GRE: The New Shorter Way

 

The Graduate Research Exam (GRE) is a standardised test that is widely accepted by many graduate and business schools for admissions. GRE scores are asked during admissions as a part of the application process and are mainly required for specific fields such as engineering, natural sciences, humanities, etc.

What are the new changes in GRE?

The shorter version of GRE examination was introduced for reducing the test time. Accordingly, the time taken to declare the results has been reduced. Here are some key details to be noted for the new shorter GRE.

·       The test duration of the new shorter GRE has been reduced to 2 hours 45 minutes instead of 4 hours of the old GRE.

·       The number of questions in verbal and quantitative reasoning sections have been reduced, that is, both sections will have 46 lesser questions.

·       The 10-minute scheduled break has been removed.

·       The results of the exams will be declared in 8-10 days unlike the old GRE where results were declared in 10-15 days.

·       One analytical essay, Analytical writing, Quantitative reasoning and verbal reasoning will remain the same.

·       The shorter GRE exam will be available in hybrid mode. This means that the GRE tests will be available for both the GRE at test centers and the same test taken at home.

What is the new format?

The new format of GRE has 3 sections. Each section has a specific time allotted. Following table shows the sections and the number of questions along with the time allotted for it:

Name of the section	No. of sections	No. of questions asked	Time allotted for each section
Analytical Writing	1 section	1 essay	30 minutes
Quantitative Reasoning	1 section	27 questions	47 minutes
Verbal Reasoning	2 sections	27 questions	41 minutes

Total duration: 1 hour 58 minutes

Section-wise breakup

Name of the section	No.of questions	Time alloted
Analytical writing	1 essay	30 minutes
Quantitative reasoning -section 1   Quantitative reasoning-section 2	12 questions     15 questions	21 minutes     26 minutes
Verbal reasoning - section 1	12 questions	18 minutes
Verbal reasoning - section 2	15 questions	23 minutes
Total questions and duration	55 questions	1 hour 58 minutes

Who is eligible to take the GRE?

·       There is no specific age limit for taking the GRE exam.

·       The candidate appearing for the GRE exam should necessarily possess a graduate degree from a recognised university.

·       The test-takers must provide valid documents that meet the requirements of the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which administers the GRE. This usually includes a government-issued photo ID.

Countries that accept GRE:

·       United States

·       Canada

·       United Kingdom

·       Australia

·       European Union

·       Asian Countries

·       Middle East

·       Latin America

·       Africa

What is the difference between the old GRE and the new GRE?

Old GRE	New shorter GRE
Fees- Rs.22,500/-	Fees- Rs.22,500/-
Time duration- 4 hours	Time duration- 2 hours
10 minutes scheduled break	No breaks
Results- 10 to 15 days	Results- 8 to 10 days
Only offline mode	Hybrid mode (can appear for exam from home as well)

What is the limit of attempts for GRE exam?

The exam takes place throughout the year. The desired candidate can apply for a GRE exam up to 5 times in a year with a gap of 21 days between each exam.

Guides for GRE examination

As the number of questions have been reduced instead of the whole format being changed, the applicants of GRE can still refer to the syllabus/guides that were used for old GRE. Here are some guides one can refer:

·       Official GRE guides

·       Test prep books

·       Online coaching through YouTube or any coaching center

Tips to preparing for GRE:

·       Understand the test format and time alloted for each section

·       Use official test papers as a practise and keep a track of the time accordingly

·       For getting an idea of all the sections, one can use GRE prep books

·       Work on time management

·       Familiarise with the grading structure, process of elimination,etc.

Do’s and Dont’s for GRE Exam

While preparing for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), it is required to follow certain do’s and dont’s in order to increase the chances of success in the exam. Here are some important points to be kept in mind 

Do’s

1.     Make a Schedule:

Applicants for GRE must make a schedule in order to prepare for the exams. Also, time for each section should be allotted to check the strenghts and weaknesses.

2.     Use Official Materials:

Offical GRE materials such as GRE official guide can be used to prepare for the exams.

3.     Take Practice Tests:

GRE practice tests should be taken on a regular basis to get a gauge of the progress and test the progress in the particular section.

4.     Learn Time Management:

By practising the practice tests, time management skills are sharpened. During the test, it is best to avoid challenging questions at the start and save it for later.

5.     Revision time:

For brushing the vocabulary, maths and writing skills. One can use flashcards, learn new words daily, write and read challenging paragraphs, solve various types of maths problems and practise writing essays.

6.     Test Day Preparation:

On the day of the exam, one needs to bring along the ID and the admission test card.

Dont’s

·       Make sufficient time to study for the exam

·       Do no rely entirely on prep courses

·       Guess work should be avoided

·       Time limits shouldn’t be ignored

·       Overlooking test instructions

For further assistance or queries students can contact us, Edwise International, and avail of our wide range of services for students on destinations like Universities in USA, study in USA, study in UK, study in Ireland, study in Canada, study in Australia, study in New-Zealand, study in Singapore and many other countries.