GRE
 
The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is a standardized test that is an admissions requirement for many graduate schools in the United States,[1] in other English-speaking countries and for English-taught graduate and business programs world-wide. Created and administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS) in 1949,[2] the exam aims to measure verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing and critical thinking skills that have been acquired over a long period of time and that are not related to any specific field of study. The GRE General Test is offered as a computer-based exam administered by selected qualified testing centers.
In the graduate school admissions process, the level of emphasis that is placed upon GRE scores varies widely between schools and between departments within schools. The importance of a GRE score can range from being a mere admission formality to an important selection factor.
The GRE was completely overhauled in August 2011, creating an exam that is not adaptive on a question-by-question basis, but rather by section, so that the performance on the first verbal and math sections determine the difficulty of the second sections shown. Overall, the test retained the sections and question types from its predecessor, but the scores were changed to a 130 to 170 scale.
The cost to take the test varies between US$130 and $210, depending on the country in which it is taken, although ETS will reduce the fee under certain circumstances. They are promoting financial aid to those GRE applicants who prove economic hardship.[3] ETS erases all test records that are older than 5 years, although graduate program policies on the admittance of scores older than 5 years will vary.
 
Structure
The computer-based GRE General Test consists of six sections. The first section is always the analytical writing section involving separately timed issue and argument tasks. The next five sections consist of two verbal reasoning sections, two quantitative reasoning sections, and either an experimental or research section. These five sections may occur in any order. The experimental section does not count towards the final score but is not distinguished from the scored sections. Unlike on the computer adaptive test prior to August 2011, the examinee is free to skip back and forth within sections. The entire testing procedure lasts about 3 hours 45 minutes.[4] One-minute breaks are offered after each section and a 10-minute break after the third section.
The paper-based GRE General Test consists of six sections and is only available in areas where computer-based testing is unavailable. The analytical writing is split up into two sections, one section for each issue and argument task. The next four sections consist of two verbal and two quantitative sections in varying order. There is no experimental section on the paper-based test.
Verbal section
The computer-based verbal sections assess reading comprehension, critical reasoning and vocabulary usage. The verbal test is scored on a scale of 130-170, in 1-point increments (Before August, 2011 the scale was 200–800, in 10-point increments). In a typical examination, each verbal section consists of 20 questions to be completed in 30 minutes.[4] Each verbal section consists of about 6 text completion, 4 sentence equivalence, and 10 critical reading questions. The changes in 2011 include a reduced emphasis on rote vocabulary knowledge and the elimination of antonyms and analogies. Text completion items have replaced sentence completions and new reading question types allowing for the selection of multiple answers were added.
Quantitative section
