A Simple Guide To The GRE

What Is the GRE?
The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is a test required by most universities in the United States for admission to their MA, MS, and PhD programs. Increasingly, many business schools are accepting the exam as well. Unlike most tests that students may have taken in college or high school, the exam does not test knowledge or achievement in any specific areas. Instead, the exam is designed to assess the test-taker’s fundamental Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning abilities.

The Quantitative portion of the exam does not address “advanced” mathematical concepts such as calculus or advanced trigonometry. Instead, it assesses a student’s conceptual understanding of the foundational mathematical topics from high school: algebra; fractions, decimals, and percents; arithmetic; word problems; and geometry. Many students interpret this information to mean that they simply need to re-memorize their rules from high school math to succeed on the Quantitative section. In fact, the Quantitative questions are concerned more with a student’s ability to implement logic skills in conjunction with these topics rather than to regurgitate a certain set of rules.

You should think of the Quantitative questions as puzzles to be solved using certain mathematical principles, not as questions that can be solved by straightforward application of a few principles or formulas.

Similarly, the Verbal portion of the exam does not require preexisting content knowledge. The Reading Comprehension questions do not assume or require prior familiarity with the passage’s content; instead, they are designed to measure a student’s ability to efficiently digest the information in a college-level text. Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions, however, will require knowledge of college- and graduate-level vocabulary. For students who perform below their desired score range on the Verbal Reasoning section of the diagnostic test, learning vocabulary may be the quickest way to a score improvement.

It should be noted that even the vocabulary-based questions address verbal reasoning in the sense that they address a test-taker’s ability to use the context of a sentence and logical connections among a sentence’s parts to identify the word(s) that best fit in a certain context.

The GRE consists of six or seven sections: an Analytical Writing section, two scored Quantitative Reasoning sections, two scored Verbal Reasoning sections, and one unscored experimental section, which could be either Quantitative or Verbal.

The computer-based version of the test is arranged like this:

The paper-based version of the GRE involves slightly different time limits and numbers of questions. It does not include a Research section.
As of 04/21, ETS is offering test-takers throughout the world the option to take the “GRE General Test at Home.” The structure, content, policies, and scoring of the exam are all identical to those of the GRE administered at Prometric testing centers. To ensure a fair testing environment, a virtual proctor will observe you as you take the exam.

To learn more, go to this website: https://www.ets.org/s/cv/gre/at-home/

GRE Scoring
For your performance on the Quantitative and Verbal sections, you will receive raw scores, which are calculated based on the questions you answered correctly in each section and the level of difficulty of these questions. These raw scores are then converted to scaled scores ranging from 130 to 170, going up in 1-point increments.

The conversion from the raw score to the scaled score depends on:
- the number of questions answered correctly for a given section
- the assigned level of difficulty of all correct and incorrect questions (each question is assigned a level of difficulty ranging from 1 to 5).

Each of the two essays that you write in the Analytical Writing section is scored on a scale of 0 to 6. Your score for the Analytical Writing section will be the average of these two scores. 
Perhaps surprisingly, a larger proportion of test-takers perform well on the Quantitative Reasoning section than on the Verbal Reasoning section.

For example, according to reports published by ETS, a score of 160 on the Verbal section corresponds to the 83rd percentile, while the same score on the Quantitative section corresponds to the 81st percentile.

What Is a Section-Adaptive Exam?
In June 2011 the makers of the GRE began administering the Revised GRE, which substantially changed the structure and format of the exam. One of the primary changes to the exam was the switch from a computer-adaptive test to a section-adaptive test. In a computer-adaptive test, the level of difficulty of each new question is based on a student’s performance on all previous questions.

On a section-adaptive test, on the other hand, the content and level of difficulty of a given question is not determined by a student’s performance on all previous questions. Instead, the content and difficulty of a given section is determined by the student’s performance on a previous section. For example, test-takers can expect that their first Quantitative section will feature questions that are mostly categorized as medium. Based on the test-taker’s performance on this first section, the next Quantitative section will have questions that are mostly easy, medium, or difficult. The scoring algorithm will then use data from both sections to determine a student’s Quantitative or Verbal score.

