Ch1. GRE Complete Guide — Exam Structure & Graduate School Strategy
What Is the GRE?
The GRE (Graduate Record Examinations), administered by ETS, is the most widely accepted standardized test for graduate school admissions worldwide. It is used for Master’s and PhD programs across virtually all disciplines — science, engineering, humanities, social sciences, and increasingly for MBA programs as well.
GRE Structure (Post-2024 Revision)
| Section | Questions | Time | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 27 (2 sections) | 41 min | 130–170 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 27 (2 sections) | 47 min | 130–170 |
| Analytical Writing | 1 task | 30 min | 0–6 |
| Total | ~1 hr 58 min |
The 2024 revision cut the exam from ~3 hours 45 minutes to under 2 hours.
Section Characteristics
Verbal Reasoning
- Reading Comprehension: Passage understanding and inference
- Text Completion: 1–3 blank fill-ins (heavy vocabulary focus)
- Sentence Equivalence: Select two words that complete a sentence with equivalent meaning
Key insight: GRE Verbal requires significantly stronger vocabulary than GMAT — this is the defining characteristic.
Quantitative Reasoning
- Quantitative Comparison (compare two quantities)
- Problem Solving
- Data Interpretation (graphs and tables)
Key insight: High school-level math + logical application. Built-in calculator available (unlike GMAT Quant).
Analytical Writing
- One essay task (Issue or Argument)
- Tests ability to construct and evaluate arguments in written English
GRE Scoring
Combined score: Verbal + Quantitative, each 130–170
| Score | Percentile |
|---|---|
| 170 | 99% |
| 163–169 | 90%+ |
| 155–162 | 75%+ |
| 148–154 | 50–74% |
ETS and GMAC provide official GRE-to-GMAT score comparison tools on their websites.
When to Choose GRE
| Situation | Recommended |
|---|---|
| STEM Master’s / PhD | GRE |
| Humanities / Social Science grad school | GRE |
| MBA programs that accept GRE | GRE or GMAT |
| Top MBA with heavy quant focus | GMAT preferred |
| Vocabulary/reading strength | GRE |
| Math/logical reasoning strength | GMAT |
Chapter 2 Preview
Next: GRE Verbal — mastering high-level vocabulary, Text Completion strategies, and Reading Comprehension efficiency techniques.
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