Planning to pursue a master’s, doctoral or other graduate-level programme abroad?
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test used by graduate schools and other institutions to assess skills in verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing.
The GRE General Test is designed for graduate, business and law school applicants and can be taken at authorised testing locations or through the online option, subject to availability.
But before registering, you need to understand something important:
A good GRE score is only useful when your target university or programme accepts or requires it.
This guide explains the GRE exam, its current structure, scoring, eligibility, fees, registration and preparation strategy so you can decide whether it belongs in your study-abroad plan.
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS).
The GRE General Test measures:
These skills are relevant to graduate-level academic work across a range of disciplines.
The GRE is not a university admission test by itself.
Universities decide whether they require, recommend or accept GRE scores as part of their admission process.
| Feature | Current Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Educational Testing Service (ETS) |
| Main Test | GRE General Test |
| Test Format | Computer-delivered |
| Total Test Time | About 1 hour 58 minutes |
| Sections | Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning |
| Verbal Score | 130–170 |
| Quantitative Score | 130–170 |
| Analytical Writing | 0–6 |
| Score Validity | 5 years |
| Test Options | Test Center / Online, subject to availability |
ETS states that GRE scores are reportable for five years following the test date.
The GRE may be relevant if you’re applying to graduate programmes that accept or require it.
A GRE score can help universities evaluate:
It may be relevant for applicants to fields such as:
However, requirements vary significantly between universities and programmes.
Check your shortlisted universities and ask:
Is the GRE required?
Is it optional?
Is it recommended?
Does the programme accept the GRE General Test?
This can save you time and money.
The GRE ecosystem includes the GRE General Test and GRE Subject Tests.
The General Test measures:
It is intended for graduate, business and law school applicants.
GRE Subject Tests measure knowledge in specific academic fields.
Current ETS information lists:
as available Subject Tests.
Subject Tests are different from the General Test and should only be taken when your target programme specifically requires or recommends one.
The current GRE General Test is significantly shorter than the older GRE format.
The current structure is:
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Writing | 1 task | 30 minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning — Section 1 | 12 | 18 minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning — Section 2 | 15 | 23 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning — Section 1 | 12 | 21 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning — Section 2 | 15 | 26 minutes |
Total testing time: approximately 1 hour 58 minutes.
Analytical Writing always comes first. Verbal and Quantitative sections can appear in either order afterward.
The GRE Analytical Writing section contains one “Analyze an Issue” task and has a testing time of 30 minutes.
It evaluates your ability to:
Practise:
The Verbal Reasoning measure assesses your ability to understand, analyse and evaluate written material.
It includes two sections:
The section tests skills such as:
Focus on:
The Quantitative Reasoning measure evaluates your ability to understand and analyse quantitative information and solve mathematical problems.
It covers concepts including:
The current test contains:
An on-screen calculator is available for the Quantitative Reasoning section.
Yes.
The Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning measures are section-level adaptive.
The difficulty of the second section depends partly on performance in the first section of that measure.
This means you shouldn’t think of the GRE as simply:
Answer as many questions as possible.
You need to balance:
Accuracy + Time Management + Question Strategy
The GRE General Test reports three scores.
| Measure | Score Range |
|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 130–170 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 130–170 |
| Analytical Writing | 0–6 |
Verbal and Quantitative scores are reported in 1-point increments, while Analytical Writing is reported in half-point increments.
Your Verbal and Quantitative scores together range from:
260–340
However, ETS reports them as separate measures rather than as a single official “composite score.”
There is no single GRE score that guarantees admission.
A “good” score depends on:
Instead of asking:
“What is a good GRE score?”
ask:
“What GRE score is competitive for my target programmes?”
Research the requirements and typical expectations of your shortlisted universities.
GRE scores are reportable for five years following the test date.
This can give students flexibility when planning applications across different admission cycles.
However, always check whether your target programme has any specific score-age requirements.
ETS currently states that official GRE General Test scores are available in your ETS account approximately 8–10 days after the test date.
Plan your test date around your university application deadlines rather than booking the exam at the last possible moment.
The current ETS India information lists:
| GRE Test / Service | Current Fee |
|---|---|
| GRE General Test | ₹22,550 |
| GRE Subject Test | ₹14,500 |
| Rescheduling | ₹5,000 |
| Changing Test Center | ₹5,000 |
| Additional Score Report | ₹2,900 |
| Score Review | ₹5,900 |
| Score Reinstatement | ₹5,000 |
| Returned Payment | ₹2,900 |
These figures are from the current ETS India GRE information available at the time of writing.
GRE fees can change.
Always verify the final amount shown by ETS when registering.
The GRE General Test does not have a universal bachelor’s-degree requirement simply to sit the test.
