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If you're wondering what the GRE General Test is, and whether you should take the General GRE (Graduate Record Exam), this brief FAQ is the place to start.
What is the purpose of the GRE General Test?
The GRE General Test, sometimes called the General GRE (the acronym GRE stands for Graduate Record Exam), is a 3-1/2 hour standardized exam designed to provide admissions committee members, career counselors, and prospective applicants with predictors of academic performance in graduate-level academic study (Masters and Doctoral programs).GRE scores are only one of several factors considered in the admission decision. Other factors include undergraduate GPA, faculty recommendation letters, application essays (personal statements), and work and other experience.
What cognitive abilities does the GRE measure?
The GRE seeks to measure three broad areas of ability by way of its different test sections: - Analytical Writing (two essays)
- Quantitative Reasoning (multiple-choice questions)
- Verbal Reasoning (multiple-choice questions)
A separate score is awarded for each of the three abilities listed above. A combined Quantitative/Verbal score is also awarded. The GRE is not a pass/fail test.
Who designs and administers the Graduate Record Exam?
The GRE is developed and administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which also conducts ongoing research projects aimed at improving the test. ETS is a non-profit organization and is based in Princeton, New Jersey.
Is the GRE required for admission to graduate-level academic programs?
Admission requirements vary widely among schools and among programs within a school. Most graduate programs require scores for the GRE General Test or a GRE Subject Exam — or both. However, some graduate programs accept scores for the Miller Analogy Test (MAT) in lieu of GRE General Test scores.A minority of graduate programs use — but don't require — GRE and/or MAT scores to access applicants' qualifications. Schools that do not require either GRE or MAT scores generally have relatively lenient admission standards and/or are located outside of the United States.
Is the GRE General Test administered only by computer?
Except for some locations outside the U.S. (noted below), the GRE General Test is available now only as a computer-based test (although the GRE Subject exams are still offered as paper-based tests). Both the paper-based and computer-based versions include the same type of questions, and scores for the paper-based and computer-based GRE are comparable to each other. In other words, test-takers who take the paper-based test are neither at an advantage or disadvantage vis-a-vis those who take the computer-based version.
NOTE: Test takers in China (including Hong Kong), Taiwan, and South Korea use the computerized system for GRE Analytical Writing (the two GRE essays). However, test takers in these countries must take the paper-based version of the GRE Quantitative and Verbal sections. (This system is called "split administration.")
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