The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and critical thinking and analytical writing skills that have been acquired over a long period of time and that are not related to any specific field of study. The GRE Subject Tests gauge undergraduate achievement in eight specific fields of study and is often required for admission into a master's degree program.

GRE General Test Overview

What Is It?

The GRE General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills that have been acquired over a long period of time and that are not related to any specific field of study.

Verbal Reasoning — The skills measured include the test taker's ability to

• analyze and evaluate written material and synthesize information obtained from it
• analyze relationships among component parts of sentences
• recognize relationships between words and concepts

Quantitative Reasoning — The skills measured include the test taker's ability to

• understand basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis
• reason quantitatively
• solve problems in a quantitative setting

Analytical Writing — The skills measured include the test taker's ability to

• articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively
• examine claims and accompanying evidence
• support ideas with relevant reasons and examples
• sustain a well-focused, coherent discussion
• control the elements of standard written English

Who Takes It and Why?

Prospective graduate applicants take the General Test. GRE test scores are used by admissions or fellowship panels to supplement undergraduate records and other qualifications for graduate study. The scores provide common measures for comparing the qualifications of applicants and aid in evaluating grades and recommendations.

Where Do People Take It?

The General Test is offered year-round at computer-based test centers in the U.S., Canada, and many other countries. It is offered at paper-based test centers in areas of the world where computer-based testing is not available. See which format is available.

Who Accepts It?

Any accredited graduate, business or professional school, or any department or division within a school, may require or recommend that its applicants take the General Test, a Subject Test, or both. If approved by the GRE Board, a non-accredited institution can also receive test takers' scores.

Computer-Based General Test Content and Structure

The computer-based General Test is composed of Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing sections. In addition, one unidentified unscored section may be included, and this section can appear in any position in the test after the Analytical Writing Section. Questions in the unscored section are being tested for possible use in future tests, and answers will not count toward your scores.

Total testing time is up to three hours, not including the research section. The directions at the beginning of each section specify the total number of questions in the section and the time allowed for the section.

The Analytical Writing section is always first. For the Issue task, two topics will be presented and you will choose one. The Argument task does not present a choice of topics; instead, one topic will be presented.

The Verbal and Quantitative sections may appear in any order, including an unidentified unscored section. Treat each section presented during your test as if it counts.

Test Center Procedures and Regulations For Both Computer-Based and Paper-Based Tests

• Dress so that you can adapt to any room temperature.
• Friends or relatives who accompany you to the test center will not be permitted to wait in the test center or be in contact with you while you are taking the test. Except for ETS-authorized observers, visitors are not allowed in the testing room while testing is in progress.
• ID verification at the test center may include thumbprinting, photographing, videotaping, or other form of electronic ID confirmation. If you refuse to participate, you will not be permitted to test and you will forfeit your test fee. This is in addition to the requirement that you must present acceptable and valid identification.
• Personal items other than identification documents are not allowed in the testing room. This includes cell phones, PDAs, BlackBerry devices and any other electronic or photographic devices. You will not have access to your personal items during the test or during breaks. Before the test, you will receive instructions from test center staff regarding where you must deposit personal items. You will be required to follow the procedures set by the test center for storage of your cell phone or any electronic or photographic device you bring to the test center. If you take personal items into the test room, they will be collected by the test center staff. Personal items such as hats, scarves, jackets and outerwear that are taken into the test room are subject to inspection by the test center staff before being admitted to the test room. Failure to comply may result in dismissal from the test and/or cancellation of scores. If you fail to follow the directions of the test center staff, you will not be permitted to take the test. Any violation of this procedure during the test or breaks may result in cancellation of your scores, dismissal from the test center staff or banning from future testing. Test centers and ETS assume no responsibility for personal items or devices that you choose to bring into the test center.
• The test administrator will assign you a seat.
• On occasion, weather conditions or other circumstances beyond the test administrator's or ETS's control may require a delayed start or the rescheduling of your test appointment. In the event that it is then necessary to cancel your test session, or if it is later determined that your scores could not be reported, you will be offered the opportunity to schedule another test appointment free of charge or receive a full refund of the original test fee. You may also seek reimbursement from ETS for reasonable and documented expenses associated with traveling to the test center, even though technical problems are generally not the fault of ETS. To request reimbursement, contact ETS with the following information within 30 days of your original appointment: your name, date of birth, mailing address, daytime telephone number, e-mail address, original test date and registration or CBT appointment number, and a brief description of what occurred at the test center. All reimbursements will be made in U.S. dollars.

For Computer-Based Tests Only

The following procedures and regulations apply during the entire test session, which begins at sign-in, ends at sign-out, and includes breaks.

