GRE is a test that students take to prove their English language proficiency. Students take this test to get admission to top-ranked business institutes in an English-speaking country.
Many top institutes for business have made it compulsory to take the GRE in their application requirement.
So we will discuss the pattern of one of the most selected exams, the GRE. So that it becomes easy for you to fulfill your requirement for entrance to a business institute.
Sometimes for students, it become very stressful to take the GRE test. Because the first question that pops up in their mind is what is GRE exam pattern is and what the GRE exam syllabus is.
In this blog, we will discuss about the GRE exam pattern. But before understanding the pattern of the GRE, let’s discuss what GRE is.
What is GRE?
A group of four colleges and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching launched the GRE in 1936. Until the ETS was established, GRE was under the Carnegie Foundation.
Currently, the ETS (Educational Testing Service) conducts the GRE General Test. ETS itself sets the GRE exam pattern every year and changes it from time to time.
This is a standard exam that analyzes a student’s general academic ability for graduate study.
There are mainly two types of GRE
- GRE General test
- GRE Subject test
GRE Exam Syllabus
As per the ETS, the GRE exam syllabus 2022 has three sections of the exam.
- Verbal Reasoning
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Analytical Writing
GRE Test Duration
| GRE Section Name | Number of Questions | Duration |
| GRE verbal reasoning | 40 (2 sections 20 questions in each section) | 60 minutes (30 minutes for each section) |
| GRE quantitative reasoning | 2 (one Analyze an Issue and other Analyze an Argument task) | 70 minutes (35 minutes for each section) |
| GRE analytical writing assessment | 40 (2 sections 20 questions in each section) | 60 minutes (30 minutes for each task) |
| Total | 82 questions | 190 minutes |
GRE Exam Pattern
For both type of GRE the pattern is different. If students are familiar with the pattern of the GRE, then it will become easy for them to prepare for the exam. So now, without wasting more time, let’s shift to the GRE exam pattern. Read carefully!
There are two types of GRE:
- GRE general test
- GRE subject test
GRE Pattern – General Test
GRE test can be taken in two different forms:
- GRE computer-based
- GRE paper-based
Although both versions of the GRE are quite similar, there are many differences in both versions of GRE.
Apart from this, the GRE paper exam is not available for everyone. It is only available in those places where computer-based GRE test is unavailable. So you just can not choose the GRE paper exam. It depends upon the location you are taking the exam.
GRE General Test Pattern and Question Types
In the table below, the detailed GRE exam pattern for GRE general test is discussed.
| Section name | Number of Sections | Number of questions | Sub-areas | Types of questions |
| GRE quantitative reasoning | 2 | 20+20=40 questions | Ratio and proportion Profit and loss Simple and compound interest Speed, distance and time Permutation & combination Linear equations Quadratic equations Sets Theory Statistics Powers and roots Probability Pipes, cisterns, work, time Lines and angles Triangles Polygon Quadrilateral Circles Coordinate geometry Order of operations Volume and surface area Percentage Number properties | Quantitative Comparison Questions, Numeric Entry Questions |
| GRE verbal reasoning | 2 | 20+20=40 questions | _ | Reading Comprehension Text Completion Sentence Equivalence |
| GRE analytical writing assessment | 2 | 1+1=2 questions | _ | Analyzing an Issue Analyzing an Argument |
In the sub-areas of the GRE quantitative reasoning syllabus is given.
As per the ETS, the GRE exam pattern in the GRE general test:
- Total number of MCQ questions is 80.
- The total number of written questions is 2.
- GRE verbal section has 3 types of questions which has a total of 3 to 5 options to choose from.
- GRE verbal and GRE AWA demands a good vocabulary.
- The major areas in GRE quant are algebra, arithmetic, geometry, and data analysis.
- Only GRE analytical writing assessment has written questions. Other sections have MCQ questions.
Section-wise task focus for GRE general test
| Section name | Task focus |
| Quantitative Reasoning | Find out the important point Understand the purpose of every word and its relation with topic Conclude accordingly |
| Verbal Reasoning | Using mathematical formula Solve mathematical problems, and equations Analyze data Solve arithmetic sums and also understand geometrical patterns Analyze quantitative information |
| Analytical Writing | Think analytically Representing ideas in words |
GRE Pattern Subject Test
It is a paper-based exam and conducted only three times a year. This test is for those students who want a higher degree in a particular subject.
You can give the GRE subject test for the following subjects:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Literature in English
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology
Before December 2016, biochemistry was also a subject under the GRE subject exam, but after December 2016, it was excluded.
Students can choose to take the exam for more than one subject. They only have to pay for every single subject they choose.
Students can take the exam in April, September, and October months, but Indian students can take the exam in October month only.
Subject Test GRE Exam Pattern and Question Types
| Subjects | Number of Questions | Sub-sections |
| Biology | 190 | Cellular and Molecular Biology Organismal Biology Ecology and Evolution |
| Chemistry | 130 | Analytical Chemistry Inorganic Chemistry Organic Chemistry Physical Chemistry |
| English | 230 | Literary Analysis Identification Cultural and Historical Contexts History and the Theory of Literary Criticism |
| Mathematics | 66 | Calculus Algebra (Linear, abstract, elementary algebra, and number theory) Discrete Mathematics Real Analysis Probability and Statistics Additional Mathematics |
| Physics | 100 | Classical Mechanics Electromagnetism Optics and Wave Phenomena Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics Quantum Mechanics Atomic Physics Special Relativity Laboratory Methods Specialized Topics just like Nuclear and Particle Physics, etc. |
| Psychology | 205 | Biological Cognitive Social Developmental Clinical Measurement or Methodology |
Conclusion
In this blog, we have discussed the GRE exam pattern.
Before describing the pattern for the exam, we have provided a brief introduction to GRE and GRE syllabus.
We also provided detail of the total test duration for the exam.
We have given pattern detail for both GRE general and GRE subject tests.
We hope we have cleared all your queries related to the GRE exam pattern. For more blogs like it, keep visiting our site.
FAQs
Is GRE negative marking?
Your score is not deducted for wrong answers. It is best to answer every question if you want to improve your scores on the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning tests.
Is a passport mandatory for GRE?
The only kind of id that GRE facilities will accept is a passport. At testing places in India, even a driver’s license or another form of identification is not allowed. A passport number is not required to register for the GRE online, though. GRE appointments can be made without a passport.