One consequence of this system is that a student’s score will often have a ceiling if he or she has trouble on the first Quantitative or Verbal section. Essentially, if the second section is not categorized as “difficult,” then no matter how well a student performs on that second section, it is unlikely that the student will achieve a score in the upper percentiles of that measure.

While you are taking the GRE, don’t try to guess how you’re doing.

Many students are tempted to use the perceived level of difficulty of their questions to estimate their performance on the test. This is a dangerous strategy for three reasons:

1.  The questions within even the most difficult section will consist of a range of levels of difficulty.
2.  Often, a question that might appear difficult or easy to you might not be categorized in the same way for all test-takers.
3.  Prematurely assessing your performance on the test will distract you from your primary goal on the exam: to get as many questions correct as possible!

Using the Calculator
You will be provided with an on-screen calculator for the Quantitative sections. The calculator features addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and square roots. Though this certainly eliminates the need to memorize many of the common powers and roots, you should avoid deferring to the calculator for all calculations. Many calculations require the use of simple mental math that you do every day. If you do not feel confident with this math or are confronted with what seems to be a complex calculation, then you should use the calculator.

Skipping Questions and Guessing
The revised GRE computer format offers certain functions that work in favor of the test-taker. At the upper right of your test screen, there will be an option to “mark” a question. Test-takers can mark up to three questions per section. So if you think you can get a question correct by spending additional time on it, just mark that question and come back to it. Unlike other standardized tests you may have taken, the GRE does not penalize students for incorrect answers. Thus you should guess and mark any questions that you’re unsure of or that you feel will take too long to answer.

The GRE Test Format

Verbal Reasoning Ability
Each of the two scored Verbal sections contains 20 questions. These questions fall into three categories:
- 6 Text Completion questions
- 5 Sentence Equivalence questions
- 9 Reading Comprehension questions

Most test-takers incorrectly assume that these question types test strictly your vocabulary knowledge. Though it’s certainly true that a large vocabulary is helpful for these questions, you need to be equally concerned about the use of concrete textual evidence to justify your answers.

Text Completion Questions
Text Completion questions are verbal questions designed to test your vocabulary and your ability to use the context of a sentence to infer the appropriate word choice. Text Completion questions consist of a one-to-five-sentence passage with one to three blanks. You are asked to use logic and the context of the sentence to identify the best word for each blank. There is no partial credit for Text Completion questions. For Text Completion questions with one blank, there will be five choices. For Text Completion questions with two to three blanks, there will be three choices for each blank.

Here is an example of a Text Completion question:
Nagel’s tendency to question (i) _____________ philosophical views has long drawn admiration from his peers. But ironically enough, this very rebelliousness has accounted for the (ii) _____________ his new book.



SOLUTION: The clue “this very rebelliousness” indicates that the word in the first blank should match the definition of “accepted.” The best choice for Blank (i) is therefore orthodox. The phrase “But ironically enough…” tells you that the reception toward Nagel’s new book is the opposite of “admiration.” The best choice for Blank (ii) is therefore antipathy toward. The correct answer is C and D.

Sentence Equivalence Questions
Sentence Equivalence questions are also designed to test your vocabulary and your ability to use the context of a sentence to infer the appropriate word choice.
Sentence Equivalence questions consist of a one-sentence passage with one blank. You are given six choices and will be asked to use logic and the context of the sentence to identify two words that best fit in the blank. There is no partial credit for Sentence Equivalence questions.

In contrast to Text Completion questions, Sentence Equivalence questions are generally more dependent on vocabulary. In addition, Sentence Equivalence questions are more amenable to strategy: almost always, the two correct answers will be synonyms (this is discussed in the Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence review chapters).

The following is an example of a Sentence Equivalence question:
After Harold had endured weeks of his neighbors’ blaring music, his well-known _____________ finally gave way to frustration. (A) imperturbability (B) indigence (C) aestheticism (D) equanimity (E) diligence (F) virulence

SOLUTION: The phrase “finally gave way” indicates that Howard’s “frustration” contrasts with his usual behavior. You should be looking for choices whose meaning is the opposite of being frustrated. The correct answer is A and D.

Reading Comprehension Questions
In Reading Comprehension questions, you are given a passage that is from one to five paragraphs in length and you are asked questions about the content of the passage, the inferences that can be drawn from the passage, and ways to strengthen or weaken claims in the passage.