• If you requested and received an authorization voucher from ETS, you must take it with you to the test center.
• You will be required to write (not print) and sign a confidentiality statement at the test center. If you do not complete and sign the statement, you cannot test and your fees will NOT be refunded.
• You will be required to sign the test center log before and after the test session and any time you leave or enter the testing room.
• The test administrator will provide you with scratch paper that may be replaced after you have used all pages of the scratch paper initially given to you. You may not take your own scratch paper to the test, nor may you remove scratch paper from the testing room at any time. Scratch paper is provided to assist test takers in working out problems and for appropriate note taking during timed sections of the test. Scratch paper should NOT be used during untimed sections or during breaks.
• If you need to leave your seat at any time other than the break, raise your hand; timing of the section will not stop.
• If at any time during the test you have a problem with your computer, or for any reason need the administrator, raise your hand.
• Testing premises are subject to videotaping.
• The GRE General Test includes an optional 10-minute break after the Analytical Writing section and one-minute breaks between the remaining sections of the test. This break time cannot be exceeded.
• The maximum time allotted for the tutorial and/or other untimed sections prior to the test is 30 minutes. The purpose of the tutorial and/or other untimed sections prior to the test is to become familiar with the computer functions and other important information that will make your computer-based test experience as convenient as possible. The time you spend on the tutorial and/or other untimed sections should not be used for any other purpose. You may not use scratch paper during this time. Infractions will be reported to ETS, and the test administrator is authorized to dismiss you from the test administration if you fail to follow the test administrator's directions.

For Paper-Based Tests Only

The following procedures and regulations apply during the entire test session, which begins when you are admitted to the test center, ends when you leave the test center, and includes breaks.

• Test administrators will not honor requests for schedule changes.
• Take your admission ticket and photo ID to the test center.
• Take 3 or 4 sharpened soft-lead (No. 2 or HB) pencils and a good eraser. Pencils and erasers will not be supplied at the center. Mechanical pencils and pens are not permitted.
• No test taker will be admitted after test materials have been distributed.
• Paper of any kind is not permitted in the testing room.
• You must have the test administrator's permission to leave the room during the test. Any time lost cannot be made up.
• You may wish to pace yourself with your own watch, but the test administrator is the official timekeeper. You will not be permitted to continue the test or any part of it beyond the established time limit. Watch alarms and clocks on cell phones are not permitted.
• Cell phones must be turned off and are not permitted on the writing surface.
• Answers to multiple-choice questions recorded in the test book will not be scored. You may use the test book to work out your answers, but you must mark all your answers on the separate answer sheet before time is called.
• At the conclusion of the test you will be required to return your test book and answer sheet to the test administrator. These materials are the property of ETS.
• The General Test includes a 10-minute break after the Analytical Writing section and one-minute breaks between the remaining sections of the test.

Dismissal from a Test Center

A test administrator is authorized to dismiss you from a test session and/or your scores may be canceled by ETS for actions such as, but not limited to

• attempting to take the test for someone else or having someone else take the test for you
• failing to provide acceptable identification
• obtaining improper access to the test, a part of the test, or information about the test
• using and/or having a telephone or cell phone in your possession during the test session or during breaks
• using any aids in connection with the test, such as: mechanical pencils, pens, pagers, beepers, calculators, watch calculators, books, pamphlets, notes, rulers, highlighter pens, stereos or radios with headphones, telephones, cell phones, watch alarms (including those with flashing lights or alarm sounds), stop watches, dictionaries, translators, and any hand-held electronic or photographic devices
• creating a disturbance (Disruptive behavior in any form will not be tolerated; the test administrator has sole discretion in determining what constitutes disruptive behavior.)
• attempting to give or receive assistance. Communication in any form is not permitted during the test administration. Discussion or sharing of test content during and after the test administration is prohibited.
• removing or attempting to remove test content from the test center. Under no circumstances may test content or any part of the test content be removed, reproduced, and/or disclosed by any means (e.g., hard copy, verbally, electronically) to any person or entity
• tampering with a computer.
• attempting to remove scratch paper from the computer-based testing room or using scratch paper during untimed sections of the test or during breaks
• bringing a weapon or firearm into the test center
• bringing food, drink, or tobacco into the testing room
• leaving the test center vicinity during the test session or during breaks
• leaving the testing room without permission
• taking excessive or extended unscheduled breaks during the test session. Test center administrators are required to strictly monitor unscheduled breaks and report test takers who take excessive or extended breaks.
• referring to, looking through, or working on any test, or test section, when not authorized to do so, or working after time has been called
• failing to follow any of the test administration regulations contained in the GRE Bulletin, given by the test administrator or specified in any test materials