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New GRE General Test
"Don't underestimate the amount of time you need to prepare for the GRE."Marc, University of Pennsylvania
The GRE revised General Test was introduced on 1 August 2011, enhancing the overall test experience and better highlighting the test-taker's skills.
Who Takes It: If you are planning to apply to a master’s or PhD programme in a field other than medicine, business or law, you will most likely be required to sit the GRE General Test. However, for some courses of study in the fine arts and other fields, the GRE will not be required. Before registering for an admission test, you should check the admissions requirements of the individual degree programme to which you are interested in applying. Also, see our page on GRE subject tests.
Format: This three hour, 45 minute exam includes sections on Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Analytical Writing. It is offered in a computer-based, adaptive format and a Paper-based format. The adaptive computer-based test will select each successive section based on the answers you provided in the previous section. If you answer correctly, the next section will be more difficult; if you answer incorrectly, the next section will be less difficult.
The Quantitative Reasoning section measures problem-solving abilities, requiring basic knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis. The Verbal Reasoning section focuses on your ability to analyse and evaluate written material. The Analytical Writing section measures your ability to articulate and support complex ideas effectively and clearly.
The revised GRE test includes a new test-taker friendly design as well as new types of questions.
- New types of questions in the Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning sections more closely related to skills such as reading comprehension and data interpretation and real-life scenarios
- More focused responses to tasks in the Analytical Writing section
- A “skip and return later feature” and an on-screen calculator for the Quantitative Reasoning section for computer-based tests and provision of an ETS calculator for paper-based tests
How it's Used in Admissions: As a general rule, if you are within the range of last year’s admitted class, the GRE General Test will not make or break your application. Universities look at these scores with equal or even lesser weight than your degree results which are accumulated over years of work, not one day of testing. That said, doing particularly well can make your application stand out for admissions and funding or it can make up for poor results at the undergraduate level.
Registration: The GRE is administered through the Educational Testing Service, ETS. You should register and pay test fees for the GRE at the ETS website.
Dates: Appointments for the computer-based general exam are granted on a first-come, first-served basis through the online schedule on the GRE website. Register early as seats fill up quickly!
The first administration of the revised test in computer-based format will be 1 August 2011. The testing dates for the paper-based format for the revised GRE General test are as follows:
- 22 October 2011
- 19 November 2011
- 11 February 2012
Testing Sites: Computer-based tests are administered in London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, Peterborough and Dublin. Paper-based tests are administered in Leeds and Kent. See the GRE website for directions.
Scores: Visit the ETS website to learn more about how the test is scored. For information on how to send additional score reports, and to see the typical amount of time it takes to receive scores, visit the scores section of the GRE website.
**Update: In April 2012, ETS announced that GRE takers will now have the option to select which scores they report to universities. This will allow test takers the option of not reporting a score they are unsatisfied with, as well as retaking the test without notifying admissions officers that they previously had a low score. This policy does not allow test-takers to submit partial scores. For full details of ETS scoring policies, please see the ETS website.
Cost: The cost to take the GRE at testing locations outside the US is US$190. ETS accepts most major credit cards for payment of the test fee.
There is a 50% discount for those taking the revised General test in August and September! During the special discount period scores for tests taken in August and September will be sent in mid-November. Unfortunately there is no discount for those taking the paper-based version of the test.
How to Prepare: There are free materials on the GRE website to help students prepare and know what to expect on test day. See our section on preparation for more information.
Students with Disabilities: Special accommodations may be arranged for taking most admissions exams. For more information, visit the GRE website (note that the procedures are the same for international students).
For More Information: Please visit the GRE website or contact the GRE.