The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a nationally standardized test designed to evaluate a student’s ability to perform graduate level work. Students who wish to pursue a Ph.D. or Masters degree are required by most universities to take this test as a part of their application for admission.

The GRE® General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills that have been acquired over a long period of time and that are not related to any specific field of study.

Many graduate schools in English -speaking countries (especially in USA) require GRE test results as part of the application procedure. The GRE test is a standardized test designed to measure the abilities of all graduates in tasks of general academic nature, regardless of their field of specialization. It is not an intelligence test. GRE test is supposed to measure the extent to which undergraduate education has developed your verbal and quantitative skills in abstract thinking. It tests for argumentation skills in topics of general interest. In the past few years, the GRE has become computer-based, unlike the SAT. The general test has sections testing verbal, quantitative (mathematical), and analytical writing abilities.

The verbal and quantitative sections consist of multiple choice questions. One characteristic of the new computer-based format is adaptive difficulty. As a test taker progresses into the exam, the difficulty of the questions is adjusted. This means that assessments are more accurate and can be done with fewer questions. Like the SAT, all sections are scored on a 200-800 point scale, in increments of 10.

There are also several (optional) GRE subject tests. These test knowledge of a specific area, such as computer science or upper-level mathematics. Subject tests typically have 100 multiple choice questions that must be answered in 60 minutes.

While the subject tests are held at many undergraduate institutions, the general test is only held at test centers (due to the computer-based format). Students in major cities in the US, or those attending large US universities, will usually find a test center easily accessible, while those in more isolated areas may require a drive of a few hours to an urban location. Many industrialized countries also have test centers, but not all do and at times test-takers must cross country borders (see GRE website for details).

Above reproduced from the Educational Testing Service Website, http://www.ets.org.