GRE

ADVISORY
 GRE ADVISORY

CONTENTS
What is GRE? 3
GRE test pattern: 4
GRE Results 8
How to register for GRE? 10

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 GRE ADVISORY

WHAT IS GRE?

G
raduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardised test to secure admissions in
graduate schools or business schools in the United States and some other major
countries. Aspirants who are interested in pursuing a master’s degree, specialised
master’s course, MBA or doctoral degree can sit for the GRE Test. It is conducted
by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), a US based organisation.

It is available both in computer-based format and paper-based one.

Exam Name: Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

Commonly Known as: GRE

Exam Level: International

Types of GRE Test: GRE Revised General Test and GRE Subject Test

Score validity: 5 years

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GRE TEST PATTERN:

T
he GRE General test has three major sections- Analytical writing, Verbal reasoning
and Quantitative reasoning. Each section has a different structure and scoring pat-
tern.
The total duration of the test is 3 hours 40 minutes. There are six sections and a
10-minute break is given after the third section during the GRE test 2016.

MEASURE NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ALLOTTED TIME

Analytical Writing(One section with two separately One "Analyse an Issue" task and 30 minutes per task
timed tasks) one "Analyse an Argument" task
Verbal Reasoning (Two sections) 20 questions per section 30 minutes per section

Quantitative Reasoning(Two sections) 20 questions per section 35 minutes per section

Unscored Varies Varies

Research Varies Varies

Analytical writing
In the analytical writing section, the candidate’s ability to communicate an idea through the
most effective words and expressions is analysed. In this section, the candidate needs to
type the essay in a word processing program prepared by ETS especially for the exam. The
program will have only the basic functionalities of a word program.

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The section consists of two tasks:

Analyse an issue
In this section, the examiner analyses the capability of the candidate to analyse critically an
issue that is of general interest and expresses his/her view point effectively in words.

Analyse an argument
In this section, the examiner analyses the capability of the candidate to analyse understand
an argument, analyse it and evaluate the same to write in clear language that communicates
to the reader very effectively. In this section, the candidate will be given a passage where an
idea and argument is presented. The task of the candidate is to critically examine the text
and present the idea with the help of evidence.

Skills assessed
l The ability to articulate complex ideas in a clear and effective manner
l Examine the claims and evidences
l Support the ideas with relevant examples and reasons
l Maintain a well-focussed and coherent discussion
l The ability to use standard English language to express the ideas

Tips for Analytical Writing

l Your essay must have introductory and concluding paragraphs
l Make sure that there is a flow of information
l New ideas and thoughts must be incorporated in fresh paragraphs
l Pay close attention to the grammar and spellings as the word processing program
doesn’t have a spell checker
l Don’t use heavy vocabulary, your focus must be on conveying the message to the
reader in a simple and effective manner

Verbal reasoning
The verbal reasoning section has three types of questions:
l Reading comprehension
l Text completion

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l Sentence equivalence

Reading comprehension
The reading comprehension covers three types of questions such as multiple choice
questions- select one answer (the candidate needs to select one answer from among the
choices), multiple choice questions- select more than one answer (here the candidate
needs to select all correct answers, which could probably be more than one option) and
select-in-passage.

Text completion
In this section the candidates need to complete the text in a passage. Usually, the passage
will have five to six sentences with three to four fields blank for the candidates to fill.

Sentence equivalence
This section consists of one sentence with a single bank space and six options. The can-
didate needs to choose two correct answers to complete the sentence from among six.

