The Graduate Record Examination (GRE), created and administered by ETS, is used by thousands of graduate and business schools to make admission and fellowship decisions. Many graduate programs require scores from the GRE General Test as part of a complete application, and some also require or recommend scores from one or more GRE Subject Tests .

GRE Quick Facts

Frequency Most weekdays and weekends year-round
Duration 1 hours, 58 minutes
Sections Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing
GRE Cost $220
Max. Score 170

What is the GRE?

The GRE General Test is a graduate-level admissions exam used by many graduate school and business school programs. The GRE provides grad and b-schools with one common criterion that can be used to compare all applicants, who  come from all over the world and will certainly have an enormous range in academic and professional experience.

Your  GRE score is a significant part of your graduate school application , but it certainly isn’t the only part. Admissions officers consider many other factors, including your undergraduate GPA, work and research experience,  personal statement , letters of recommendation, and interviews. Some grad programs also require or consider GRE Subject Test scores.

It’s possible your GRE score could come in handy if you are interested in law school, as some schools are accepting (or are considering accepting) GRE scores in lieu of LSAT scores .

What's on the GRE?

There are three GRE sections:

  • Analytical Writing
  • Quantitative
  • Verbal

The GRE tests college-level vocabulary and verbal reasoning; basic math concepts in arithmetic, algebra, and geometry; and your writing and analytical skills.

How Long does the GRE Take?

The exam takes less than 2 hours to complete. Time is broken down by section in the following way:

  • Analytical Writing – 30 minutes
  • Quantitative – 47 minutes
  • Verbal – 41 minutes

Learn more about what’s on the GRE .

Get the GRE Score You Need!

How do I register?

You must register for your online at the ETS website in advance of your test date; walk-in GRE registration at test centers is not accepted. The GRE is administered by ETS and given at Prometric testing centers. Visit ETS  to register. The GRE costs $220 in most locations. 

How is the GRE scored?

GRE test-takers will receive three separate scores, one for each section of the test. Math and Verbal GRE scores fall on a scale of 130–170. Analytical Writing scores range from 0–6. Some test takers will also see an additional experimental math or verbal section, which will not be included in the final score or affect percentile ranking. Learn more about GRE scoring .

Do GRE test scores expire?

Your GRE score remains valid for five years.

How important is your GRE score?

Schools differ in how they use your GRE score. Some programs weight GRE scores very heavily or have a minimum score for applicants, while other programs consider scores more of a formality. We recommend asking your prospective grad and business programs about the unique role the GRE test plays in their admissions and financial aid decisions.  You can also check out the admissions data in our grad school and business school profiles .

How does the computer-adaptive GRE work?

The GRE is a computer-adaptive test, or CAT for short. Every test taker will see a least two Math sections and two Verbal sections. The difficulty level of the second section (easy, medium or hard) in each subject is determined by your performance on the first section. If you get lots of questions right on the first section, you will get a harder second section, but access to higher scores. If you don’t get as many questions right on the first section, you will get an easier second section and your scoring potential is capped at a lower range.

The computer-delivered GRE is the standard format for test takers. The paper-based GRE is far more rare and only offered up to three times a year. But if you want to learn more about the paper-and-pencil test, visit  ETS.org .

What are GRE Subject Tests?

The GRE Subject Tests are designed to test your knowledge on one of three subjects:

  • Math
  • Physics
  • Psychology

Not every school requires a GRE Subject Test, but many of the most competitive programs do. ETS offers the Subject Tests three times a year, separately from the standard GRE.

How can I prepare for the GRE?

We can help you unlock a higher GRE score. We have efficient  GRE prep options for every student and every budget.