However, universities may have their own academic requirements for admission.
Therefore, separate:
GRE test eligibility
from:
graduate programme admission eligibility
These are not the same thing.
Check:
The GRE can be relevant for students applying to graduate-level programmes that accept the test.
This may include applicants pursuing:
But don’t assume that every university requires it.
Your target programme should determine whether taking the GRE makes sense.
The GRE General Test is available in computer-delivered formats, with test-center and online options depending on location and availability.
Advantages can include:
Potential advantages can include:
Before choosing your format, check current availability and requirements in your country.
Registration is completed through ETS.
Create an account or sign in to your existing ETS account.
Choose the appropriate test.
Choose an available test-center or online appointment.
Choose a date that gives you enough preparation time and leaves room before your application deadlines.
Pay the applicable examination fee.
Review the appointment information carefully.
ETS provides the official registration process through its GRE platform.
A strong GRE preparation plan should be based on your current level rather than a fixed number of study hours.
Find your starting point.
Identify:
Your target should be based on the programmes you’re considering.
Divide your preparation between:
Consistency matters more than occasional long study sessions.
Don’t simply record your score.
Ask:
Why did I get this question wrong?
Use realistic practice tests to improve:
ETS provides official preparation resources, including POWERPREP practice tests.
There is no universal preparation period.
Your timeline depends on:
There is no universal preparation period.
Your timeline depends on:
If your baseline score is far from your target, allow additional preparation time.
You need to know your starting point.
Improving weak sections can produce a bigger improvement than repeatedly practising what you already know.
Don’t rely only on memorising long word lists.
Speed and accuracy matter in Quantitative Reasoning.
The score tells you what happened.
The GRE is a timed exam.
Start with resources created by ETS before relying heavily on third-party material.
You may not need the test for your target programme.
Without a target, it’s difficult to measure progress.
Even though it is only one section, it remains part of the GRE score report.
Time management is critical.
A mock test without analysis gives you limited improvement.
Leave enough time for scores to become available and for any necessary retake.
Admissions decisions consider the overall applicant profile.
Ideally, determine whether you need the GRE before finalising your application timeline.
A practical sequence is:
Shortlist programmes
↓
Check GRE requirements
↓
Set target score
↓
Prepare
↓
Take GRE
↓
Receive score
↓
Send score if required
↓
Complete university applications
This prevents the GRE from becoming a last-minute requirement.
The GRE may be relevant to students applying for master’s programmes in areas such as:
However, requirements differ by university and programme.
Always check the current admission page of the specific programme.
Some business schools accept the GRE as an alternative to the GMAT.
However, this varies by institution.
If you’re applying for an MBA, compare:
GRE vs GMAT
based on the requirements of your target business schools.
Don’t take both tests automatically unless there is a clear application strategy behind it.
For PhD applicants, the GRE requirement varies significantly by programme.
Some programmes may:
Research each programme separately.
For research-based applications, your:
may also be important parts of the application.
The GRE is a standardized test used for graduate-level admissions and measures Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing.
GRE stands for Graduate Record Examination.
The current GRE General Test takes approximately 1 hour and 58 minutes.
The GRE General Test has:
Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning are each scored from 130–170, while Analytical Writing is scored from 0–6.
GRE scores are reportable for five years after the test date.
It depends on the university and programme. Some programmes require it, while others may make it optional or not require it.
No. Requirements vary by university and programme.
The current ETS India listing shows ₹22,550 for the GRE General Test and ₹14,500 for the GRE Subject Test. Additional services have separate charges.
ETS currently states that official GRE General Test scores are available approximately 8–10 days after the test date.
Yes, the GRE General Test has an online option where available. Availability and requirements depend on location.
The difficulty depends on your academic background, starting level and preparation. A structured preparation plan and regular practice can improve your performance.
The GRE can be an important part of a graduate-school application, but it shouldn’t automatically be the first step in your study-abroad journey.
Start with your target programmes.
Check whether they require or accept the GRE.
Then determine your target score, build your preparation plan and schedule the exam with enough time before your application deadlines.
The most effective approach is:
Research → Target Score → Preparation → GRE → University Application
And remember: a strong GRE score supports an application; it does not replace a strong overall profile.
Preparing for the GRE is only one part of planning graduate study abroad.
At Flying Chalks Overseas, we help students understand their university and course options, admission requirements and broader application strategy.
Our support can include:
Whether you’re preparing for an MS, master’s, PhD or another graduate programme, we can help you understand where the GRE fits into your overall study-abroad plan.
Not sure whether you need the GRE, which universities to target or how to plan your application?
Flying Chalks Overseas can help you evaluate your options and plan the next stage of your international education journey.
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