What is the GRE?  |  FAQs on GRE^®

What is the GRE?

A standardized test, the Graduate Record Examination measures Verbal, Mathematical and Analytical Writing skills. The test intends to primarily aid Graduate Schools (of all fields other than business) to assess the potential of the applicants for advanced study. Most universities in the US, while inviting applications from prospective students, ask for GRE^® scores.

The examination is entirely a Computer-based Test, and no two students get an identical set of questions. The test is scored on a maximum of 1600. The GRE^® Score alone cannot guarantee admission into a school - the test is only one of the major factors taken into consideration in the long process of an applicant getting admitted into a graduate school he/she desires.

The GRE test has three sections- Quantitative, Verbal and Analytical Writing Assessment. The following is the GRE test structure.

The US-based "Educational Testing Service"(ETS), which works under the direction of the Graduate Record Examination Board, develops and administers the GRE^®. ETS is responsible for setting questions, conducting the test and sending score reports to each examinee. For detailed information about GRE, please refer the official website of GRE – www.gre.org

FAQs on GRE^®

Q1. Does admission to universities depend only on GRE scores?

Q2. Does one have to be a graduate for taking the GRE?

Q3. What is the cost/registration fee for GRE?

Q4. How do I register for the GRE?

Q5. How many times in a year is GRE exam held?

Q6. How many times can I take GRE?

Q7. What is the validity of the GRE exam?

Q8. What is the scoring pattern?

Q9. How soon do I get my score?

Q10. What happens if I postpone/prepone my exam date?

Q11. What happens if I cancel my exam date?

Q12. What happens if I want to cancel the GRE test score?

Q13. How do I pass on my score to the college?

Q14. What is percentile?

Q15. Can I apply to universities if I do not have the AWA score?

Q16. Do universities consider photocopies of the GRE scorecard? Do I have to send scores through ETS?

Q17. If I take GRE more than once, which score will be considered by the universities?

Q18. If the application deadline of University X is July 15, by when should I take the GRE?

Q19. Do I need to have the GRE score at the time of applying to universities?

Q20. Is GRE mandatory for applying to MS and PhD programs outside India?

Q21. I took the GRE in May 2004. Can I apply for Fall 2009 with this score?

Q22. How important is the GRE^® score in helping secure scholarships for graduate studies?

Q23. What is the GRE^® subject test?

Q24. Can I take the GRE Subject test after the university deadline?

Q1. Does admission to universities depend only on GRE scores?

Ans. It is one of the various criteria that the admission council looks at. However, a good GRE score does improve chances of admission and financial aid.

Q2. Does one have to be a graduate for taking the GRE?

Ans. Not necessarily. However, to do a master's course, one has to be a graduate in any stream.

Q3. What is the cost/registration fee for GRE?

Ans. The registration fee for taking GRE is USD 190. After administering the test and before getting the final scores, the test takers are asked to submit the names of 4 universities that they would like to send their scores to. This facility is part of the USD 190 fee that is charged for the test.

Q4. How do I register for the GRE?

Ans. You can register online or by phone or by mail. The detailed information about registering for the GRE can be found at www.gre.org

Q5. How many times in a year is GRE exam held?

Ans. GRE is offered on all working days in India (ie, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday). The schedule can be obtained from Prometric in person, through phone, e-mail or online.

Q6. How many times can I take GRE?

Ans. GRE can be taken unlimited number of times with a gap of a minimum of 31 calendar days between 2 tests. (It is highly advisable not to appear for GRE too many times as it may affect the applicant’s candidature). However, one can give the test only 5 times in a calendar year.

Q7. What is the validity of the GRE exam?

Ans. Your GRE score will be valid for 5 years after from the date the test was taken

Q8. What is the scoring pattern?

Ans. Scoring is between 400 (Minimum) and 1600 (Maximum) with 10-point increment. Three scores are reported on the General Test:

 - Verbal Reasoning score reported on a 200-800 score scale, in 10-point increments
 - Quantitative Reasoning score reported on a 200-800 score scale, in 10-point increments
 - Analytical Writing score reported on a 0-6 score scale, in half-point increments

Q9. How soon do I get my score?

Ans. You will see your score for the maths and verbal section the moment you finish the exam but official scores (with scores for AWA) will take atleast 21 days to reach you.

Q10. What happens if I postpone/prepone my exam date?

Ans. Rescheduling more than 3 calendar days prior to the original test date (not counting the day of the test) will cost you an additional USD 50. Rescheduling within 3 days of the original test date will cost you and additional USD 190.

Q11. What happens if I cancel my exam date?

Ans. If you cancel more than 3 calendar days prior to the original test date (not counting the day of the test), you will get a refund of USD 85. If you cancel within 3 days of the test date (not counting the day of the test), you will not get any refund. So, it is better to reschedule than to cancel.

Q12. What happens if I want to cancel the GRE test score?

Ans. After taking the exam you are given the choice of cancelling your score without seeing it. If you choose to do so the score is lost forever but it gets reported on all subsequent score charts that you had cancelled an exam.

Q13. How do I pass on my score to the colleges where I want to apply to?

Ans. The universities only accept official scores sent directly by ETS. Scores to four colleges can be sent free of cost while taking the exam. Subsequently, for each score report sent to a college, you would have to pay USD 23.

Q14. What is percentile?

Ans. If you secure 85 percentile it would mean 85 % of the students taking the exam in the past five years are below you and 15% are equal to or above you.

Q15. Can I apply to universities if I do not have the AWA score?

Ans. Yes, you can apply to the universities based on your provisional scorecard that you receive on the day of the test. But only if the university waives the requirement and as long as you are able to send the official score once it is out.

Q16. Do universities consider photocopies of the GRE scorecard? Do I have to send scores through ETS?

Ans. No, photocopies are not accepted. You have to send your scores only through ETS.

Q17. If I take GRE more than once, which score will be considered by the universities?

Ans. Almost all the universities take the best score.

Q18. If the application deadline of University X is July 15, by when should I take the GRE?

Ans. Technically, you can take it as late as July 15. However, it is best to take the GRE^® at least 15 days before the deadline so that you have enough time to prepare the other parts of the application.

Q19. Do I need to have the GRE score at the time of applying to universities?

Ans. Yes, you need to have the GRE score with you at the time of applying.

Q20. I took the GRE in May 2004. Can I apply for Fall 2009 with this score?

Ans. No, the GRE score has to be valid till the start of the semester, ie., August 2009.

Q21. Is GRE mandatory for applying to MS and PhD programs outside India?

Ans. No, not all the MS and PhD programs outside India require you to take GRE.

These scores are required only by US universities and a few universities in Canada and UK.

Q22. How important is the GRE^® score in helping secure scholarships for graduate studies?

Ans. The GRE^® score, your past academic record and your application materials play a vital part towards securing scholarships.

Q23. What is the GRE^® subject test?

Ans. The GRE^® subject tests are specialized tests, to be taken only if your university asks for it. Check with them. Students interested in applying for Phd in programs like Molecular Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics are encouraged to take the Subject GRE. Each Subject GRE is score out of 990. A score of 800 + is considered to be a good score. In India, Subject GRE^® is offered only once a year, in November. The registration fee for taking GRE is USD 190.

Q24. Can I take the GRE Subject test after the university deadline?

Ans. Yes, you can take subject GRE after the university deadline. But you have to book the test date at the time of submission of the application.