What is GRE and Why Should You Take it?

The GRE, or Graduate Record Examination, is a popular test accepted by many graduate and business schools around the world. It evaluates your abilities in verbal reasoning, quantitative skills, and analytical writing. If you are planning to study abroad, then examinations such as the GRE can play a significant role in increasing your chances of getting into your dream college.

This blog will give you a brief overview of the GRE syllabus, exam pattern, fees, types of GRE tests (General and Subject), registration process, test duration, and tips for effective preparation.

Why Should You Give the GRE Exam?

The GRE is often a prerequisite for admission if you intend to pursue an MBA, Master's, or PhD program overseas in nations like the USA, UK, Germany, Ireland, or France. It helps colleges in evaluating your academic aptitude. In addition, a high GRE score can increase your chances of receiving financial aid and scholarships. As a result, it not only helps you demonstrate your academic aptitude to universities, but it also provides you with the opportunity to finance your studies overseas.

Who Conducts the GRE Exam?

The GRE Exam conducting body is ETS (Educational Testing Services). It is a non-profit organisation that conducts many popular exams, such as the GRE, TOEFL, and TOEIC, that are used for admissions around the world. It is known for conducting exams fairly, with more than 40 test centres in India.

Apart from this, it gives you a chance to take the exam from the comfort of your home as well. This option is especially useful if getting to a test center is difficult due to travel or location constraints.

What is the Fee of the GRE Exam?

The GRE Exam fee is INR 22000 for the General Test, while it is INR 14500 for the Subject Test. Moreover, if you need to reschedule your exam, you can do so up to four days before the actual exam to any time and date that falls in the two-month window through your GRE login credentials. 

Sounds a bit complicated, does it not?

For example, say you scheduled your GRE on 20th April, 2025, but something came up and now you have to reschedule your exam. So you can go to the website any day before 16th April, 2025, and choose any date, time, and place till 20th June, 2025, i.e., within 2 months of your exam date.

You should also keep in mind that rescheduling costs INR 5,000, so it’s best to double-check your calendar and avoid any last-minute changes.

What are the types of GRE Tests?

There are two types of GRE tests, each serving a different purpose. It is important to know which test serves what purpose so that you can make your decision accordingly. Here is a simplified table that mentions the test types and their respective purposes:

Please note that subject tests are department-specific, which means you are required to take this test specifically for a particular subject.

How to Register for the GRE?

The GRE registration process can be confusing for students applying for the first time. Here is a breakdown of the process to navigate you through the steps:

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  Step 1: Create an account on the GRE official website (ets.org) and use your GRE login to register.
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  Step 2: Choose your test type (General or Subject Test).
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  Step 3: Select your preferred test date and location (you can also opt for the at-home version).
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  Step 4: Fill in personal and academic details as required.
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  Step 5: Upload a valid ID (Passport for Indian students)
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  Step 6: Pay the test fee (approximately INR 22,550).
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  Step 7: Confirm your test appointment and check for email confirmation.

What is the GRE Examination Structure?

Understanding the GRE exam structure is essential for effective preparation. It’s important to be familiar with the time allotted for each section so that you can manage your pace effectively on test day. The table below mentions all three sections - analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning, along with the time allotted for each respective section. 

Total test time: 1 hour 58 minutes 

What is the GRE Examination Syllabus?

The GRE General Test consists of three main sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. It is important to understand what each section expects from you in the GRE test. Here is a quick overview of what each section focuses on, along with certain section-specific tips that can be beneficial to you in your exam preparation:

Verbal Reasoning:

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  Topics: Text completion, sentence equivalence, and reading passages.
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  Test Areas: Comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking.

Tips:

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  Daily reading: Editorials, journals, novels (preferably the ones that are semantically rich)
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  Learn roots & prefixes: These can be of great help in learning new words.

Quantitative Reasoning:

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  Topics: Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis.
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  Test Areas: Basic math skills and problem-solving.

Tips:

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  Formula sheet: Make a hand‑made cheat sheet for quick revisions.
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  Timed drills: Replicate the 21‑minute crunch to build speed and simulate real exam conditions.

Analytical Writing:

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  Topics: One “Issue” task and one “Argument” task.
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  Test Areas: Your ability to express ideas clearly and logically in essay form.

Tips:

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  Read the prompt carefully: Know what it’s asking and then formulate your answer.
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  Focus on logic, not opinion: For argument tasks, point out flaws. Give reasons based on facts rather than personal opinions. 

What Common Mistakes Should You Avoid?

Preparing for an exam as important as the GRE can be both exciting and overwhelming. However, students often make some very common mistakes, both while preparing and on the exam day itself, that can directly affect their scores. These mistakes have a direct impact on your score, so make sure to thoroughly read this list of common GRE mistakes mentioned below: 

Skipping a Study Plan:

Going in without a structured study schedule can lead to inconsistent preparation and overlooked topics. A well-planned timeline helps track progress, build confidence, and ensures you cover all sections thoroughly.

Ignoring the Official Format:

Many students underestimate how the GRE’s adaptive structure works, where the difficulty of the next section depends on your performance. Familiarizing yourself with the format through ETS’s official resources can prevent surprises on test day.

Focusing Only on One Section:

It’s common to prioritize either Quant or Verbal, depending on strengths. But grad schools often look for well-rounded scores. A lopsided prep approach can hurt your overall profile, especially for competitive programs.

Neglecting Vocabulary Practice:

The GRE Verbal section includes complex reading comprehension and high-level vocabulary questions. Relying on only a basic word list may leave you unprepared; make vocabulary building a consistent part of your prep.

Underestimating the Experimental Section:

The GRE includes an unscored section that looks exactly like the others. If you don’t realise which one it is, you might end up wasting your energy, as this section is just for GRE research purposes and doesn’t actually affect your overall score. 

When Will You Get Your GRE Scores?

Once you have finished the test, it’s important to know what to do next. Here’s a quick rundown of what happens after you have taken your GRE:

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  Unofficial verbal and quantitative scores appear on-screen immediately after the test.
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  The official score report (including Analytical Writing Assessment) will be available on your ETS GRE login in 8 to 10 days.
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  Score ranges are 130-170 for Verbal and Quantitative reasoning, and 0-6 for Analytical Writing.
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  You can send your scores to 4 of your top-choice universities for free on test day. Additional reports cost around INR 2,330, so prioritize wisely.
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  You can retake the GRE every 21 days, up to 5 times in a rolling 12-month period.

Final Words

Is the GRE hard? It might seem that way at first, but it’s far from impossible to tackle. With consistent effort and smart planning, you can achieve a standout score. While the exam may feel challenging initially, steady practice will make it manageable. Plan smart, prepare consistently, and you will walk into test day ready to ace it.

Frequently Asked Questions