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All About GRE
What is the GRE ? What are the important things that I need to know about GRE?
The GRE or Graduate Record Examination, is a standardized aptitude
test offered by a private educational testing and measurement organization
known as ETS (Educational Testing Services). This examination
is designed to measure the candidate’s aptitude for graduate
study. It is the most widely used test in theUnited States. There are two
forms of the GRE:
GRE General Test
The general test specifically measures the
candidate’s verbal, quantitative and analytical writing aptitude. The
test is now most commonly offered in a computer-based format
instead of the older paper-based format. (See next question for a
more detailed description)
GRE Subject Test
The subject tests are designed to test a candidate’s
knowledge of the subject matter in a particular discipline
extensively. Subject tests are offered in the following 8 disciplines:
Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, English Literature,
Mathematics, Physics and Psychology. Some universities
require these subject test scores in addition to the general test
when applying to the Ph.D. program. Even if the test is not required,
getting a good score in this test will definitely strengthen
your application.
What kind of questions do the different sections of the GRE general
test carry ?
All questions in the general test are multiple-choice questions. The detailed
descriptions are available at the GRE official site as referenced in
the last question, but for the sake of completeness, I reproduce them
here with little modification:
- Verbal: The verbal section measures your ability to analyze and
evaluate written material and synthesize information obtained from
it, to analyze relationships among component parts of sentences,
to recognize relationships between words and concepts, and to reason
with words in solving problems. There is a balance of passages
across different subject matter areas: humanities, social sciences,
and natural sciences.
- Quantitative: The quantitative section measures your basic mathematical
skills, your understanding of elementary mathematical
concepts, and your ability to reason quantitatively and solve problems
in a quantitative setting. There is a balance of questions requiring
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. These are
content areas usually encountered in the 9th-12th standard curricula.
- Analytical Writing: The analytical writing section tests your critical
thinking and analytical writing skills. It assesses your ability to
articulate and support complex ideas, analyze an argument, and
sustain a focused and coherent discussion. It does not assess specific
content knowledge.
When should I take the GRE ?
The answer to this question, as you would expect, depends on what
semester you want to apply for. Going by estimated deadlines, if you
are applying for the Fall, I would recommend that you write GRE at the
latest by October. I say this because this gives you enough time to concentrate
on the other parts of the application which are almost equally,
if not more, important than GRE scores. If you are applying for Spring,
you should have finished with the GRE by June at the latest. Make sure
that you are aware of the available test dates at the center where you
plan to take the test and schedule the test well in advance.
How do I register for the GRE ?
If you have a credit card that you can use for paying the GRE test fee,
the easiest way to register for the GRE is online - either at the official
GRE website or at the Thomson Prometric website, or even by
calling the test center where you want to register. However, if you do
not have a credit card, you can use a certified check or money order to
pay but you then have to mail that to the Regional Registration Center
where you plan to take the test.
How long does it take for ETS to report to the GRE scores to the first 4
universities ? What about after that ?
According to ETS’s official policy, score reports are mailed to you and
the 4 institutions, if you designate them on the day of the test, approximately
10-15 days after you take the test. I think we can safely assume
the same duration for reporting the scores to new institutions as well,
since it is completely electronic now. However, the scorecard is sent out
to you personally via regular mail and, as such, you may not receive it
until 3-4 weeks after your test. In order to report additional scores, use
the Additional Score Reporting form which is available - with detailed
instructions - at the GRE official website.