Skills assessed
l Ability to draw conclusions from discourse, fill the incomplete data, understand author’s
assumption and understand multiple levels of meanings
l Summarise the text and select important points
l Understand the structure of the text
l Understand the meaning of the words and complete the text with suitable words

Tips for Verbal Reasoning

l Read the paragraph to get a basic idea about it
l Identify a set of words and phrases that seems to be significant for you
l If you don’t find the answer for one blank space, move on to the next. You can any time
comeback and complete the first one later
l Once you fill all the blanks, read the passage and make sure that it makes sense
l Try to distinguish between the major ideas and the supporting ideas

Quantitative reasoning
The quantitative reasoning section contains four types of questions:

Quantitative Comparison Questions

In this section, the candidate is asked to compare two quantities such as A and B. The
candidate needs to draw a conclusion regarding the relation of the two quantities such as

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quantity A is greater, quantity B is greater, both quantity A and B are equal or there is no
relationship between quantity A and B.
Multiple choice questions- choose one answer
In this section, the candidate needs to choose one correct answer from the various choices
given

Multiple choice questions- choose one or more answers

In this section, the candidate needs to select more than one option as the answer

Numerical entry questions

In this section, the candidate needs to enter his/her answer in a number or decimal in a
single answer box. In some questions, the candidate needs to enter the answer in two frac-
tions in two different boxes.

Skills assessed
l Analyse and interpret quantitative information
l Understand quantitative information
l Use basic mathematical skills and the major concepts of algebra, arithmetic, geometry
and statistics
l Solve various problems using mathematical models

Tips for Quantitative Reasoning

l If you are appearing for GRE it is imperative to make sure your concepts in elementary
mathematics are clear.
l One of the effective GRE preparation tips is to solve as many sample papers as
possible.
l Read the questions and instructions carefully. Sometime, you need to select two choices
as the correct answers or at time, you will be asked to find out as many choices as
possible to complete to the correct answer

The GRE test pattern for GRE Subject Test consists of seven subjects. They are: Biochem-
istry, Cell and Molecular Biology, Biology, Chemistry, Literature in English, Mathematics,
Physics and Psychology. Each subject has a different GRE test pattern.

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GRE RESULTS

G
RE test score is valid up to five years from the date of the test. The conducting body
of GRE test, ETS sends the candidates an email notification when their respective
GRE Test Score becomes available. The GRE results are available in the respective
GRE accounts of the aspirants.

GRE Test scores on a scale of 130-170 per section- Verbal reasoning, Quantitative reason-
ing. Analytical Writing however is judged on a GRE test score of 0-6 points. The process of
determining GRE Test Score is discussed below:

MEASURE SCORES REPORTED

Verbal Reasoning 130–170, in 1 point increment

Quantitative Reasoning 130–170, in 1 point increments

Analytical Writing 0–6, in half point increments

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Here is a break-up of the GRE test score report:

GRE Subject test scoring process:

The GRE Subject test is measured on a scale of 200-990, in 10 point increments. Subscores
are reported for the Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology; Biology; and Psychology
Tests on a 20–99 GRE test score scale, in one-point increments. You can send GRE scores
from your most recent test administration or from all administrations of a Subject Test taken
in the last five years.

In calculating reported GRE test scores for the GRE Subject Tests, the number of ques-
tions answered correctly is adjusted according to the difficulty level of the questions on
the test form. Thus, the same number of correct responses on different test forms will not
necessarily result in the same reported GRE score.

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 GRE ADVISORY

HOW TO REGISTER FOR GRE?

W
hile there are three main ways to register for GRE - Online, Phone and Mail, inter-
national students should ideally opt for online GRE test registration. Students
can opt for online GRE test registration both for the general and subject tests.

The most common way of GRE registration is online. You should remember the following
points at the time of GRE Test Registration:
1. You need to create or have a ‘My GRE Account’ to register online. You should use the
same name as you would when you register for a GRE test.

2. You should enter your formal full name at the time of GRE test registration 2016. Candi-
dates who do not have a surname can enter their first name in the last name box, too.

3. Candidates should check the GRE Test registration fees before registering for the GRE
test 2016. The current GRE test registration fees is $205. Payment for GRE registra-
tion 2016 should be by credit or debit card only — American Express, Discover, JCB,
MasterCard or VISA. Candidates have to pay $50 for test rescheduling or change of
GRE test centres.

4. Online GRE test registration 2016 is not available for test takers with disabilities or
health-related need

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