)
From UVAS LAHORE