The computer-based quantitative sections assess basic high school level mathematical knowledge and reasoning skills. The quantitative test is scored on a scale of 130–170, in 1-point increments (Before August 2011 the scale was 200–800, in 10-point increments). In a typical examination, each quantitative section consists of 20 questions to be completed in 35 minutes.[4]Each quantitative section consists of about 8 quantitative comparisons, 9 problem solving items, and 3 data interpretation questions. The changes in 2011 include the addition of numeric entry items requiring the examinee to fill in a blank and multiple-choice items requiring the examinee to select multiple correct responses.[5]
Analytical writing section
The analytical writing section consists of two different essays, an "issue task" and an "argument task". The writing section is graded on a scale of 0-6, in half-point increments. The essays are written on a computer using a word processing program specifically designed by ETS. The program allows only basic computer functions and does not contain a spell-checker or other advanced features. Each essay is scored by at least two readers on a six-point holist scale. If the two scores are within one point, the average of the scores is taken. If the two scores differ by more than a point, a third reader examines the response.
Issue task
The test taker is given 30 minutes to write an essay about a selected topic.[6] Issue topics are selected from a pool of questions.[7]
Argument task
The test taker will be given an argument (i.e. a series of facts and considerations leading to a conclusion) and will be asked to write an essay that critiques the argument. Test takers are asked to consider the argument's logic and to make suggestions about how to improve the logic of the argument. Test takers are expected to address the logical flaws of the argument, not to provide a personal opinion on the subject. The time allotted for this essay is 30 minutes.[4] Arguments are selected from a pool of topics.[8]
Experimental section
The experimental section, which can be either a verbal, quantitative, or analytical writing task, contains new questions ETS is considering for future use. Although the experimental section does not count towards the test-taker's score, it is unidentified and appears identical to the scored sections. Because test takers have no definite way of knowing which section is experimental, it is typically advised that test takers try their best on every section. Sometimes an identified research section at the end of the test is given instead of the experimental section.[9] There is no experimental section on the paper-based GRE.[citation needed]
Scoring
Scaled score percentiles
The percentiles for the current revised General test and the concordance with the prior format[10] are as follows. Means and standard deviations for the measures on the new score scale are not yet available:[11]
Scaled score
Verbal Reasoning Percentile
Verbal Prior Scale
Quantitative Reasoning Percentile
Quantitative Prior Scale
170
99
760–800
99
800
169
99
740–750
98
800
168
98
720–730
96
800
167
97
710
95
800
166
96
700
94
800
165
95
680–690
93
790
164
93
660–670
90
790
163
91
650
88
780
162
89
630–640
87
770
161
86
620
83
770
160
83
600–610
81
760
159
80
590
77
750
158
77
570–580
74
740
157
73
560
71
730
156
69
540–550
68
720
155
65
530
64
700–710
154
61
510–520
60
690
153
57
500
56
680
152
53
480–490
52
660–670
151
49
460–470
48
640–650
150
44
450
43
630
149
40
430–440
39
610–620
148
36
420
35
590–600
147
32
410
31
570–580
146
28
390–400
27
550–560
145
24
380
23
530–540
144
21
370
20
500–520
143
18
350–360
17
480–490
142
15
340
14
460–470
141
12
330
11
430–450
140
10
320
9
400–420
139
8
310
7
380–390
138
6
300
5
350–370
137
5
290
4
330–340
136
3
280
3
300–320
135
3
280
2
280–290
134
2
270
1
260–270
133
1
260
1
240–250
132
1
250
1
220–230
131
1
240
1
200–210
130
<1
200–230
1
200
 
