GRE Questions? We’ve Got GRE Tips
So you’ve decided to go to graduate school and you can’t wait to start sending out your applications. But there may be one thing you need to do first: take the Graduate Record Examination, also known as the GRE®. Although you’d probably prefer to get a root canal or rebuild a septic system than take another entrance exam, some schools do require those scores to admit incoming students. That’s why we’ve compiled the following information you need to make this round of test taking a breeze.
Do you need the GRE?
Before you rush out and sign up for the test, make sure you need it. The GRE is widely accepted at 3,200 graduate schools around the country, but there are also many programs and schools that don’t require those test scores.
So what exactly is the GRE?
GRE stands for Graduate Record Examination and tests your ability to work at the graduate level. It’s conducted by Educational Testing Service, the company behind the SATs. Along with your letters of recommendation, personal statement, and transcript, your test scores will be an important part of your applications.
What’s the format?
Unlike those fill-in-the-bubble tests of yesteryear, the GRE is actually administered on a computer. This means you can take it anytime year-round at a testing facility. (Alternately, if there’s no computer testing facility close to where you live, you can take a paper-based test. The paper-based test is offered in October, November and April.)
What subjects does it cover?
The test covers three areas: analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning. In the analytical writing section, you’ll write two essays: in the first, you’ll present your perspective on one of two topics; in the second, you’ll analyze an argument.
Remember those analogy questions from the SAT? They’re back in the GRE verbal reasoning section, along with their friends: antonyms, sentence completions, and reading comprehension.
The quantitative reasoning section will cover your basic high school math: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and my personal favorite, data analysis.
How long does it take?
The computer-based test is 3 hours long. (The paper-based test is slightly longer.) You are allowed 45 minutes for the “Issue” essay, 30 minutes for the “Argument” essay, 30 minutes for the verbal reasoning section, and 45 minutes for the quantitative reasoning section. The remainder of the time will be spent on an unscored section, which I’ll get to later.
What’s the cost?
The cost to take the computer-based test anywhere in the United States is $160. This fee includes free test-prep software you can download to help you study. Once you register for the test, your test scores will also be sent to four graduate schools of your choice. (To have your scores sent to additional schools, the cost is $23 per school.)
How should you prepare?
Believe it or not, some things in life are free. You can download complimentary Power Prep Software from the EST site to help you study for the exam. The package consists of two computer-based GRE general tests, sample analytical writing topics, scored sample essays and reader commentary, test-taking strategies, a math review, and test tutorials. There are additional study materials you can purchase from EST, as well as scores of books and guides you can pick up at your local bookstore. Test prep services like Kaplan or the Princeton Review also offer GRE courses.
How is the test scored?
Your verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning scores are both reported on a 200 – 800 score scale, which is broken into 10-point increments. The analytical writing score is reported on a 0 – 6 score scale, in half-point increments.
How are your scores distributed?
That $160 you spent on the test includes score distribution. EST will send your scores to as many as four graduate institutions of your choosing. If you take the GRE® at a computer-based testing center, you’ll be asked where you want your scores sent at the beginning of the test. You can order additional score reports sent for the cost of $23 per school.
What are the GRE subject tests?
In addition to the general GRE®, you can elect to take a GRE subject test if the schools you are applying to require them (or if you really, really, really like taking tests). These specialized tests are designed to test your knowledge in a specific area to help graduate school admissions counselors determine your eligibility. ETS offers GRE subject tests in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology; biology; chemistry; computer science; English literature, mathematics, physics, and psychology.
ABC’s of taking the GRE
Ok, now for the good stuff. Here are some tips, tricks and strategies to help you get ready for the big day.
- Answering Questions
There are two things to know about answering questions: First, the test is smart. It’s actually going to adjust each question based on your performance. So the more questions you answer correctly, the harder the questions will become. Second, because the test is computer-based, you can’t go back to a question. Budget your time so that you can devote enough time to each question before you move on to the next section of the test. According to the GRE website, those who complete each section tend to score better than those who don’t.
- Breaks
Yes, you can take breaks during the test. The GRE includes an optional 10-minute break after the analytical writing section and one-minute breaks between the remaining sections of the test. Break times cannot be exceeded.
- Calculators
Sorry, no can do. They’re not allowed in the testing facility, so my advice is to study and practice without one.
- Practice
I’d never taken a computer-based test until the GRE. Practicing on the computer beforehand made it much easier to adjust to the rhythm and timing of the computer-based test.
- Retakes
Don’t stress if you weren’t happy with your first score. You can retake the test once a month up to 5 times in a calendar year.
- Scores
At the end of the test, the computer is going to ask you if you want to cancel your scores. If you elect to do so, your scores are cancelled, nothing goes on record, and the schools you apply to won’t be notified. If you decide to keep your scores, you’ll be shown the results of the verbal and quantitative reasoning immediately. (The writing score will be sent to you later, since it’s read and scored by an actual person.)
- Tutorials
If you’re not computer savvy, have no fear. There’s a mandatory tutorial at the beginning of the test that will show you everything you need to know, from using the mouse to scrolling to the next screen.
- Unscored section
There may an unidentified, unscored section in your test. It can come anytime after the analytical writing section. EST includes this section to test questions that may be used in the future. Again, you won’t know which of sections will be scored and which one won’t, so treat them all as if they were scored.
Where do I sign up?
To sign up for the GRE, or for more information, visit http://www.ets.org/.