The following is a typical Reading Comprehension passage followed by a typical question:

When Tocqueville came to America in 1831, he expressed a sentiment that is echoed in the works of Bloom and Kennedy: that American democracy, by encouraging dissent, can lead to its own undoing. But in contrast to the pessimism that dominates Bloom’s and Kennedy’s thinking, Tocqueville’s analysis went a step further. While acknowledging the seeming inevitability of dissent among the citizenry, he also recognized that beneath this frustration there lay a fundamental belief that democratic politics would ultimately amend the situations that aroused complaint. As Tocqueville noted, at any given point in time, democracy can appear chaotic, shallow, and contradictory. But, he noted, it was never stagnant. For Tocqueville, democracy’s tendency to encourage and accommodate discontent was its greatest virtue. Because it is self-correcting, a properly run democratic system would ultimately benefit from any discontent because the system is designed to ultimately rectify the problem.

The author mentions Tocqueville’s belief that democracy “was never stagnant” to
highlight Tocqueville’s belief in the self-correcting nature of democracy
introduce a difference between Tocqueville’s thinking and that of Bloom and Kennedy
explain why Tocqueville believes citizens of democratic nations are often unhappy
suggest ways to eliminate the frustration of the citizens of democratic nations
imply that many of the concerns of democratic citizens are baseless

SOLUTION: The author provides this statement to support the larger point that democracies can withstand turmoil because they are designed to correct themselves. The correct answer is A.

Quantitative Reasoning Ability
Each of the two scored Quantitative sections contains 20 questions. These questions fall into three categories:
- 8 Quantitative Comparison questions
- 9 Discrete Quantitative questions
- 3 Data Interpretation questions

Quantitative Comparison Questions
In Quantitative Comparison questions, you will see two columns and will be asked to determine which column has a greater value. Here is an example:
Each of the following questions consists of two quantities, Quantity A and Quantity B.

You are to compare the two quantities. You may use additional information centered above the two quantities if additional information is given. Choose:
if Quantity A is greater
if Quantity B is greater
if the two quantities are equal
if the relationship between the two quantities cannot be determined



SOLUTION: The area of the circle can be represented as πr2. The circumference of the circle can be represented as 2πr. If the radius is 1, then Quantity B is greater. If the radius is 10, then Quantity A is greater. Thus, given the information, you cannot determine which quantity has a greater value. The correct answer is Choice D.

Discrete Quantitative Questions: Multiple Choice and Numeric Entry
These are the standard problem-solving questions that most students are familiar with. There are three types of Discrete Quantitative questions:
Multiple Choice—Select One Answer. In these questions, you are presented with one question and five answer choices.

You are asked to select one answer choice.

Here is an example.
If the , then x =
−4
4
16
25
144

SOLUTION: To solve for x, first square both sides of the equation: x + 9 = 25. Subtract 9 from both sides. x = 16. The correct answer is Choice C.
Multiple Choice—Select All Applicable Answers. In these questions, you are presented with one question and 3 to 12 answer choices. You are asked to select all answer choices that apply. There is no partial credit. These questions can be thought of as variants of the Roman numeral questions that you may have seen on the SAT.

A typical Roman numeral question looks like the following:
If x5 > x3, then which of the following could be true?
I. x > 0
II. x < 0
III. x < −1

I only
I and II only
I and III only
II and III only
I, II, and III

On the GRE, that question would take the following form:
For this question, indicate all of the answer choices that apply.
If x5 > x3, then which of the following could be true? (A) x > 0 (B) x < 0 (C) x < −1

SOLUTION: Test the numbers for Choice A. If x = 2, then 32 > 8. Choice A is possible. Test the numbers for Choice B. If , then . Choice B is possible. Test the numbers for Choice C. If x = −2, then −32 < −8. Choice C is not possible. The correct answer is A and B only.
 

Numeric Entry. No choices—these questions do not have choices. Instead, you are asked to type the correct answer into a box on the screen. Because there are no answer choices, these questions do not lend themselves to plugging in numbers or back-solving.

The following is an example:
For this question, write your answer in the box.
If Jack’s salary increases by 25%, then his new salary will be $40,000 greater than his original salary. What is his original salary?



