What Is The GRE And What Do The Scores Mean?

Have you heard about the GRE Exam? If you thought you were done taking standardized tests in high school, not so fast. When you get ready to apply to graduate school, you’ll likely need to take some sort of standardized test as part of the admissions process.

For general graduate school admissions you’ll likely have to take a test called the GRE. You might be wondering what the GRE is and what the scores mean, especially if you’re getting ready to apply to grad school.

In this article, we’ll break the test down so you know how it factors into the admissions process.

What Is The GRE?

The GRE stands for graduate record examination. It is a standardized test, similar to the SAT that you took in high school. The big difference between the GRE and the SAT is that the GRE is used for graduate admissions and is usually conducted online at a test center rather than in a proctored group setting.

The GRE tests for three core competencies: math, vocabulary, and analytical writing skills. The test is administered by Educational Testing Services. It costs $220 to sit for the GRE. You can take the test up to five times in a 12-month period and each attempt needs to be 21 days after the prior attempt. Test takers who take the GRE several times can choose which scores to send to graduate schools.

Anyone who’s interested in taking the GRE can register for it on the ETS website. While the exam isn’t proctored in a large group setting, it is conducted on a computer at a Prometric test taking center. You also have the option to take the test from home if your computer and room where you plan to take the test meets ETS’s requirements.

On test day, you’ll report to the test center to complete the exam. The GRE used to take three hours 45 minutes to complete but beginning in September 2023, the test now takes two hours.

What Are The Key Sections Of The GRE?

There are three areas the GRE covers: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. The exam is broken down into five sections: two for verbal reasoning, two for quantitative reasoning, and one for critical writing.

Beginning in 2023, the GRE now takes around two hours to complete all five sections. The analytical writing section takes 30 minutes, while the other four sections take between 18-26 minutes to complete.

Analytical Writing

The analytical writing section is designed to test critical thinking skills and to see how well you can capture complex ideas through writing, including the ability to support your position with reasoning and examples. 

This section doesn't have questions, but instead you will be asked to "Analyze An Issue". You will be given an opinion on an issue and will need to respond. You'll need to put together a well reasoned argument. The score is based off the ability to present your ideas in a coherent and articulate manner, not on the idea itself. 

You complete your answer in a simple word processor without any grammar or spell check tools and you will have 30 minutes to complete the analysis. 

Verbal Reasoning

The verbal reasoning section is designed to test how well the test taker can discern key points from written text, including the meaning of individual sentences and drawing conclusions from a passage of text. 

You will be asked to read a paragraph or two of text and answer questions that relate to the meaning of the text and the author's perspective. The passages are from a wide variety of topics but all the questions can be answered from the provided text and no additional knowledge about the specific topic is required. 

For example, you may have a passage from the biological sciences but no knowledge of biology is required to answer the test questions. The goal is to assess how well you can analyze information and distill key points from text.

There are two sections totaling 27 questions and you will have 41 minutes to complete this section. 

Quantitative Reasoning

The quantitative reasoning section largely looks at problem solving by assessing one’s ability to complete different math and logic problems. These problems focus on concepts like algebra and geometry. Depending on whether or not you took a math course during undergrad, you might need to brush up on your math notes from high school to complete this section.

You'll see math problems from arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. You will not see problems from inferential statistics, trigonometry, or calculus. Some are straight math problems but be prepared for word problems as well. 

There are two sections totaling 27 questions and you will have 47 minutes to complete this section. 

Related: What Is The GMAT And What Do The Scores Mean?

How Is The GRE Scored?

The scores on the GRE will range between 260 and 340. 

Both the verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections are scored between 130 to 170. The score is calculated based on the number of correct responses in each section and unanswered questions are considered wrong, therefore it's better to guess and maybe get it right than to leave it blank.

Also, the GRE is an adaptive test which means the questions you receive will be based on your performance in the preceding section.

The analytical writing section is scored from 0 to 6. Essays are scored by ETS’s e-rater scoring engine. Essays are also reviewed by trained analysts. If there’s a difference between the computer score and the reviewer’s score, it will undergo a second review and an average will be taken of the two.

While the analytical writing section is important, most schools look at the verbal and quantitative reasoning sections when considering an applicant for graduate admissions. 

What Is A Good Score For The GRE?

The average score for the verbal reasoning section is 150, while the average for quantitative reasoning is 152. Anything above that is considered a good score, with scores in the 160s being competitive for top schools.

To get into a top graduate program, you’ll need to score better than average. Some programs within schools may also have separate requirements. For example, a STEM program may require a higher quantitative score than a humanities program. Here are scores from some of the top graduate schools to get a sense of how you’d need to score to get into a comparable graduate program.

How Do Admissions Accept The GRE?

While some undergraduate admissions offices are becoming test optional, this isn’t the case with most graduate schools. Individual programs use GRE test scores to evaluate which candidates to accept into their programs. That’s because graduate classes are often more specialized than undergrad and are smaller as a result.

Certain graduate tracks require different standardized tests. Law schools typically require the LSAT, while business schools require the GMAT. Some schools may accept the GRE in lieu of these other tests, but it’s best to consult with the program you’re applying to before submitting a GRE score.

Should You Take The GRE?

If you intend to pursue a graduate degree then you should take the GRE. Unlike the SAT, which is usually taken either your junior or senior year of high school, you have a bit more flexibility with applying to grad school. Many applicants spend a few years in the workforce, gaining experience before going back to school to pursue an advanced degree.

Plan to take the GRE around your desired graduate school’s application cycle. If you’d like to take the test several times, it may be wise to take the GRE a year or more before you plan to apply. This way you can give yourself multiple attempts at the test, allowing you to select the best score to increase your chances of getting admitted to your desired school.

Related: What Is The MCAT And What Do The Scores Mean?

Ways To Prepare For The GRE

Depending on your goals, it may make sense to invest in a test prep course to prepare for the GRE. This is especially true for working professionals who haven’t taken a standardized test in several years.

Before investing in a test prep course, one thing you can do is take a practice test to score yourself. Unlike the SAT or ACT, grad schools assess the quantitative and verbal reasoning sections individually. You may find that you score well on verbal reasoning but need a refresh on high school algebra. Instead of registering for a comprehensive course, you can invest in study material that helps brush up on specific topics you may be rusty in.

If you find that you don’t have time to commit to a full prep course, there are a number of free and low-cost study options available as well. Magoosh is a popular low-cost option that offers quick test prep materials. Alternatively, the ETS website, Khan Academy, and popular test prep site The Princeton Review offer free resources to prepare for the exam as well.