GRE
Required or accepted for admission to master's and PhD programmes in the USA, Canada, Europe and elsewhere. Many business and law schools accept it too, and some schools give funding based on it.
Eligibility
ETS sets no formal qualification or age limit, but universities expect a bachelor's degree or final-year status by the time you enrol. Indian candidates need a valid passport as ID. You can take the test once every 21 days, up to five times in any 12-month period. Scores are valid for five years.
Age limit: No age limit
Exam pattern
The test is computer-based and takes about 1 hour 58 minutes, at a centre or at home. It has one Analytical Writing task (Analyse an Issue, 30 min), two Verbal Reasoning sections (12 questions in 18 min, then 15 questions in 23 min) and two Quantitative Reasoning sections (12 questions in 21 min, then 15 questions in 26 min). It is adaptive at section level, so how well you do in the first Verbal or Quant section decides how hard the second one is. Verbal and Quant are each scored 130-170 in 1-point steps, and Writing is scored 0-6 in half-point steps. There is no negative marking, and you can mark and change answers within a section. An on-screen calculator is provided for Quant.
Syllabus at a glance
Verbal Reasoning covers Reading Comprehension, Text Completion (one to three blanks) and Sentence Equivalence, so it leans heavily on advanced vocabulary and close reading. Quantitative Reasoning covers arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis (statistics, probability, data interpretation) at roughly Class 10 level. It uses Quantitative Comparison, multiple-choice (one or more answers) and numeric-entry questions. Analytical Writing asks for a structured argumentative essay on a general issue.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Testing slots (centre and at-home) | Year-round; book 4-6 weeks ahead for preferred centre dates | confirmed |
| Latest sensible test date for Fall 2027 US deadlines (Dec 2026-Jan 2027) | By late Nov 2026 (official scores take 8-10 days) | expected |
| Major US PhD/MS application deadlines, Fall 2027 intake | 1 Dec 2026 - 15 Jan 2027 | expected |
| Spring/late-round deadlines (Fall 2027) and Fall 2028 cycle preparation | Feb-Apr 2027 | expected |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- The Official Guide to the GRE General Test – ETS
- Official GRE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions – ETS
- Official GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions – ETS
- 5 lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems – Manhattan Prep
- Barron's GRE – Sharon Weiner Green and Ira K. Wolf
- Word Power Made Easy – Norman Lewis
How toppers play it
- Your performance in the first Verbal and Quant sections decides how hard the second ones are, so accuracy in section 1 matters most. Do not rush it to save time.
- With no negative marking, never leave a question blank. Mark the hard ones, finish the rest and come back to guess in the last minute.
- For Sentence Equivalence, find two answer choices that give the sentence the same meaning, not just two synonyms. A lone synonym pair can be a trap.
- Use Quantitative Comparison shortcuts: plug in 0, 1, negative numbers and fractions to test 'cannot be determined' quickly instead of solving fully.
- Take both POWERPREP tests under real timing in the last three weeks. Use them to calibrate, not to learn content, and review every mistake in an error log.