SOLUTION: Let j = Jack’s original salary. A 25% increase is equal to a $40,000 increase. Therefore,



Data Interpretation Questions
In Data Interpretation questions, you are presented with a graph, table, or chart and are asked to make calculations or inferences from the data presented to you.

The questions will either be
- Multiple-Choice Questions—Select One Answer Choice.
- Multiple-Choice Questions—Select One or More Answer Choices.

Here is an example.

Approximately how many 2009 graduates of Medical School X specialized in internal medicine?
80
160
220
240
300

SOLUTION: Since there were 729 students, the number specializing in internal medicine was 22% of 729. 0.22 × 729 = 160.38. The closest answer is 160. The correct answer is B.

You should familiarize yourself with the different question types and the different appearances that they take on the exam. This advice is especially important for test day. You don’t want to spend precious time trying to recall what a question is asking for, nor do you want to let lack of familiarity with the test structure induce anxiety. Understanding the form and structure of the GRE is an integral component to your preparation for the exam.

Information for International Test-Takers
You should also visit the official GRE website, www.ets.org/gre, for further details and updates. The site is maintained by Educational Testing Service (ETS), the organization that creates and administers the test.

The GRE General Test is currently offered as a computer-based test in the United States, Canada, and many other countries. The test is offered in a paper-based format in areas of the world where computer-based testing is not available.

Arranging to Take the GRE

Finding a Testing Center
With permanent testing centers located in countries all around the world, most applicants should not have trouble finding a place to take the test. If there are no centers near your home, you will need to travel to one. When you register for the GRE, you will need to schedule a test appointment at a specific testing center. Go to www.ets.org/gre for a complete listing of testing centers worldwide.

Registering for the Test
Register early to get your preferred test date and to receive your test preparation material in time to prepare for the test. Remember that testing appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Major credit cards are accepted to pay for registration. To register visit www.ets.org/gre.

Standby Testing
Standby testing is available at permanent test centers on a first-come, first-served, space-available basis in the United States, American Samoa, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Canada only. It is not available in Mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Korea, or Taiwan.

Canceling or Rescheduling
If you must cancel or reschedule a testing appointment, contact the GRE Program by mail or phone no later than four full days before your appointment (not including the day of your test or the day of your request). Keep in mind that you cannot reschedule between sites served by different Regional Registration Centers. See the ETS website for details.

Paper-Based Testing
You can register for the paper-based General Test either online or by mail. Use a money order or a certified check when registering by mail. Download and complete the registration form and mail the completed form with payment to the address printed on the form. ETS must receive your registration form by the registration deadline, which can be found at www.ets.org/gre. Allow at least four weeks for processing.

Identification
It is your responsibility to bring an acceptable form of identification to the testing center. The following documents can be used in the country in which you are a citizen:
- Passport
- National ID card
- State or Province ID card
- Official driver’s license
- Military ID card

See the ETS website for further details.

Test Preparation for International Students
ETS is very careful to make sure that the GRE is not biased against international test-takers. All questions are pre-tested by being included in unscored “experimental” test sections given to both U.S. and international test-takers. If statistics prove that any of the new questions put the international test-takers at a disadvantage, those items never appear on the test. Still, international test-takers face certain challenges.

The Language Barrier
The biggest and most obvious difficulty for international test-takers is the language barrier. Many people residing outside of the United States who sign up to take the GRE are non-native English speakers. The entire test, including instructions and questions, is in English. One part of the test is focused on verbal skills and another part is a writing test, which requires not only an understanding of the language but a command of it. Your English writing, reading comprehension, and grammar skills are directly tested on the GRE.

If you are a non-native English speaker, to improve your understanding of the language in the months leading up to the test, you are encouraged to:
- Read as much in English as possible, especially newspapers or journal articles
- Create flash cards with difficult English words on them
- Practice your English by speaking with others who speak the language—preferably better than you do!
- Watch television shows featuring native English speakers

Your goal should be to practice presenting evidence in a cohesive and interesting way to support your arguments in the writing section of the exam. When you read items from English-language publications, pay particular attention to how the writers gather evidence and present it because there are often subtle cultural differences at play. Remember that the quantitative part of the GRE is also in English so it’s a good idea to review math formulas and glossaries in English.