 
 
Field-wise distribution of takers of GRE revised General Test.[12]
 
 
Analytical Writing score
Writing % Below
6
99
5.5
96
5
92
4.5
73
4
49
3.5
30
3
11
2.5
6
2
1
1.5
1
1
1
0.5
1
Comparisons for "Intended Graduate Major" are "limited to those who earned their college degrees up to two years prior to the test date." ETS provides no score data for "non-traditional" students who have been out of school more than two years, although its own report "RR-99-16" indicated that 22% of all test takers in 1996 were over the age of 30.
Use in admissions

Unlike other standardized admissions tests (such as the SAT, LSAT, and MCAT), the use and weight of GRE scores vary considerably not only from school to school, but from department to department, and from program to program also. Programs in liberal arts topics may only consider the applicant's verbal score to be of interest, while mathematics and science programs may only consider quantitative ability; however, since most applicants to mathematics, science, or engineering graduate programs all have high quantitative scores, the verbal score can become a deciding factor even in these programs. Admission to graduate schools depends on a complex mix of several different factors. Schools see letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, GPA, GRE score etc. Some schools use the GRE in admissions decisions, but not in funding decisions; others use the GRE for the selection of scholarship and fellowship candidates, but not for admissions. In some cases, the GRE may be a general requirement for graduate admissions imposed by the university, while particular departments may not consider the scores at all. Graduate schools will typically provide information about how the GRE is considered in admissions and funding decisions, and the average scores of previously admitted students. The best way to find out how a particular school or program evaluates a GRE score in the admissions process is to contact the person in charge of graduate admissions for the specific program in question (and not the graduate school in general).Many graduate schools in English-speaking countries (especially in the United States) require GRE results as part of the admissions process. The GRE is a standardized test intended to measure the abilities of all graduates in tasks of general academic nature, regardless of their fields of specialization. The GRE is supposed to measure the extent to which undergraduateeducation has developed an individual's verbal and quantitative skills in abstract thinking.
GRE Subject Tests
In addition to the General Test, there are also eight GRE Subject Tests testing knowledge in the specific areas of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology; Biology; Chemistry; Computer Science; Literature in English; Mathematics; Physics; and Psychology. The length of each exam is 170 minutes.
In the past, subject tests were also offered in the areas of Economics, Revised Education, Engineering, Geology, History, Music, Political Science, and Sociology. In April 1998, the Revised Education and Political Science exams were discontinued. In April 2000, the History and Sociology exams were discontinued, and the other four were discontinued in April 2001.[13] The Computer Science exam is being discontinued after April 20, 2013. [14]
GRE and GMAT
The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a computer adaptive standardized test in mathematics and the English language for measuring aptitude to succeed academically in graduate business studies. Business schools commonly use the test as one of many selection criteria for admission into an MBA program. However, there are many business schools that also accept GRE scores.
The following are criteria of certain business schools:
  • Harvard Business School: Official test scores for the GMAT or GRE tests no more than 5 years old.[15]
  • UVA-Darden: Will also accept a GRE score in place of the GMAT.[16]
  • MIT-Sloan:The GMAT or GRE is required of all applicants and must be taken before submitting your application.[17]
  • Penn-Wharton: Official test scores for the GMAT or GRE tests.
  • Stanford GSB: The GMAT is required for admission. Will accept the GRE - including the GRE revised General Test — as an alternative.[18]
  • NYU-Stern: The GMAT is strongly preferred, but scores from the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) will also be accepted.
  • Chicago-Booth: Accepts either GRE or GMAT scores.[19]
  • Vanderbilt-Owen : Accepts either GRE or GMAT scores.
  • Berkeley-Haas: Without exception, all applicants to the Haas Ph.D. Program must submit official scores of either the GMAT or the GRE.
  • Columbia Business School: Accepts GRE test scores in place of the GMAT, only if applicant has not taken the GMAT within the last 5 years.
  • Johns Hopkins-Carey: Accepts either GRE or GMAT scores.
  • Dartmouth-Tuck: Accepts either GRE or GMAT scores.
  • Northwestern-Kellogg: Accepts either GRE or GMAT scores.
In comparison with GMAT's emphasis on logic, GRE measures the test-takers' ability more in vocabulary. This difference is reflected in the structure of each test. Despite the Analytical Writing section in common, GRE has analogies, antonyms, sentence completions, and reading comprehension passages in Verbal section, while GMAT has sentence correction, critical reasoning and reading comprehension.
Preparation
A variety of resources are available for those wishing to prepare for the GRE. ETS provides preparation software called PowerPrep, which contains two practice tests of retired questions, as well as further practice questions and review material. Since the software replicates both the test format and the questions used, it can be useful to predict the actual GRE scores. ETS does not license their past questions to any other company, making them the only source for official retired material. ETS used to publish the "BIG BOOK" which contained a number of actual GRE questions; however, this publishing was abandoned. Several companies provide courses, books, and other unofficial preparation materials.
Test preparation companies such as Kaplan and Princeton Review claim that the test format is so rigid that familiarizing oneself with the test's organization, timing, specific foci, and the use ofprocess of elimination is the best way to increase a GRE score.[20]
Testing locations
While the general and subject tests are held at many undergraduate institutions, the computer-based general test is only held at test centers with appropriate technological accommodations. Students in major cities in the United States, or those attending large U.S. universities, will usually find a nearby test center, while those in more isolated areas may have to travel a few hours to an urban or university location. Many industrialized countries also have test centers, but at times test-takers must cross country borders.
Validity
An analysis of the GRE's validity in predicting graduate school success found a correlation of .30 to .45 between the GRE and both first year and overall graduate GPA. The correlation between GRE score and graduate school completion rates ranged from .11 (for the now defunct analytical section) to .39 (for the GRE subject test). Correlations with faculty ratings ranged from .35 to .50.[21]