GRE Introduction
GRE is a Graduate Record Examination test offered by ETS (Educational Testing Service) for the students or professionals intended to pursue their Masters or Mphill education after completing Bachelor Degree. The GRE General Test can be taken in two forms i.e. Computer based and Paper based i.e. in specific registered test centers. The Subject GRE test is also available for the candidates which measures candidate's skill level regarding a particular subject. GRE scores are greatly used by esteemed universities all over the world to sort out students for their Masters Admission program.
Related Exams
Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), a test by Graduate Management Admission Council for admission in Masters in management subject.
Certification Objectives
GRE exam intends to testify candidate's following skills:
- Verbal reasoning Skill i.e. language Vocabulary and reading comprehension;
- Quantitative Reasoning Skill i.e. high school level mathematics;
- Analytical Writing Skill;
- Critical Thinking Skills.
The main objective of Graduate Record Examination is to test the skills of candidates learned over long period of time during their school and college education.
Certification Format
GRE General Exam
GRE exam can be Computer based or paper based. The exam is divided in basic three sections including verbal reasoning, Quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. The Verbal reasoning sections aims to measure your understanding of incomplete data set and identify results using reasoning. It include three type of questions i.e. Reading comprehension, Sentence completion and sentence equivalence. The quantitative section measures ability to understand and analyze mathematical information and apply mathematical concepts like Algebra, Geometry and arithmetic on real life scenarios to solve the question. The questions are of multiple choice type. The analytical writing part includes questions in which candidate has to write response after reading and analyzing a specific situation with reason of agreement and disagreement.
The paper based GRE includes two sections of Analytical writing covering 60 minutes, two sections of verbal reasoning covering 70 minutes and two sections of quantitative reasoning covering 80 minutes. Paper based tests are held on specific ETS registered Centers available worldwide.
GRE Subject Exam
GRE subject tests are offered in specific subjects to measure the skills and expertise of a candidate in specific field of study. GRE subject is offered in Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, and Literature in English, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. GRE subject tests are not a requirement for admission to universities but its score is considered a lot in universities.
Certification Information
Recertification
GRE is scheduled many times in a year. Candidate can make multiple attempts to revise GRE score. Candidate can retake computer based GRE exam after 21 days of the last attempt and in a year a total of five attempts are permissible. While paper based GRE is offered three times a year in October, November and February. GRE scores are valid for five years.
Exam Prerequisite
There are no specific criteria to be eligible for GRE. Everyone can appear in this exam without any age limit. Since GRE is taken to be eligible for Masters or doctoral programs so candidate should have completed Bachelor degree before applying for GRE or should be in last year of Bachelor. English Proficiency in assumed for every candidate.
For disabled test takers health related services and special accommodations are provided by ETS by applying in a written application with the process of registration.
Skills and Benefits
GRE is very beneficial in present competitive situation worldwide. Few of the benefits are explained below:
- GRE scores are valid throughout the world and most of the universities demand and consider GRE scores prior to admission or even after admission in Masters Program.
- The GRE score can be used during five years of validity for admission in any institute in Masters Program.
- GRE helps candidate in knowing future potential and verifying sound background study during college education.
- Candidate's verbal and writing skills largely improve by attempting this test.
- While attempting GRE candidates have to focus on timely completion of the exam. So it greatly improves time management skill.
What's next?
Since GRE scores are used for Masters Application in different universities. There are other Exams available by ETS to check candidate's particular language proficiency such as TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).