Becoming Familiar with Standardized Tests
Getting acquainted with standardized tests is another must-do for international test-takers. This type of exam is a part of the average American’s educational experience but is not necessarily a cultural norm in other parts of the world.

Some people outside the United States may be unfamiliar with multiple-choice questions. These are questions in which you are given several choices from which to choose for the correct answer.

There are strategies for choosing the best one when you’re not sure. For example, you can eliminate answers that you know are incorrect and then choose among the remaining choices. This is called “taking an educated guess,” and it can improve your chances of picking the correct answer. Timing is a very important part of standardized tests. Keeping calm is the first step to overcoming the pressure.

Taking practice tests is key to learning how to pace yourself to maximize your performance in a limited time period. Taking practice tests will also help you become familiar with the test format. Understanding the instructions for each part of the test in advance can save you time during the exam because you won’t have to spend time on the instructions in addition to the other reading you have to do.

Testing Your English-Language Skills
If you received your undergraduate degree from an institution in a country whose official language is not English, the graduate program to which you are applying will likely require you to submit proof of your English proficiency along with your GRE scores. Most institutions accept scores on either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System); many now also accept scores on the newer PTE (Pearson Test of English). Check with the programs to which you are applying for information about their test requirements. There is no specific passing score on these tests; graduate institutions set their own requirements.



- TOEFL: The TOEFL iBT is an Internet-based test administered more than 50 dates a year at more than 4,500 sites around the world. A paper-based version (TOEFL PBT) is still used but only in a few locations where Internet access is not reliable. For more information including the format of the test, scoring, and registration, visit www.ets.org/toefl. The TOEFL iBT captures the test-taker’s speech and uses this to measure English-speaking ability in a standardized manner. Multiple-choice questions are used to measure reading and listening abilities. Two essay questions are used to measure writing abilities.

- IELTS: The IELTS is a paper-based test created at Cambridge University in the UK. It consists of four modules—Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Question types include multiple choice, sentence completion, short answer, classification, matching, labeling, and diagram/chart interpretation. The Speaking test is a face-to-face interview with a certified examiner. IELTS has two versions: Academic and General Training. The Academic test is for those who want to study at a tertiary level in an English-speaking country. The General Training test is for those who want to do work experience or training programs, enroll in secondary school, or migrate to an English-speaking country. For more information, visit www.ielts.org.
- PTE: The PTE was developed by Pearson, an international educational testing and publishing company. Like the TOEFL iBT, it is administered at testing centers on a computer (there is no paper version). Visit www.pearsonpte.com for more information about the PTE and updated lists of the schools that accept it and the locations where it is given. Like the TOEFL, the PTE uses multiple-choice questions plus essay questions to measure reading, listening, and writing skills. A 30-second audio clip of the test-taker’s speech is sent to schools along with the test scores.

The Student Visa
Nonresidents of the United States need to obtain a visa to live in the United States. Once you have chosen a graduate program and have been accepted, you will need to begin the process of obtaining your student visa.
Getting a student visa to study in the United States is not as difficult as getting an H1-B visa to work in the country after graduation. Experts, including the U.S. government, suggest that students begin the student visa process as early as possible. Besides needing the time to complete the required forms, you will also need to schedule an appointment for the required embassy consular interview, and the waiting times for this vary and can be lengthy.

Visa Requirements
During the student visa process, you are expected to prove that you have adequate financing to study in the United States, ties to your home country, and a likelihood that you will return home after finishing your studies. In addition, you will have to participate in an ink-free, digital fingerprint scan and provide a passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond your intended period of stay.

Your U.S. school will provide you with an I-20 form to complete. The school will use this to register you with the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), an Internet-based system that maintains accurate and current information on nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors and their families. If you have a spouse and/or children who will be joining you, you must register them with SEVIS as well. You’ll also need to submit a completed and signed nonimmigrant visa application with form DS-160. To download this form and for more information on the visa process, go to the U.S. Department of State website, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/forms/ds-160-online-nonimmigrant-visa-application.html.
 

Transcripts, diplomas from previous institutions, scores from standardized tests such as the TOEFL or IELTS, and proof you can afford the school (income tax records, original bank books and statements) are things you should have on hand when applying for your visa. If you have dependents, you will also need documents that prove your relationship to your spouse and children, such as a marriage license and birth certificates.
Good luck with your application process!