GRE Test Prep Teach Yourself the GRE CAT in 24 Hours
    GRE Home   >  GRE Orientation   >   The Paper-Based GRE at a Glance

 

T E A C H    Y O U R S E L F 
 GRE Orientation—  
The Paper-based GRE at a Glance
In some locations outside the U.S., the GRE General Test is still administered as a paper-based test. This page provides the format of the paper-based GRE, as well as procedural highlights of this version of the GRE.

Format of the Paper-based GRE

    The paper-based GRE includes two 30-minute Quantitative and Verbal sections, two Analytical Writing tasks, and an unscored section (either Quantitative or Verbal). The exam sections may appear in any order, except that Analytical Writing always appears first. Here's the format:

    • Analytical Writing (2 sections, 75 minutes total)
      • Present Your Perspective on an Issue (45 minutes)
      • Analyze an Argument (30 minutes)
    • Quantitative Section (30 questions, 30 minutes)
      • Problem Solving (15 questions)
      • Quantitative Comparison (15 questions)
    • Quantitative Section (30 questions, 30 minutes)
      • Problem Solving (15 questions)
      • Quantitative Comparison (15 questions)
    • 10-minute break
    • Verbal Section (38 questions, 30 minutes)
      • Sentence Completion (7 questions)
      • Analogies (9 questions)
      • Antonyms (11 questions)
      • Reading Comprehension (11 questions, grouped in 2 sets)
    • Verbal Section (38 questions, 30 minutes)
      • Sentence Completion (7 questions)
      • Analogies (9 questions)
      • Antonyms (11 questions)
      • Reading Comprehension (11 questions, grouped in 2 sets)
    • Unscored Section (30 minutes)
      • Quantitative or Verbal (30-38 questions)

    TOTAL TESTING TIME: 3¼ hours

Procedural Highlights (Paper-Based Test)

  • Scratch paper is NOT permitted. (You must make any notes directly in your test booklet.)
  • You must record your answers by filling in ovals on a bubble sheet.
  • Use No. 2 pencils only. (Other writing implements, such as pens and hi-lighters, are prohibited.)
  • Silent timing devices are permitted. (Your testing room will probably have a wall clock, and the exam supervisor will provide a 5-minute warning before the end of each timed section; but you should bring your own timing device anyway.)
  • You may work on the current test section only. (Moving ahead or going back to other sections is prohibited.)
  • You can quit the test at any time by filling in the appropriate bubble on your answer sheet. If you quit the test, no scores will be tabulated or reported.

Home | Top.